Anyone fancy a bit of a natter about beautiful kitchens?

[thenewaveragebear1983]

We’ve decided to pull some money out of our B2L equity to do our kitchen. It’s not much, we’re only doing a makeover, and we only have about 2-3k to do it. But I’m so excited!

I can’t be bothered with Pinterest boards, I want to chat with real people!

Currently it’s an 80’s monstrosity. I have visions of cream gloss doors, pendant lighting, pan drawers....

Anything you think I should consider? Or just fancy an idle muse about kitchen ideas? Any tried and tested suggestions?

The thing is gloss is popular because it reflects the light and looks nice. I don’t find it an issue to keep clean. The key is a wet cloth and a dry cloth. I had shaker before in oak - way too many ridges for collecting grot. My kitchen is a stunner!

Yes, wax on wax off. Build up your arms at least

Oddcat we too are looking at redoing our kitchen/living room including walls down.

It's that or move! I've been here 13yrs and am bored 😐

It would also mean coming straight into our kitchen instead of the hallway.

I like having a hallway but it's so narrow that I have to squeeze in if I'm carrying shopping bags , I hope to knock the wall down between the kitchen and hall and have a new front door that hinges on the opposite side to now to give more room .

Put in soft close drawers/doors.
Pull out baskets in as many cupboards as you can.
I upgraded my kitchen a few years ago, put in cream high gloss doors, dark cream/biscuit coloured counter top, and soft close doors/drawers. I adore it.

I also can't wait to get rid of the very dark grey almost black floor tiles , they never look clean ! Any ideas on what colour I should go for next ?

Thanks everyone, loads of inspiration

Feel free to share any pictures!

I think we’re set on the gloss units partly for the light- I want a dark green on the walls, cream units, brassy accessories and the counter tops are black, plus wooden (like industrial style, reclaimed wood?) shelves, and then I have loads of bold bright retro bits and bobs which will accessorise.

I agree oddcat, we inherited lots of tiles in this house and the worst ones to keep clean are the black ones. We have shiny ceramic cream ones in our dining room and they really don’t show the dirt, although they do feel cold and I’m not sure how safe they’d be in a kitchen? We have a sort of grainy textured one in our kitchen, I don’t like them and they hold the dirt in the grain. I would love to replace the floor but I don’t think the budget will stretch that far. I’d choose a wood effect if i could.

There is so much to think about isn’t there! Will definitely look at the soft close doors.

I'm so tempted to get a bank loan and get going on it now , I'm waiting for a (hopefully) hefty insurance claim to come through which will pay for the kitchen but I've been waiting for two years now !

Whats the age/style of your house? I find those real homes magazines are good for inspiration, showrooms /brochures never look very real. I mean there is a wide range of tastes but I like the quirky ones rather than extremes of super farmhouse Shaker v super sleek modern. Do something interesting!

Checking in.

We are refurbishing our house. Got loads of boring invisible stuff to do over the next few months. Then it will be kitchen time! Yay!

Wow @thenewaveragebear1983 that sounds some colour scheme and mix of decor. If you go for it would love to see the pix. How big is your kitchen?

Nipped around Smallbone of Devizes on Saturday, there was none of that industrial look there, lol. Gonna paint our old wooden inset kitchen cupboards French grey - daring or what. :D

Our house is 1950’s, but has been soullessly renovated unfortunately. All features stripped out, an original parquet floor either removed or covered with tiles throughout the downstairs. Heartbreaking. (We only know this from rightmove previous listings photos)

It probably does sound odd, but I ate at a gastro-tapas pub a few months ago and they had the perfect dark green/wood/industrial/retro combination. First I stole it for my bathroom, now I want it in the kitchen too! I have a 1960’s oak table anyway, and loads of vintage bits so it does go with the age of the house and my own style. It’s quite a big kitchen and I’m quite confident to go bold. The actual kitchen will be quite neutral, decor can be changed!

Oooh check under the tiles for the parquet - you can refurb it. We did in an ex-council house we lived in, loved it! You could stain it some outrageously dark colour! :)

That green is gorgeous, I'm normally quite conservative with colour but had a mad half hour last year and painted my kitchen lime green !

Thanks, I do love it. The bright accessories really lift the dark colour too.
I would love to find the parquet but Dh is having none of it. Maybe one day.....!

Get in there and check out if there's parquet - it could look really industrial/warehouse! ;)