How can I revamp this kitchen?!

[badgerread]

I’ve recently bought a house with this kitchen, the worktop is quartz but I hate the colour. I thought it would be a simple case of replacing it with a pale laminate, white wall and floor tiles until I can afford a new kitchen. In a million years. Oh no, not that simple because of the odd shape and measurements. I’ve just been quoted £2700 which I just can’t afford.

Can anyone offer some worldly advice on what I can do?

Are the cupboards gloss grey?

Agree the work tops aren't great but I think they tiles/wall art whatever they are are worst! I would get that sorted either tile white or paint white to brighten etc.

You can by cheap worktop from diy stores £20 upwards any then either fit yourself for pay someone, it's wouldn't be to expensive

I have also seen online people usual fablon to cover worktops no idea how good it really is and you would need to use chopping boards for cutting/hot land but may work just for temporary fix

Can you talk to a quartz or corian fabricator. Maybe they can suggest something. Otherwise...Wood or bamboo would look good and may come in different widths than laminate to accommodate that sink area, there would be some joins but it would transform the look of your kitchen.

I once had a quote of £2700 For two modest runs of German laminate.

Can you get stainless steel splashbacks, and I think there is a company that covers worktops with stainless steel if that's an option. Then paint walls a different colour?

I'd probably just live with it for a little bit and save the cost of any 'tone down' towards a new kitchen.

There are some companies who will put a granite surface on top of existing worktops - I think there’s one called Granite Transformations. Might work out a bit cheaper. I think I would replace the tiling and let the worktop grow on me though!

Rather than spend a couple of thousand now I agree with those who say try to live with it. Whilst the colour combination is awful the quality of quartz is great and given you won't care about it you can chop, put hot pans on it! Use the kitchen as it is and work out what you like about it, how the layout works and what you might change and then invest in your dream kitchen a few years down the line.

I reckon you will love it after a few weeks! 😆 Actually I really like cupboards and don't hate the red. I think I would look into a resin paint or some sort of coating.

badger we used a company called worktop express. They can produce solid wood worktops cut to bespoke sizes/shapes very cost effectively. Wood involves quite a bit of upkeep of course, which you may not want (ours is just on a peninsula and we have low maintainable laminate elsewhere) but it’s another option you could consider.

I tiled worktops. It looked great and extended my kitchen for a few years until I could afford new one. In my new kitchen I have no wall tiles just a stainless steel back splash from B & Q.

Friend painted her worktops grey and then two coats of yacht varnish. Still good condition and looking good after two years.

I love it! Strong and bold! Whats not to love 😍

LadyB49 - a friend used yacht varnish on her wooden table and it's great. Did your friend have quartz/granite worktops though as mine is?

Friend had laminated worktops.

Hmmm. Don't think it would be a common thing to paint quartz.

I googled painting granite and quaryz. Found something on www.hunter.com
Abrade surface with very fine wire wool.
Use a primer.
Use an oil based paint.
Use diluted varnish.

Thank you!

Google 'quartz overlay worktops' it's a thin 8mm or so worktop that sits on top of your existing.

Plenty of places seem to do it. Not sure on price tho

Thanks mak but their minimum price was £1800 😔

Wouldn't new doors look odd if you went for a different colour because you'd still have the dark grey down the sides and on the bit surrounding the oven?

I like the units and don't hate the red worktop. I think if you paint the wall tiles white (or new white tiles over them) it could look quite nice.

I’d just get a wooden worktop op won’t be that much

I quite like the units!

I would replace the counter with wood effect and get tile paint to paint over all the tiles in cream. Then paint the walls a couple of shades lighter. Would also get a dark cream blind to soften the window. Would cost peanuts and make a huge difference.

I've had another quote tonight and because of the odd shape and measurements a.laminate worktop would be £1400 minimum and it wouldn't look great because of the joins. The kitchen cabinets are eally good quality and cost a fortune, as did the worktop, I just don't get why someone would choose that combination 😆. Plan is to remove the tiles and paint the walls white, I have got some grey speckled film that I may use on the worktop, bit naff but will do for now. Flooring will be floorboards (as the whole downstairs will be with rugs until I can afford decent flooring!) Then in a couple of years get a new kitchen. Which shouldn't be too expensive.as I don't need appliances, they're all high spec Neff.

Thanks so much for all your ideas, they were really helpful.

You can see it's a really good quality kitchen. I think it would look so much better with plain white tiles. I wouldn't take too many risks with trying to cover up the red, as if it goes wrong it will look worse, or be expensive to sort out!

If you changed the wall tiles, floor tiles and work surface would you actually need to get a new kitchen? It looks like a nice design to me and not that old, it just hideous colour combinations!

Personally I think you could easily keep the units and they would look really lovely with a light coloured work surface a white with slight marble effect maybe? Then it’d be a case of lightening the floor tiles and walls and you’d have a stunning kitchen without having to replace a lot of it. Pinterest pic attached for an idea of the colouring I pictured.

Are the walls painted a yellow colour or is it just the lighting?

Keep the whole thing as it is and just pay for a few sessions of hypnotherapy to help you appreciate the kitchen. It’ll be much cheaper.

I think I'd replace the wall and floor tiles but keep the kitchen and worktop.

Strong design is a good description and I'd never choose that worktop but it's the terrible combination that is really memorable. White tiles, grey grout would tone it down a lot. Maybe something like these Harvey Maria floor tiles: www.harveymaria.com/Floor-Range/grey/Fossil-Grey

Then maybe some nice cheap art that even (cringe) picks up the red a bit.

Wouldn't be my dream kitchen but would look more together.

I hope the rest of the house is less unusual!

I definitely think with white tiles and walls it would look a lot better. And I still quite like the worktop, the units are nice ones. You could also look at changing handles if you wanted to.