Home extensions 2017- the one where all builders are dickheads.

[monkeyfacegrace]

Link to the old thread.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/property/2847599-Home-Extensions-2017-come-along-on-the-journey

As you were ladies.

If you make one of your ovens a combi, you won’t need any extra space for that microwave.... am I convincing you yet?

Agree that a butler sink is a good idea for the utility. That's what we're doing too. Does anyone have a combi oven and microwave and find it works well? We are having two ovens so could get one but we were a bit sceptical about whether they perform well.

Does anyone have a small ensuite to decorate? We have one going in under the eaves which will be approx 1.8m square, with a little extra room one way where the sink is in an alcove. There will be one roof window but no regular windows. Going for a bespoke shower enclosure along one wall which will slope down with the roof, wall hung loo and basin on wall hung vanity in alcove. But we are disagreeing on the decoration - big tiles or small? I would prefer no tiles but can't afford glass for the walls and haven't found acrylic in big enough sheets or very many nice colours. We will have a big mirror fitted behind the sink so no need for tiles there. What do you think?

I have a Miele combi oven that works very well.

Go dark and dramatic with the small ensuite. Big tiles or even vinyl wallpaper.

I am now researching combi ovens whatthefox. The only thing is, this would involve buying 2 microwaves - a standalone one for when I don't have a kitchen, and a combi oven for when I do. I was planning just to dump the one I'm going to use over the Field Kitchen phase in the utility, partly coz I'm not sure if I will ever use it again!

glorious - Elle Decoration just did a big feature on bathrooms with loads of ideas, it was really helpful sadly I am not actually doing a bathroom but never mind. Wonder if you can still get a copy?

Whisky, you can buy a cheap microwave in currys for £60 right now. I just bought one for a friend who is currently struggling without a kitchen during a rebuild. She was most grateful!

I got this one

www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/household-appliances/cooking/microwaves/kenwood-k20mss15-solo-microwave-stainless-steel-10100865-pdt.html

I think it was more well received than a bottle of wine. First time that’s ever happened

Oh what a lovely friend you are whatthefox! Bet it was a life-saver!

I am surprised how cheap they are! I am going to get one like that one you posted, and then get a portable induction hob from Ikea like this:

www.ikea.com/gb/en/products/appliances/hobs/tillreda-portable-induction-hob-white-art-40331630/

(BARGAIN ALERT, and I reckon this might be useful afterwards for times like Christmas when I need an extra hob ring).

Between those and an instant pot, I reckon I will be able to cook a decent range of things. Not pizza, though which is an excellent excuse to go to Dominoes all the time-

whatthefox that's what I thought but DH is dead against. We're clearly right, though, aren't we! Thanks for the info on combi oven too.

Whisky I'll see if I can get hold of it thanks. DH isn't obsessively trawling Pinterest like me so he had no idea what is in style or what's normal. He has perfectly good taste but is a bit out of touch and therefore things he thinks are safe choices are actually not!

Trends are funny at the moment, aren't they? I've noticed that almost all interiors magazines which I have spent far too much time reading lately are dividing space between 5 or 6 incredibly different things:

• Scandinavian design (never seems to go out of fashion) but with more than a hint of the Japanese about it, feels like it's almost dutifully included sometimes
• Mid century modern
• Maximalism/metallics/marble
• Colour: red/purple/teal/verdant green/really, really bright 50s pastels/monochrome

Yes! It's like you have to pick your camp.

Ooh very interesting discussion going on here! As of this morning I finally know the dimensions of our utility / pantry. Whatthefox you seem to have an excellent eye for this kind of thing - if I can post a floor plan later I might ask for some tips, pretty please?

We've ended up with much less space than we originally envisaged so will have to stack the washer & tumble dryer. But that's what we had before so I'm not too fussed.

My main concern is that I've just bought a Henry hoover as my Dysons kept breaking - it works well, but it's a chunky little chap and I need somewhere to keep it. Plans to follow...!

@NamedyChangedy £6k covers both the utility room and kitchen.

We've gone for Luca matt white in the utility (which was about £1.5k) and Luca matt white plus hand painted bespoke doors for the island which was the remaining £4.5k. We have gone all out in terms of soft close drawers, side panels, cornice etc etc which added to the cost! We probably could have saved a bit but I wanted all the trimmings 🙈

Our utility is about 2.9x2.2m and we are going for a long worktop run for things like the microwave, bread maker etc. I might move the microwave back into the kitchen depending on how annoying it is.
Have got two tall shallow cupboards for vacuum and extra supplies. Plus separate washer and dryer. And a sink. Will go for a small deep utility sink. And have squeezed in a bin. Plus it will serve as a small mud room as leads into the garden.

Sure Namedy, I’ll take a look later this evening if you like

glorious can I be nosey and ask who you are using for your bespoke shower enclosures? We need to get some bespoke glass made- similar to you, for a small en suite where the shower enclosure sits under the eaves.

Ah @Believeitornot that makes sense - we didn't get units for the utility at the time as we didn't really know how much space we would end up with. I wanted to do the same as you and get the bespoke painted option on the island but I chickened out at the last minute! I'm going to have major island envy when yours is done

Because we had to work round different floor levels, the utility has ended up at just 2m x 1.5m, with a stacked washer-dryer in the corner (on a platform). I was originally going to put cabinets and a cheap laminate worktop next to it on the right, but that would only leave another metre for shelving on the other side. But I'm not the most imaginative with these things, so would welcome ideas!!

Well I am a bit worried about the island because it's Hague blue so quite dark. It's a bit of a leap of faith. I can't believe dh has agreed to it to be honest 🙈 But Pinterest tells me it looks fabulous 😬😆

Is there any reason why the WD and TD has to be there in that corner?

tatlerer from Go Glass in Cambridge. They are just around the corner from the house but I did check prices with a number of other people and they were on the low end. They are very helpful and deliver nationally.

goglass.co.uk/showers/home.php

Great minds - I was going to go for either Hague blue or Stiffkey blue. It's going to look amazing.

I don't know the details but our builder says it has to go there because of the drainage and floor levels. Where would you ideally have put them? Might be worth a chat with him in the morning if there's a better way to do it...?

I hope so! Hague blue looks amazing and I do love a dark navy. Also going for white worktops.

Looking again I guess it's because the water runs along that wall so makes sense.

Given that you can fit two appliances next to each other I'm not I would stack them. I would put them next to each other and have worktop plus a full floor to ceiling cupboard in the remaining space along the wall which backs onto your coat cupboard and shower. You'll need worktop for folding clothes etc.
I'll try and draw a pic.

The reason for stacking is usually when you can't fit the WM and TD side by side. As you can, that's why I wouldn't bother. It also gives you worktop as well.

I've tried to draw a pic. I've put the two next to each other, suggested worktop on top along the length of the 200mm wall. Then on the back wall, I would have a run of tall but 300mm deep units. These could be full height or one full height (e.g. In the left corner) for stuff like the vacuum and base units plus shelves in the middle.

I'd also try and get some shelving where you were planning to put the WM/TD which face into the landing.

Believe and Namedy snap- navy island here too! Also painting my dining room (including the ceiling) Stiffkey blue!

Thank you glorious for the recommendation! Will check them out.

Wow @Tatlerer how does the ceiling look? I bet it's a very luxurious room as a result.

Our next decisions are kitchen tiles and the garden paving.

For tiles, am thinking white but laid maybe in a herringbone pattern or something a bit unusual. I really like these or these but worried about getting the grease out when they get dirty.

well tatlerer it's not even ordered yet so I can't speak for the actual end of the process but I have played with the example they have in their shop...

Also in the navy island club We will have to swap pictures!

Am laughing at the navy blue club.

Will this be the avocado suite of the future