Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Original poster

Calling mners who have had a kitchen fited recently.

35 replies

PanicPants · 21/01/2007 19:58

Some questions:

Any of you have a splashback instead of tiles? Is it worth the extra money? Easy to fit?

What about an integrated fridge or dishwasher - would you recommend it?

TIA

OP posts:
preggerspoppet · 21/01/2007 20:05

oh me, me! I have....

but I can't answer your questions I'm afraid!

(although our builder did advise us against an intergrated dishwasher because it is a faff to mend if it breaks down)

Bluebear · 21/01/2007 20:05

I don't like integrated fridges - you don't get as much space inside the fridge compared to a standard fridge. We integrated the dishwasher but left a gap for the fridge then bought one which we thought looked nice and had a lot of space.
We didn't do splashback or tiles. Had worktop fitted right up to wall then painted wall with wipe clean paint. That was 3 years ago and there's still no marks/stains on wall.

Original poster
PanicPants · 21/01/2007 20:08

Hmmmm interesting, another alternative to consider!

OP posts:
brimfull · 21/01/2007 20:09

We don't have any tiles,we have granite worktop with an upstand up to the level of the windowsills.Much easier to keep clean.
We have an integrated dishwasher and microwave which is great,especially the microwave as it's at eye level so frees up a lot of worktop space.

Original poster
PanicPants · 21/01/2007 20:09

Buer, I mean fitted not fited in title

OP posts:
Original poster
PanicPants · 21/01/2007 20:13

I think the splashbacks would be

a) easier & quicker to fit
b) match the worktop exactly (we have seen hunreds of tiles that aren't quite right)
c) be more hygienic

BUT

about £150 more expensive.

Trying to convince dp

OP posts:
Twiglett · 21/01/2007 20:15

we have tiles and I love them .. was originally going to have the granite continued from worktop but changed my mind .. I did look at a glass splashback in a fabulous colour and was really close .. think they're gorgeous but too worried about finger prints / splatters on glass

not an integrated fridge .. like huge ones .. can recommend the US style side by side with water/ice dispensers

do have integrated dishwasher and like it .. because of style of kitchen it would have looked odd un-integrated .. I would go for the best one though (because I got a free with kitchen one and I regret that a little)

Earlybird · 21/01/2007 20:20

I have a kitchen with an integrated fridge. The fridge had to be replaced about 3 years ago, and the new one was about 2x more expensive than the same size free standing. Ridiculous.

lizziemun · 21/01/2007 20:20

Ours are freestanding, i don't like intergrated as they can be a lot more expensive when they need replacing.

We have tiled walls between the work surface and the cupboards very easy to keep clean.

PandaG · 21/01/2007 20:23

OUr fridge is semi integrated, it is a standard fridge with a cupboard door made to fit in front of it, so I have to open 2 doors to get in the fridge. will be able to replace it with a standard fridge when it goes wrong though.

CODNoMore · 21/01/2007 20:24

god dont get any splachback that needs e clothign
tiles all the way

get an integrate MICROWAVE
farking nora they are the BEST hting about my kithcen

larkspur · 21/01/2007 20:24

We had our kitchen done last year. Had the same advice as Preggerspoppet about the dishwasher and after much umming and ahhing went for freestanding and it's fine. Have got an integrated fridge though and it is small. Would def go for a big freestanding one if we were doing it again (and had space!).

Going to have tiles eventually (when DH gets round to it). Walls have stayed remarkably clean though in the last year.

CODNoMore · 21/01/2007 20:25

have integrated dishwasher and a standa lone fridge built into a cupboard hting ( all aorund it)

Original poster
PanicPants · 21/01/2007 20:27

Would like tiles, if I could find ones which I was 100percent sure of. But have an old house with very wonky walls so would have to have something on the walls, couldn't just paint them.

Hmm yes integrated f/freezer and dishwasher would LOOK much better, but costly if they break down or need replacing.

Maybe compromise and just have the int. dishwasher.

OP posts:
LittleBoSheep · 21/01/2007 20:29

Will you still like splashbacks in 3, 4, 5 years time?

Can you add another splashback or tile over the top of it or does it need to be removed before replacing?

Things to bear in mind!

Hubby wanted stainless steel when we had ours fitted, I really liked them but was put off by the thought of trying to constantly de-smear them (I try to spend as little time as possible cleaning!)....a few years on and fashion has changed I am SOOOOO glad we had tiles.

Non stainless steel Splashbacks would be easier to clean than tiles though!!

Integrated dishwashers LOOK great if you can afford to replace it every time it goes wrong - if you think about it logically how the hell do you repair it if its built in. Also stick to makes like Hoover, electrolux, Zanussi or no one wants to repair it because the parts have to come from Germany!! I have recently been given this advice by a repair man!!

Original poster
PanicPants · 21/01/2007 20:29

Thats a good idea - about the cupboard door thingie in front of the fridge.

OP posts:
Original poster
PanicPants · 21/01/2007 20:33

The splash back I'm thinking about is the same colour as the worktop I've ordered which is blacky/dark brown with sort of flecks in it, very glossy. On top of a cream kitchen.

Dp thinks it might be too much dark (really I think he's just thinking cost!)

OP posts:
DimpledThighs · 21/01/2007 20:35

integrated dishwasher
free standing fridge (2 doors would p* me off - fridges look nice!)
tiles

LucyJu · 21/01/2007 20:38

It's really not that difficult to get at an integrated dishwasher to repair it, if need be. Just make sure that you continue your kitchen flooring under the appliance. We were forever moving our old (integrated) dishwaser out b/c we kept getting leaks. Thankfully, we have a new one now.

From a cleaning point of view, it's a lot easier all round if you have integrated appliances b/c you can clean the floor upo to the kickboards and don't have little gaps between the cupboards and appliances where dust can collect.

Got first new kitchen about 8 years ago and always regretted not getting integrated appliances. Second new kitchen finnally installed about 6 weeks ago (different house, btw). Much happier now that everything is streamlined. With fridges however, you do lose out on a lot of space if it is integrated. We have got quite a big larder style one, so it isn't so much of a problem. Befeore the new kitchen was refitted, we had an integrated under-counter style fridge, and it was tiny inside.

Original poster
PanicPants · 21/01/2007 21:05

Anyone got integrated fridge and dishwasher - and am very happy with them?

OP posts:
CODNoMore · 21/01/2007 21:10

adn integrated dihswasher onyl has a seperate front to it that matches the kithcne
you still cna take it out
i think you misunderstand the term

MICROWAVE

CODNoMore · 21/01/2007 21:10

yes whoa re the freaks hwo have a gap uinder hteir kithcen cupboards
mad mad mad

MIDROWAVE

Original poster
PanicPants · 21/01/2007 21:15

Ok ok, will definitly consider the MICROWAVE

OP posts:
TheWillowTree · 21/01/2007 22:14

We went for everything integratd and it looks great. No problem with size as we have a big fridge and smaller freezer but big chest freezer in the garage.

Also went for tiles - was very careful in choosing them, went for small square ones which have a wavy edge so look a little 'rustic' in three colours - cream for light, pinky to match worktop and yellowy to match beech doors. Put on wall in random patterns and look uttelry fab.

Looked at a house the other day that had my worktop and also had it as a splash back and I did not like it, looked odd to me (but then maybe I am just old fashioned ...)

themoon66 · 21/01/2007 23:23

Do not fear the integrated dishwasher... I fitted my own {proud emoticon] Not a hassle at all. First one I bought was crap Kenwood which broke down in 3 months, so I swapped for a Bosch. DH and me did all the fitting... and we are simpletons in the DIY stakes.