Kitchen - cupboards / flooring / worktops

[sheeplikessleep]

Woohoo, looks like we're about to get our long and eagerly awaited kitchen.

I'm just after some inspiration on co-ordinating flooring / cupboards and worktop.

My thoughts are ...

I want wood / laminate floor, as it's going to be a reasonably sized kitchen diner (so not as keen on tiles in the dining area)

I don't think wooden cupboard doors would work with laminate floor, so thinking cream / white / pale green / pale grey cupboard doors?

I don't want real wooden worktops - we just aren't disciplined enough on the maintenance front.

All the cream cupboard fronts seem to have wooden worktops. I can see why - cream / white cupboard fronts with white or black worktops seem much more 'stark' and less warm.

Any ideas or inspiration would be very much welcomed! I see some pictures, where I think, love the cupboards, others where I see the worktop and think love the worktop (I'd like chunky, thick, square edged natural stone, but probably prevented on price and again, against white / cream cupboards, it might look too stark?).

Also don't want ultra cutting edge, more middle of the ground, modern but won't date (as quickly) preferred.

Thanks for reading

Just remembered the Second Nature Fresco doors are flat and matt white - but foil wrapped not wood. Really good value on www.diy-kitchens.com.

I really need to make a decision...

Kitchen designer coming round at 10am

Amazonian - you really are kitchen cabinet door guru

I thought Tewkesbury looked more 'grooved' than the Burford? TBH, I think I prefer the smooth look of the vinyl wrapped doors (although appreciate real wood would be better quality). This isn't our 'forever' house, so as long as it lasts 10 years reasonably, I'll be happy.

I saw Tewkesbury at the weekend in the Warehouse too, but I think it was the green one (?), as it looked a lot more 'colourful' than the Burford grey (which I do like as it isn't too different, but more of an 'off' neutral). DH thinks Burford cream is best for being more neutral for buyers in the future (but then I will have final say ;) ).

That linear range looks gorgeous. I'm going to look up Second Nature Fresco doors. Hope your kitchen designer gives you lots of ideas and answers questions, rather than raising more questions! Let us know

Well unpainted kitchens can copy the linear range a bit cheaper (about 5000 exl vat) for the units we want- but quality of construction not quite as good.

Linear doors are actually mdf with small strip solid timber edge on the side of the hinge. But they look solid.

Does anyone have any experience of unpainted kitchens?

Are they reasonable quality?

We;ve just had the Howdens Twekesbury Oak fitted - and we're very impressed with it, the look and quality and help from Howdens. Not sure how many cupboards, but i do know i bought 22 door handles and 7 drawer pulls. Came in around £5.5 incl fitting....i think it looks far more expensive

Amazonian - how did the designer appointment go?

He's gone away to plan the design, he was keen to push a painted vinyl door - nice stone colour, kind of greyish stone but not cold. I liked the colour but I'm not sure about the actual door? It's a shaker style but seems to be made in 5 parts so would question how sturdy it is. Anyway I'm only interested in the layout at this stage - we're considering moving the kitchen to a different room and I haven't got my head round how it will function yet.

Feeling like I'll never make a decision!

Ooh sounds nice! What worktop are you getting with grey (if you went for it?). I'm a bit concerned it is a bit of a colder colour, than cream or wooden cupboards. It's difficult trying to see it all together!

Hope you get it all sorted soon!

It's definitely not a cold grey but more greeny grey. At least it wouldn't show the dirt as much as white or cream. I'd still prefer one I could paint myself (well maybe not me personally) a sort of F&B greigy colour.

Everyone I know seems to have the black sparkly granite worktop, so I'm thinking of a light sparkly Caesarstone or similar with little flecks in that would pick up virtually any light grey/greige/off white cabinet. I do like walnut or teak or iroko wooden worktops too but think I'm too slatternly to keep them dry.

You see, totally indecisive! Have ordered a Harvey Jones brochure, still like the www.diy-kitchens.com prices, wouldn't rule out Howdens, am going to follow up a Mumsnet recommendation for independent furniture makers in Leeds, and have just discovered that Neptune Kitchens are very close by too. By the time I've installed my dream kitchen I'll have to adapt it to incorporate my zimmer frame.

Maybe just get the zimmer frame adaptability incorporated now then ;)

I love the stone look worktops, the ones that just look like a smooth slab of rock in your kitchen. I just haven't investigated them too much because of the cost and assume they'll be beyond budget. Likewise, real wood just would look shite within a year in our kitchen. We are the messiest cooks.

It is lovely but so stressful to decide on a kitchen!

Apologies for blatant hijack but any opinions/advice re. colour scheme for my (first ever!) new kitchen would be appreciated. Keen on gloss cream units, pale grey amtico stone-effect floor tiles and mid-blue quartz worktops. Cannot find any posh designer pics of such a kitchen - does this mean I'm hopelessly behind the times ahead of the curve with the next big trend? Earth colours are everywhere at the mo (and lovely) but I've got a lighter, fresher look in my head. Any thoughts/ideas/hysterical laughter welcome!

Oops it's Jan LAST year....

On diy kitchens there is a computerised style tool where you can change the kitchen picture to various cupboard ranges, and alter the floor/walls/worktops to a (more limited) set of colours and styles. Not sure if there's a blue worktop though.