Kitchen units that won't date

[SpongeBobGrannyPants]

Grey is so popular at the moment but I worry it'll look really dated in 5 years. What colour of kitchen units and worktops would you go for if you wanted something that was a bit more timeless (or not look passé after 5 years!), yet still modern?

I don't know the answer but I'm interested too! It's frustrating that lovely kitchens look dated after about 10 years.

Maybe taking inspiration from a period in history - eg 1950s style or something?!

One option I guess is to go really classic country-style but that's not really my cup of tea.

If you have a period house, go for something classic. If you choose a painted finish, you can have it repainted when the colour is out of date or you go off it.

There’s nothing that won’t look dated after a while. But I think the simpler the better. You can never go wrong with white. And you can accentuate with things you can update after a while, like paint, accessories, kettle/toaster, etc.

Just as an example, here's a 1950s style kitchen I found on Pinterest that might date less than something more modern. But maybe it's just dated already instead

I love that! Ours is a mid-sixties bungalow and we're going for Shaker style, DIY kitchens Stanbury light grey. I know grey is the colour of the moment and there is a worry it might date but I like it so we're going for something we like and will try and forget about what's on trend.

RealEstateNovelist - you are so right about white. Our old white kitchen was 28 years old (we installed it in 1988) when we sold our last house and it still looked great and I never tired of it. I loved that kitchen.

With the Stanbury light grey if it gets knocked about and I go off grey we can always paint it white.

I was thinking shaker style in white/off white, so glad some of you are mentioning that.

I have considered the idea of maybe having some on trend features, like gold/brass hardware, that could easily be changed out too if they did date.

What about worktops though? Are wood ones a bit of an upkeep?

I've heard wood worktops can be a nightmare to maintain and my H hates them for that reason so I think we might go for white, possibly laminate (doubt we can run to quartz or Corian). We have wood flooring so there's warmth in the room and different wood might conflict.

I do think accessories can keep a classic or contemporary kitchen up to date.

I saw some laminate in John Lewis that I thought was something else and when I asked the sales guy said, "no, that's laminate". I was pleasantly surprised. Really nice quality. He said a lot of people think "cheap" when you mention laminate, but it's one of the toughest and practical work surfaces you can choose. It's probably just a case of picking one that's fairly plain as when they're made to look like something else (wood or marble for example) it can look a bit naff.

I like the sound of that John Lewis white laminate worktop. Ikea also do a nice looking plain white laminate one which is relatively slim too, which I much prefer.

Something like this, it's similar to ours .

A white slab door is the only thing that won’t date. White shaker is chavvy IMO. Grey isn’t going anywhere in the near future so is a fairly safe bet, as are other neutral colours, even black which is increasingly popular. Be aware that your handle choice can also make your kitchen look dated.

What do u mean by slab door damson? (I’ve got no idea but may need a new kitchen in the next year )

A slab door is just a plain door with no border or anything, like these:

www.nakeddoors.com/cabinet-doors?filter=37

www.geniuskitchens.co.uk/?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Genius%20Showroom&utm_term=kitchens&utm_content=Showroom

Another for white shaker doors here. I think everything will date to some extent, so don’t worry about it too much. Just pick something you like that’s not based entirely on current trends and then enjoy it.

Howdens do a 'cashmere' colour which I want to see in the flesh. Wondering if it may be a happy medium between the whites and greys.

I don't think shaker style is chavvy at all. Many of the interiors blogs/kitchen designers etc. I follow often have them featured in the v.expensive homes. Not keen on the tongue and groove shaker style, mind you.

I’ve been considering the Carrera kitchen from DIY kitchens. I love the cornflower blue, followed by the cashmere, but I know I’ll likely go for white to keep it from dating too early and too keep it neutral for selling in 18 months

The Carrera kitchen is lovely, I agree. And I love the cornflower blue but have settled on the pale grey as a safer option. Can always have blue accessories or paint.

We have the carrera in white, we liked the cashmere but our kitchen is dark and I think it would have felt very drab in there with it. I love the carrera doors, so easy to wipe clean, no nooks and crannies for stuff to get trapped in!

@YorkshireTea86 Yes, my kitchen is small with no windows, so that was my concern also. I want solid wood worktops too and thought that would be too dull with the cashmere. Would go with he cornflower though. Can I ask what worktops you have with the white?

Personally I think the following things are more timeless; they may cycle in and out of the vanguard of fashion, but they will always be simmering on the back burner ready to come back and in my opinion always look nice in a kitchen:

• natural worktop and flooring materials like stone and wood (provided they aren’t ‘bossy’ patterns or finishes that really limit what you can do with the space decor-wise... I’m looking at you, busy peachy-brown speckly granite!)
• good lighting
• white cabinetry
• wood cabinetry that can be repainted or refinished when it starts to look really tired
• good quality appliances
• sensible floor plan

Things that date:

• “of the moment” colours and finishes; the louder they are and the more ubiquitous they are, the quicker they date.
• faux finishes (barring materials like engineered stone worktops and engineered hardwood floors, which I think have more staying power)
• gimmicky bells and whistles (for example, in-hob extractors, which don’t do as good of a job as the overhead ones and take up valuable storage underneath).
• any design that puts form over function (I’m looking at you, unkitchens with very little storage and/or counter space)
• badly designed lighting

That’s just my opinion though!

plain laminate doors, which are very durable, are always "slab" of flat square board, because they are cut from a big sheet, then edged and drilled.

There's a very wide variety of colours and patterns. though I lean towards the plain.

You often see them being thrown out after 30 years because the new owner doesn't like them. It's the same material as used on worktops so is rarely damaged, worn or stained.

Avoid vinyl wrap, which is not the same thing and is not at all durable.

Some great tips there @Linguaphile. Lighting is so important. Our last kitchen was terribly dingy in the corners that I actually did most food prep in and it was very annoying. Will add that to my list!

Most kitchens are designed to look dated in 10 years and it is annoying. The only way round it is to get a joiner to make a kitchen in something like white / cream painted shaker style - more expensive that just off the shelf but only slightly and would last longer. We are looking into this now - the high gloss and grey are obviously going to look dated in 10 years though if its what you like then go for that but not worth spending a fortune on. I saw an older kitchen and it was pale blue shaker style and gorgeous but suspect homemade ones you could repaint.

We've got solid oak worktops and they've been fine but I did put clear varnish on them rather than the oil. You can buy treated ones too though don't know how effective that is.

@naebotherpal we have wood effect laminate, duropal clay sangha wenge from diy too.