Hate new kitchen

[Remmy123]

I hate my new kitchen, I'm so upset with myself.

The colour just looks awful in the new extension. It's not a paintable kitchen.

It's the main hub of the home it just depresses me when I am in there.

Wouid I be mad to replace all of the doors, end panels etc? The company I got it from have a vast range of doors the same size so it would be simple. It's not bespoke. Love my worktop etc.

I wasn't in right frame of mind when I chose it and I chose bad.

I don't have the money to do it so I'd have to put it on finance/ save

But if he happy / I even hate cooking in it 😢

Or two, ideally.

My kitchen is south-facing and mostly glazed. Everything I liked at the beginning was too bright for the space and would have been glaring to live with. I have light base units, but a darker (laminate) marble work surface that's mottled and a dark charcoal, "tiled" splashback behind the range (no real tiles so nothing to get grubby.) Spray it with degreaser, and wipe.

OP, have you tried taking a photo and then photoshopping different colours on the walls and adding accessories? It would look very different with rich red, navy, lime green or ochre walls.

I agree with painting some of the walls a darker colour around the units. If it’s a big room it will be able to take some strong colour in some of it and the units will look very differently against it.

Paint is the cheapest/safest option for a quick change of atmosphere.

Feel so sorry for you, OP 🙁 you should be able to feel joy at such a big purchase.

We have a big bathroom - got it redone and the floor tiles just didn't look right even though I'd chosen the colour and the tiles. I just didn't like them and it wasn't the dream bathroom I wanted.

I got them replaced almost straight away and now I love it.

I think it's lovely! Totally my style. It's very modern and it's how I would like my kitchen once I get round to renovating it.

PS - @Westonsupermarebeauty - the OP has posted a property question in the property section. You're being ridiculous.

You may just have too bright a white, or too yellow/green/brilliant. My best whites are Lime White (Little Green), Dulux Timeless or Egyptian Cotton for a light neutral that shifts and modulates between warm and cool. In the Dulux colour match range, for a softened "white" Bleached Lichen card is what I have on the exterior, kitchen walls and woodwork, in different intensities, so it works indoors and out. It's very slightly warm-toned, but reads as white.

I definitely wouldn't go down the finance route - never a good idea to use finance unless it's essential. I'd save up for it (cheaper than finance) and in the meantime you might change your mind about it.

Sorry to bombard you, but while F&B is rightly much-loved for the subtlety of its white tones, it's probably not the best choice for a kitchen as it ain't very durable.

Do you see the colour of the radio in the 'fake' picture. That would be lively as a feature wall somewhere. Tones in, so no contrast, if you dont like that, but gives a bit of depth and strength.

I absolutely love the grey cupboards, in the picture you attached.

Oooo I think it looks lovely
I do know what you mean though about not liking something and it really bothering you. I've had a new kitchen recently and they put the tiles on in a on top of each other way and not brick affect, they have also done a shit job of the silicone and every time I look at it it makes me so angry and hate the whole kitchen. not much I can do about the tiles now but going to rip all the silicone off and neaten it up but it's just finding the time to do it. also keep thinking I got the wrong colour tile as I've got like beech colour worktops and floor then grey tiles.

I really like it too, it pretty similar to my kitchen. I would live with it a bit longer and then change some of the units next year if you are still not happy. I have never painted kitchen units but wonder if it would be difficult to get a good finish so could end up looking a bit rubbish.

Thanks everyone! I know it's ridiculous in the grand scheme of things but it's the most used room and I look at it and think somethihg isn't right!!

Will have a good read of commevts tomorrow and try abd make a plan

@winetime89 desk get that sorted - it's an easy fix!

@EmmaC78 yeah painting this wouid look bad

Our kitchen is that pinky grey Cashmere colour, its not my favourite especially with beige walls black worktops and a beige wood floor. But the people who lived here before us were very arty and the room has a dark blue wall and deep reds in the curtains and furniture and it gives the room a real strong look and I love it. Definitely splash some colour and artworks around, get a few magazines or even get an interior designer to help you out.

I agree with FlamedToACrisp

"OP, have you tried taking a photo and then photoshopping different colours on the walls and adding accessories? It would look very different with rich red, navy, lime green or ochre walls"

Please try that, or use one of the paint design guides online to change the walls and ceiling colour.
Look at colour palettes, find out about warm colours and cold colours. Learn about complementary colours and contrasting colours. There's so much you can do in a room simply with the choice of colours in it.
Try to think of your kitchen units as your base colour and choose everything else in colours to create the mood you'd like in there.

I think the colour you’ve chosen looks lovely. But I also understand the worry about not liking it in situ! I’m just designing our new kitchen and worry greatly that it won’t look nice in real life. Don’t make any rushed decisions now. Agree with PPs that painting wall a different darker shade may help with the overall look!

I think the same as GreyishDays - try a strong, dark colour on the walls. It'll make all the difference. And if you don't like it you can paint over it fairly cheaply. You can get a good idea of what it will look like using the Dulux Visualiser app. It's very accurate in showing what a colour will look like in the light of a room. Wish I'd used it before we painted our living room! We had to choose a different colour and paint it again.

That’s like my kitchen. I love it!

If it is looking a little cold in the string light, the reflected light of a warm shade on the walls will help.

Something with a dark pink in it, or rich slaty blue.

I'd go on Pinterest and look at similar and find colours/ accessories you like

My tip would be pick something bold as an accent colour & add accessories. You pendants in bright yellow? Turquoise?
If you have tiles, get tile stickers in a bold pattern from eBay as something to draw the eye. I have a mid grey kitchen and a warm wooden worktop and really bold mismatched tiles are stopping it being gloomy.
Also it sounds like you are having a lot of disappointment otherwise in life, really sorry to hear. Could you be projecting your disappointment to the kitchen? I do that sometimes, when there are things outside my control making me feel bad I might nit pick the things I do/did control.

Look for things you love on Pinterest or already in the house, take them into your kitchen and hopefully you'll feel the love for it again soon. If you like cooking, try some new recipes or cook your favourite comfort foods, which could be soothing in itself but will also reinforce positive associations/memories in your kitchen.

It will become the sanctuary you deserve