Help me 'style' my kitchen diner family room please.

[mumat39]

Hello

I have some pics on my profile of our kitchen, dining and family room.

The kitchen is dark as it has no windows. We recently had the bifold doors fitted replacing the awful thick plastic framed French doors which has improved the light somewhat. But the 'space' just feels a bit bland.

S what could we do, without anything major to improve upon it.

In the corner, to the left of the doors there is a cupboard that houses the boiler. To the right of the sofa is an under stairs cupboard whis is full of just stuff.

We have 2 dc, age 5 and 3, and I'd love to make the area warm and cosy and welcoming. DD is now at the stage where she is starting to ask for play dates so how can I feel proud of our house. It's all so practical at the moment that it feels just Meh to me.

The kitchen is now in what was the garage, and we were restricted o the layout by mains pipes coming into the house. I would have loved an island or breakfast bar bu this wasn't possible. If we have people over, always tend to be in the kitchen with my back to everyone, which I hate.

One idea I'm toying with is whether I could put a breakfast bar next o the fridge on the left, sticking out into the middle. The width between the units is about 160 cm. would this work?

What else would you do to improve it all? I don't think DP will go for reprinting the walls so it has to be changed with accessories.

Also, our table is broken and needs replacing. I think it is too big so am looking at a smaller extendable one. I quite like the idea of a round one, but would that work? I'm looking at the round Bjursta or the Liatorp from IKEA.

Many thanks in advance.

[Chrestomanci]

You've had lots of good advice I think. From the pictures at least your kitchen/family room looks nice, all the furniture is fine, it's just the fripperies you need, which should be the fun bit. Have you any inspiration pictures of kitchens you really like? What are common elements in them?

I like the rectangular table in that space

A rug in front of the sofa, cushions on the sofa, more art etc will really finish the room and make it feel less dingy to you.

From the photos the lights under the cabinets looks quite blue/white (I realise this may be because the tiles are) Could you change the bulbs to give a more yellow warmer light, as this might make a big difference. What about fairy lights - too twee for you? ( I love 'em ) Could you put some up and see if they make a difference?

[GrendelsMum]

[Chrestomanci]

Well I am famed for my style

[mumat39]

GrendelsMum, hi again. You are spot on when you say that I make the suggestions. DP doesn't really have an issue with anything. As long as he isn't going to trip up over something he doesn't really care, whereas I want a lovely home that I like to be in. A the moment, it's fine and of course there are more important things in life to worry about, but I'm at home so much of the time that it's getting me down a bit.

[mumat39]

Deux, hi there.

I think you're right when you use the word paralysed. I am about so many things, including how I look but I've always been a bit stuck in that sense.

I've never heard of shopping your house before. Sounds like a good idea.

The only real place to put a mirror in the kitchen would be behind the hob, which is at the end of the kitchen photo, in the middle. I wonder if a mirror splashback would work to reflect the light from the patio doors. Or do you think we could cover that whole back wall in a wider mirror splashback?

I'd love an island but would probably have to go for a breakfast bar which would also be nice to have. I really don't know if it would be a good idea, but I think I'd like one. DP says that he likes it open as it is now.

That island makeover was interesting, but we don't have any spare things we could use. Good idea though.

What sort of colour throw would you go for? Are there any clever tricks for keeping throws from sliding of shiny leather ?

I LOVE the idea of bells for the kiddies.

Chresto, thanks for your reply too. The lights under the cabinets are LeD strip lights. We did have warm white tube lights but they used to get hot and caused my chocolate stash to melt food in the cupboards to go off too quickly so we had them changed.

The table just feels too big to me and I wonder if a smaller one would be less imposing

What colour rug would you recommend?

And I love twinkly lights and would have them up ALL year round, but don't know quite how I'd arrange them so they didn't look too Christmassy if that makes sense. We actually have led lights above the kitchen cupboards and on the kick boards with different light colour options which was my idea that DP wasn't't sure about and they're quite cool.

There have been some brilliant ideas on here, I just need a pointer in the right direction in terms of colours etc. ie. can someone tell me what to buy

Thanks again for your help.

[GrendelsMum]

I love the idea of 'shopping your home' - why don't you try doing that and see how it goes?

[Chrestomanci]

Interesting about the lights - do you think it made any difference to the feel of the room when you changed the lights? It sounds like you have lots of lighting in the room, does that make a difference when it's on?

RE the colours, what sort of rug etc, it is really hard to say - you have a fairly neutral room, cream walls, brown sofa, wood floor and table - the only real colour comes from the tiles, so you can go lots of ways. I do get the sense that you just need to be confident on your own taste. Personally in your kitchen I would go for a modern scandinavian type look, paint the walls white and have lots of pale blue (to tie in with the tiles) and red (unlikely combo but I like it and will warm things up) accessories. However taste is very personal and lots of people might hate that. Or as someone said upthread - you could use acid brights, or soft pastels - what catches your imagination?

Can you post links to what you like on sites like www.housetohome.co.uk or www.apartmenttherapy.com or pinterest.com and go from there? I also like the sound of shopping your house to get a feel for what colours work.

[BreakOutTheTinselSantasAComing]

Your kitchen could be lovely! I agree with the idea above of a rectangular, white glossy table, and those chairs linked to could look fab with it! Play up the bright colours- I personally would go for chairs in lime green/blue/orange/yellow, and then pick up the colours in the kitchen bit, with coloured canisters, mug stand, a stripy worktop saver. If you can do anything to the kitchen, a bright coloures splashback could be really effective -imagine something like this in the colours you choose!

I would do as earlier suggested, and move your table more centrally in the room, so it is more directly in line with the kitchen- you will probably feel more part of any conversations, etc, and people will be able to chat to you a bit easier, as they will be right in front of you. The couch can easily be brightened with a lime green throw, and a blue cushion, for example. A fab, massive bright picture behind it or a statement mirror will add a bit of interest to that side. Or you could do as someone else suggested, have lots of little pictures that you have taken up there grouped- I would use white or black frames for most, and have one or two frames in each of the colours you picked for the chairs. Lots of happy, informal photos that are bright and sunshiney.

I love all the bright colours, byt the way, in case you can't tell!

[BreakOutTheTinselSantasAComing]

Next have a white extendable table here. These canisters are expensive, but absolutely GORGEOUS! I want them now .

[mumat39]

Hi again Chresto.

The lights in the kitchen are nice and bright, but we have o use them all the time as there are no windows, which when we moved our kitchen we didn't really appreciate. I did notice a difference in the lighting between the strip lights and the led ones. I think the strip lights light was actually nicer, but as we had to have them on all the time, they used to get really hot and I'd cause a problem for storage. S in that sense the led lights are much better. I think I still felt the kitchen was a bit Bland even with the strip lights. I wish we had just gone with white tiles now as I think the colour of the tiles just makes me confused, even though I still really love the colour. Obviously when we saw them it was in a beautiful fired earth showroom which had loads of daylight.

We really wanted to get some of that pale bluey greeny glass for the splashbacks for the whole kitchen, but it was so expensive that we thought that the tiles would be the next best thing. I also think the worktop is too dark. Again, we wanted o go for something like quartz but it was too expensive so we ended up with laminate. At some point in the next few years I think we'll try and get the worktop changed, so I'll be back then to ask for your help again

I also think when we had the work done to move our kitchen I had imagined it in one way but the reality meant that everything was a compromise and I guess I still, maybe, have a hang up about that.

The wall on the left hand side has an angled bit so the main bit of the kitchen is wider than the entrance o it. I think that's why we didn't just go with a breakfast bar when we had the work done. We had ordered the bar, which was just a laminate worktops, but when it arrived it was damaged, and the company the kitchen was from didn't have any left. So it got left and now I'm just considering it again, so I really appreciate your help.

Deux, I tried the shopping your house thing with some cushions, as that's the only things we have that I could try it with. I can't believe I hadn't tried it before to be honest [Fconfused]. The cushions are single coloured ones in two shades of blue, pale and darker and some green ones with patterns on them. But they didn't really work with the dark of the sofa, so I may have to try and get some brighter coloured ones to see what they look like. At the moment I'm thinking lime, but just have to find the right shade.

Thanks again for your help.

[mumat39]

Breakoutthetinsel. Thanks so much for your reply. The detail sounds brilliant. I like that table from next too. Do they do good furniture? I haven't had much luck with their clothes. I really like the idea of the coloured chairs that were suggested up thread. I can't go back without losing this so can't remember the lovely mn'ers name who suggested them. cool!

I am quite broad of bum so would those chairs that narrow like that work for my shape?

I've always wanted a photo wall but was worried it might be a bit vain esp if it's just pics of my dc. I love the idea of the different coloured frames. I can imagine that would look better as it would be more fun. The pic that is up is of my dd and DS walking down a country lane holding hands. They'd gone slightly ahead of us and I managed to take the picture and I just love it as it captures them and how they are with each other perfectly.

My dc run around all the time, so that's the reason the table's pushed back. I did try today to move it to the other side of the room at a right angle to the wall but it's so big that there wasn't much room left and it'd in't feel right if that makes sense.

Ikea do a white extendable table in the Bjursta range that is square to start with and rectangular when extended. On the next one, when extended, do the legs get in the way so people sitingon either side have to straddle them? It looks like they might. The round ikea one, extended with the legs so they stay on the corners (if you can have corners on a round or oval??)

The pimp my kitchen link looks good, so thanks for that. It funny I sat down to surf and was wondering about googling 'pimp my kitchen' bu came to MN instead, and noticed your reply with a link to the site, as I posted my previous one. Isn't it weird when you get coincidences like that?

Thanks so much for your reply. I think there's a next home not too far from here so I may venture there next week to see if they have the table on display.

Thanks so much for our reply. I can really visualise what you mean.

[Deux]

Sounds like you're getting your mojo back.

I was just browsing the OKA sale and there are some cushions on this page that might work with your sofa, lime green and burnt orange? The rectangular cushions might be nice running along the sofa by the arms, then patterned ones at the back. Just a thought on colour. www.okadirect.com/en-GB/products/sale/browse-sale/view-all-accessories?_view=all&_max=40

About a throw slipping off, you could just put it over the back and tuck it down behind the cushions?

[BreakOutTheTinselSantasAComing]

I had lots of fun writing it- I love decorating things in my head!

I've always found Next furniture good, I've had my bed from there for 8 years and it still looks like new! I would definitely go for square/regtangular rather than circular, as your kitchen is quite square looking- lots of edges and a stark colour. I always think of circles as soft, squares as hard if you get what I mean! (Yes, I am weird!). I'm afraid I have no idea whether chairs like that are wide or comfy, as I've never used them, I just think they look cool . I suppose lots of people buy them, or similar, would they be popular if they were rubbish? My tables an extendable one, it seems to work more that people sit on corners rather than straddling, IYSWIM?

The throw, I wouldn't worry about it falling, etc, as I wouldn't use it to cover the sofa as such, more as a blanket for the couch, thrown over the arm or back, that helpfully adds a splash of colour. And of course it's not vain to have pictures of your lovely DC! I plan to do this on my staircase, and I've raided my mums old pictures for it too. So as well as having pictures of me and DD, I have nieces and nephews, parents and grandparents, informal wedding snaps, mum and dad as teenagers, some black and white, some sepia, some colour. I'm going for all different sizes in non-matching oak frames, but the coloured ones are really tempting me for my kitchen now! I've seen the coloured frames in my local poundstretcher, by the way.

[BreakOutTheTinselSantasAComing]

I think I would go for a throw maybe like this, with, say this, and maybe this to tie it all together.

[WynkenBlynkenandNod]

Agree with the others about personalising with things you like, thy can make a big difference to the feel of a room. But also maybe have a think about the garden as you've such a lovely view of it.

A couple of pots/troughs on the patio with a hardy herb like rosemary or sage in it, some spring bulbs planted to come up next year then a winter flowering plant like a cyclamen (you can get some that come back each year). Then once the bulbs have finished in the spring you can put in something that will see you through the summer.

[Deux]

OP, just had another thought. What about taking advantage on an in-store design service? Talking it through with them might help you work out your own style?

I'm linking to the John Lewis one here www.johnlewis.com/Magazine/Feature.aspx?Id=110

I think other stores like M and S do them too. You could take lots of photos in and you wouldn't have to commit to buy anything from them.

[mumat39]

Thanks again everyone. Just showed DP the next table and he said 'cool' so a good start. Then shouted him those coloured chairs, and he asked if I was trying to creat an Ikea Cafe look?

Thanks for all the links. We have a couple of cushions in that turquoise-y co,our so that's a good start. I hadn't thought of the design service. I just assumed it would cost loads. Will definitely look into that.

And I'll definitely get some pots planted up with spring bulbs. They'd have to sit next to the little wall in the garden as the doors are bifold ones that open out wards. Thanks for the suggestion.

[Deux]

The John Lewis in store design is free if you do it in the shop. I'm sure they will hope you buy but can't imagine them being hard-sell.

Great that your DH likes the table. What about Philippe Stark Louis Ghost chairs www.costco.co.uk/view/category/uk_catalog/cos_2,cos_2.1?1brand=Kartell. These are a very good price from Costco.

[Karbea]

Hello,

I have exactly the same shape kitchen as you, but our dark bit is the family room rather than the kitchen.

The thing that really sprang out at me was you've used no colours at all. We had to work with a black granite worktop which i would have changed if I could as it sucks out light from the room but I've worked with it, we have a pallet of green (light and dark), grey/black and silver. I agree with the comment about mirrors you should try and get as many in as possible as this will help bounce the light, as will any use of White.

I did make an island so funny to see that link here(although mines better :) ). I've painted it the same colour as my family room feature wall, so to many the ends of the L together. But you can get one on wheels free ikea cheaply, but bare in mind width, I think adding one might make it look like you've too much furniture if your kitchen isn't wide enough, couldn't tell.

But add colour, something bright, I think green like me would work for you too, and it's an easy colour to work with.

[mumat39]

Hi Deux, thanks again. I'll definitely be looking at the JL design option now I know it's free

Karbala, thanks for your reply. Wuld you be happy to post some pics of our kitchen? I think the fact that we went for the colour tiles in the kitchen, that's confused me about what other colours to add. Ther are some brilliant suggestions on this thread so if you'd be happy to share photos of your room that would be really helpful. I can pm you with my email address if that's easier?

Thanks again for your reply.

[mumat39]

Sorry, karbea, not karbala. damn autocorrect keeps changing words without me noticing.

[KatzGold]

We were going to have a circular table but they just took up too much room, we went for a glass one which has actually faired really well, plus as its glass its reflective and makes the light bounce, plus when we view the gloss tables they were horribly scratched which put me off.

glass table

We went for comfy dining chairs so that people could stay sat in the dining room whilst cooking/clearing after.

chairs this complemented our leather sofas

[Bakingtins]

marking place - need some tips.

[mumat39]

Hi Katz

I was originally looking for a glass dining table too, but the corners put me off, ESP as I have clumsy dc who I'd worry would injure themselves.

Do you have to be extra careful with it?

Those chairs you linked to are really lovely too. Thanks.

[mumat39]

I should say I was looking for a round glass table before, but I think based on the concensus on this thread, we'll probably go for a square/rectangular one that can be extended.