Help me choose a kitchen

[Cheekychip]

We are due to complete on our house the end of April and we plan to continue renting until we have put in a new kitchen and bathroom put in.

Basically I wasn't really relishing the idea of selecting a kitchen as I'm not very good at these things (not great at selecting/putting things together plus very indecisive!) and recently we have decided to start a therapy programme for my autistic son so much of my energy and resource is directed at that.

I didn't even know there were different types of kitchens until my friend told me the other day ie. fitted and freestanding. It's overwhelming me now but it does need doing so........

It's a Victorian 4 bed semi with many original features
It is only 4 x 3 metres
Budget Max £20k but would like to spend less if possible
I like the look of Higham kitchen but they are out of our price range plus you have to order weeks ahead, we'd like our kitchen to be ready to fit by the beginning of May.
I think I'd like white(ish) units, wooden floor and quart/stone worktop
We live 2hrs away from the new house so I'm not going to be around much so would ideally like a builder to project manage, does that sound sensible?

Thanks, I know there is tons of experience out there on mumsnet

If you like traditional - which I do as I don't think it dates. Then look at kit stone kitchens. They only do there styles, all Woden and traditional and can be Painted any colour. They come ready built so you just secure into place .

I have always had black granite and it's very very easy to clean . I love it!!

I am a designer but not of interiors, more of an engineer! I've done 2 or 3 kitchens of my own and just got a bit detail obsessed IYSWIM.

I suspect a bespoke kitchen will be out of your budget but a well designed good quality off the shelf one would give you lots of options.

I've ended up having a 60cm freestanding cooker (much beloved of the older generation) just for practicality but if you google "mini range" Stoves and Cannon and Leisure do nice looking ones and the oven will be as big as a built in one. Leisure. I agonised over not having a big range but instead we have room for a brilliant big larder.

My mum is having a built in oven/microwave in her kitchen but is customising the unit to have them set a bit lower than the standard height so she can reach everything.

I like the strong colours idea! Painted kitchens give you a lot of flexibility for changing the style in future. There is a range called Milton (by Second Nature) that lots of independent showrooms stock that gives you a good in frame look scroll down and lots of colour options.

John Lewis?

Bump

Oh, only just noticed the 2nd page. Back later when the kids are napping ??

Thanks for the offer beaverfeaver, I don't have a plan of the kitchen yet as we don't live there yet and the architect we were hiring has been totally unreliable! I like the idea of a bold colour but I had thought more of the walls than the units. Maybe I'm just too old fashioned but I viewed a house with units that were a strong blue colour and I just though "they've got to go!"
I totally agree about the wall units, some kitchens are crammed with them.

Kit stone kitchens look pretty reasonable - that's if the figures on their website is acurate.

Raisingsteam, I love Cannon and Leisure! This was exactly what I had in mind. I too would prefer a larder or pantry.
Have you used Milton in one of your kitchens?

I like this combination - rich wooden floor, neutral units, quartz? top, strong colour on the walls. Not sure about the oven, it's probably more practical than the Leisure one but not nearly as attractive.

www.sncollection.co.uk/real-kitchens/real-kitchen-projects/milton-painted-purple-kitchens.html

I can strongly recommend Neptune Kitchens. They look a lot more expensive than they are!

We have used a design called Broadoak which is also Second Nature but not in-frame. SN supply doors to various kitchen companies who provide (normally fairly decent) carcases and sell as a package.

I got put off framed kitchens as we inherited a very bad one with lots of very small doors and units that you couldn't reach into. Should be fine if you try to stick to the wider units,and that's in the planning.

That kitchen you linked has the microwave-for-tall-people feature too I noticed! If you like that look, lots of suppliers do a version of it, it's really timeless, just a case of finding a supplier you can work with and interpreting it for your room. There are some good previous threads on kitchens if you search on "kitchens lessons learned".