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Original poster

Give me your best reccomendations for ...

125 replies

nutellaontoastgirl · 04/09/2018 11:14

It's me again, pecking brains until this kitchen is sorted!! Grin

After much debate about whether integrated is best or not I am pro and dh is against but that's all now been dealt with I am after :

An integrated washing machine

Integrated dryer

Five burner gas hob (this has got to be silver not black)

Eye level ovens

Integrated dishwasher

Aaand a freestanding American style fridge freezer. Now here's the catch; does anyone have a BIG fridge which is less bulkier than an American?? And might even be the same depth as a standard kitchen cabinet? (600mm) We have looked at sub zeros and they are out of our league price wise.

So. If any of you lovely lot have any fab reccomendations to make of the above stuff pleeeeease help me out. Ta very much!

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Worieddd · 08/09/2018 10:15

nutellaontoastgirl

How big is your kitchen? You will most definitely be able to get that price down at Howdens. Which range is the quote for? Keep on at them and buy it towards the end of the month. Also their sale is in October if you can wait!

I did the same as Saffronesque, brought a quartz sample back home and splashed it with numerous food items and left them.
Interesting about the chappatis on induction hobs - did you have to get a special tawa for it? Also I like using my traditional indian pans for cooking and making indian tea, how do you go about that?

Worieddd · 08/09/2018 10:17

Whilst we’re on the subject of kitchens (sorry to hijack your thread) can anybody recommend decent stainless steel undermount sinks? I keep hearing about Franke but are they that good cos they’re very dear. I don’t really like the ceramic/butler sinks.

mum2015 · 08/09/2018 10:51

Worieddd,
Thanks for the fridge/freezer recommendation as it could be the one that would fit perfectly in my kitchen unless I move electricity meter.
Saffronesque,
On sample check I have found turmeric mark doesn't go unless sprayed well with ciff and removed after soak. I prefer not to use so much cleaning sprays and it is one of the reason hesitating to get quartz though it looks so much better than laminate we have at the moment.

Original poster
nutellaontoastgirl · 08/09/2018 11:09

Just spoken to Howdens - they're willing to look into a like for like quotation if I send them an invoice from dh friends company. We are however paying cash for that price and they havnt sent us an invoice. What do I do now. Feel cheeky asking them for an invoice as it's obvious I'm taking it elsewhere ?

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NewKitchenLove · 08/09/2018 19:21

Can you use the Ikea or diy kitchens planners to see how much everything would cost there? And use that for your negotiation?

SorryNotSorry · 08/09/2018 21:30

I am in love with this thread.

We went to the Miele experience day fell in love with their ovens and steam ovens and went looking for a cheaper alternative. Fell even more in love with Gorenge, they have amazing videos on youtube of their products are well thought of in europe and seem like a cheaper version of Miele, plus they do make products for other companies. But kitchen places here either hadn't heard of them or didn't rate them and it was hard to find someone who sold the products we wanted I think John Lewis discontinued them. So our new Miele on the cheap plan is a not so cheap Siemens plan.

In terms of fridge and freezer we are going with the samsung with a 615l capacity which is only a little less capacity than side by side integrated and smaller, cheaper and you don't need to buy doors for it.

Pretty impressed with your bargains on this thread, I went to an appliance shop looking for ex display but it's hard when you have researched what you want to death and they don't have it.

I did see an undermount sink which was a lookalike of blanco it was by Caple today, much cheaper and only felt a little bit rough around the edges but definitely worth investigation.

Bewarethequietboy · 08/09/2018 21:36

I haven't heard of gorenje before and so looked them up on Which. It had big warnings about potentially flammable backing plastic on their fridges. Not sure if it's still a problem and they might have changed materials but may be worth investigating further if you are considering buying them. May also be why John Lewis have stopped stocking them?

Saffronesque · 08/09/2018 22:46

Re quartz & turmeric I agree for quite a few. That is why I tested on around 20 samples till I whittled it down to 4 & then chose the one with best price. The samples were all ones that I would be happy with.

Induction tavas are on Amazon & obtainable in India.

Masala chai - I received a free set of 5 induction suitable steel pans with my Neff hob. Work fine.

For wok, stock pot/dhal & roasting pan, circulon infinte is fab.

Original poster
nutellaontoastgirl · 09/09/2018 10:23

https://www.which.co.uk/news/2018/01/gorenje-pulls-the-plug-on-plastic-backed-fridge-freezers/

Just thought I'd leave this here in case anyone has been put off. But thanks for that @Bewarethequietboy , it's good to know, and is worth double checking your model has an aluminium back .

Off to curry's with the the 3 dc today God send help while dh is at work.

Although it must be said, managing 3 dc in a big shop is easier than going appliance shopping with dh Hmm

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Original poster
nutellaontoastgirl · 09/09/2018 10:24

@SorryNotSorry Ao do some goronje stuff, also marks electrical and ness appliances.

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Bewarethequietboy · 09/09/2018 10:55

Oh that's reassuring to read. Thanks

mum2015 · 10/09/2018 07:48

Saffronesque,

Which quartz did you choose and what supplier? Turmeric is the main cause of thinking about wood effect laminate for me, though I love beautiful white quartz. I even thought of getting some brown quartz or granite, but don't like it much so can't justify the cost.

Original poster
nutellaontoastgirl · 10/09/2018 17:09

White quartz is beautiful and flash with bleach deals with any tumeric stains in seconds ! Sadly our budget couldn't stretch to quartz tops though.

We've ordered our kitchen today! Whoop whoop, so excited Grin just need to buy the all important appliances now !!!

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bobkate · 10/09/2018 18:32

Ooh that's exciting nutella I'm hoping we can order ours tomorrow! I'm still dithering over colour though!!!!!

onewayoflife · 10/09/2018 18:41

Woohoo!!! Which colour did you go for in the end?

mum2015 · 10/09/2018 19:38

Flash with bleach noted. Thank you. I like quartz too. I will sacrifice big larder and build kitchen around the electric meter and boiler, so we can afford to include quartz in budget.
Which kitchen did you order and what colour? What is your final design. You know it, I will be thinking about it and can't sleep!!!

bobkate · 10/09/2018 21:23

Yep - come on nutella a little clue at least!!!

Worieddd · 10/09/2018 22:20

Yes I would like to know too!

We are clearing out ours this week - eating the last dregs of food in the cupboards and fridge ready for the great big rip out on Monday!

Original poster
nutellaontoastgirl · 10/09/2018 22:23

Haha sorry, dealing with three littlies and all that ! Grin

So the kitchen we went with is a dusty grey shaker style kitchen .. a white worktop and I am going to go for brass handles.

https://www.kitchenstori.com/kitchen-collection/kensington-light-grey-dust-grey/

There you go ! Grin

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Original poster
nutellaontoastgirl · 10/09/2018 22:33

We have tweaked the final design to include three full height larder style cupboards. Also I've swapped the American fridge (hate these) for a side by side fridge and freezer larders. This meant having to sacrifice about 25cm more of worktop space as we also have a surround around the fridge/freezer but y'know, I have three young dc who can eat their way through a mountain of food in a couple of days so needs must for that extra fridge/freezer space! Dh loves his American fridge freezers but I won this one again 

Oh, also I have added a solid oak worktop in the utility area which looks gorgeous against the grey and which I cannot wait to see, I am beyond excited ! 

What else .... hmmm....some pan drawers beneath the second sink, a good 900 size. Love me all the pan drawers  on another note, can you fit a Belfast sink atop pan drawers anyone? I bet you can't, I've always seen two little cupboard doors beneath Belfast sinks.

And that's about it really!

@Worieddd How exciting ! Have you decided on a kitchen? Colour/style/links please! Grin

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Original poster
nutellaontoastgirl · 10/09/2018 22:47

Right picture time! Grin

So I'm moving on to radiators!
As per usual, dh wants something abit modern and I was lusting after cast iron traditional radiators which we just can't afford as we have 10 radiators to buy so we have shopped around and found a style that we both love .. it's like a column design, kind of abit like a period style but also abit more slick looking. Ok, I'll just post the pic Grin

Post your pics please people! I love looking at all the different things people are buying for their Reno ! Grin

Give me your best reccomendations for ...
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Worieddd · 10/09/2018 22:52

Ooooh that’s a lovely kitchen! I nearly went for grey too but we are having a howdens Tewkesbury Skye which is basically sage shaker style.
Cup handles and knobs here too in a brushed nickel and off white quartz worktops that have a subtle marble effect with undermount stainless steel sinks in both the utility and kitchen. I’m also mega excited for the pan drawers Grin I only have a little pull out larder unit - I can already imagine my 3 year old trying to climb on it when open Hmm

I’m also kinda nervous about the American style fridge freezer as it’s going to stick out but it’s at the end of a run so hopefully won’t look too weird?

Pics have been taken from google!

Give me your best reccomendations for ...
Give me your best reccomendations for ...
Worieddd · 10/09/2018 22:54

Yes yes yes I am looking at the exact radiator styles! Love the cast iron ones in white and they are not actually as expensive as I thought they would be. Only thing is does it take a lot more energy to heat one up? Confused

Original poster
nutellaontoastgirl · 10/09/2018 23:06

@Worieddd you are giving me worktop envy , absolutely love it!!!!

Where have you been looking for your radiators btw

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