Who's planning a new kitchen in 2021 ?

[chillibeansauce]

... following from the massively helpful 2020 thread. I'm planning a brand new extension with kitchen and utility. Deciding between HKOC and Units Online. HKOC took 2 days to provide a quote, still waiting for Units Online after 2 weeks and numerous calls..

[quote Sunflowergirl1]@SocksForceFive

"Our extension is within permitted development so hopefully won't be tied up with the council for too long"

I assume you are applying for a certificate of lawfulness? My neighbour did this and after two months (deadline for replying) was told it wasn't within the rules and apply for full planning. Apparently it is only a few quid more to go for full planning and same timescale so my architect is generally advising that now if time is importent [/quote]
Ours was in extended permitted development and we applied for prior approval rather than full plans - from what i understand this was all that was required other than building regs stuff

Love your cabinets! What colour are they?

@gettingolderbutcooler

Sorry, I was trying to reply to you to say that I love your cabinets! What colour are they?

[quote SocksForceFive]@gettingolderbutcooler

Sorry, I was trying to reply to you to say that I love your cabinets! What colour are they?[/quote]
Hi
They are magnet fusion. They also had a lovely champagne clout I was tempted by!

Colour 🙄

@curiouscat1987

Ours was in extended permitted development and we applied for prior approval rather than full plans - from what i understand this was all that was required other than building regs stuff

You are right that some only require permitted development. The point I was making was permitted development is supposed to be a dead easy process. Applying for a certificate of lawfulness is sensible but isn't mandatory, although it could bite you if it turns out you should have got planning.

The point I'm making is some local authorities have made the process for obtaining a cert of lawfulness is such that the timescales and cost of applying are little different to planning permission so some architects now advise to just all,y for planning and it removes the risk of having to start again. The local authorities have done what they always do in turning a simple process into lengthy one

@Sunflowergirl1

Funnily enough I have just come off a video chat with my architect and he said the same. He's going to put the side infill through planning permission, despite it only being 1.5m x 5m, because local planning rules have some grey areas - he said it's better to do full planning as you get a caseworker, only takes an extra 2 weeks and costs an extra £100 so it's easier in the long run.

That said, when we come to do the loft conversion, that will be done through permitted development as that's governed by national rules so easier to comply with and local authorities will just direct you to the online portal anyway.

@gettingolderbutcooler it's lovely!

My architect asked if I wanted to do permitted development for my side return extension, but we're going down the planning permission route for the reasons @SocksForceFive said.

@gettingolderbutcooler I love your kitchen and I'm normally a hater of anything grey !! The flooring is beautiful - is that tiling with wood around it ?

I was going to update my kitchen last year but ended up paying son's rent for an extra year whilst he found a job so didn't have the funds! I painted the dated wooden doors and shelves and can't believe the difference its made! This years task will be to replace the appliances - most will be simple but the dishwasher currently in is free standing whilst the space is only big enough for an integrated one but I don't have the door! Does anyone think it will look totally stupid if I put an integrated dishwasher in (silver one) without the corresponding cupboard door?

Hello All, Our old kitchen came out last November as part of a refurb/extension. Since then we've been living in the sitting room. We are hugely lucky to be able to fit a makeshift kitchen, dining room and sitting room into it. and the lovely builders have set up my old oven temporarily there too. Between that, a plug-in induction plate from Ikea and the microwave I managed to produce a respectable Christmas dinner. New kitchen is going in now and I am beside myself with excitement (yes i realise that makes me incredibly sad, but I've never had a new kitchen before). We went with the dark grey from DIY kitchens. My builders are blown away by the quality and had never heard of them. This morning the chap came to template for the quartz worktop. Once that goes in and we have a working sink the builders will rip out the old utility room. They're hoping to install it in 7-10 days. Once that is in we are then having glass splashbacks and windowsill. Does anyone have recommendations for companies in the SE who will template and install coloured glass splashbacks. Ideally at a reasonable price. I would try installing myself but the walls are so out of line I think it would end up looking a mess.
So far I am determined to not use the new kitchen until everything is finished but I'm not sure if I'll stick to that once the appliances are all wired in.
I designed the kitchen layout myself as having tried a few companies they seemed to have set ideas rather than tailoring to my needs. My one piece of advice is to go over and go over the layout time and time again, really thinking about how you want things to work for you. I must have spent the best part of a year planning and refining it and as it goes in, it matches exactly what was in my head and I'm so happy with it.
It's been a slog and there's still months of work elsewhere in the house, with us working and studying amid the noise, lots of delays with difficulty getting materials and workmen having to isolate but we have been very luck with our choice of builder. All the guys have been brilliant.

Ooops a longer post than I intended...sorry

I'm in the very very early stages of planning a new kitchen. So early in fact, that I don't quite know how big the gap between my budget and my ideal kitchen actually is!

I was thinking of using the 'free' design service that some companies offer just to get an idea of cost etc, but concerned that I would then get pressure to order before I'm ready.

I've also got some concerns around the kitchen floor - it needs replaced, but I discovered during the summer that the previous owners cemented stone tiles to a concrete floor so I expect that job will add significantly to the overall cost.

Oooh will IKEA have a sale on kitchens? We are planning an extension with shower room and open plan kitchen diner and are planning on using IKEA. Would be great if they have a sale as this build is proving very pricey..

Did you get the quartz worktop from diy kitchens too? Which one did you go for if thats not too nosy, am considering them for ours!

Sorry the above was aimed at you @WaferThinIce :)

I ordered my DIY kitchen over Christmas, being delivered W/c 15th March which is already causing anxiety as the kitchen fitter is booked for 1st March I’m so excited, never had a new kitchen. Budget is already spiralling but with no holidays last year and probably not this year I’m happy to spend the money on the kitchen. Does anyone have any white quartz worktops they’d mind sharing pics of? And any views on integrated sinks in the same quartz as the worktop? Also, sorry for so many questions, can’t decide between herringbone lvt floor or tumbled limestone tiles...opinions? Thanks!

@HasaDigaEebowai How did your design time with Karen go?

@curiouscat1987

Sorry the above was aimed at you *@WaferThinIce* :)

Sorry i haven't been back since I posted. No, I went with a local quartz company. It is being installed either Wednesday or Thursday of this week. I'll try to post a picture when it's in though you'll have to excuse the lack of flooring, paint or splashback. PM me if you're in the south east and I'll give you the name of the company. Fingers crossed the electrician will be able to finish the kitchen works this week and then the plasterer can start.

Ooh yes i am in the se @WaferThinIce I'll pm you and cant wait to see the actual produce once its installed! Thanks a lot

@moostermum I love your greys - it’s very calming. In my house it would soon be covered in Lego and be a riot of colour

Our extension has been two years in the planning, delay after delay (some our own admittedly), finally got the planets aligned, moved out and now we’re in a rented house, and construction has halted due to lockdown. It’s a nightmare. It’s impossible to predict a timeline now.

I have decision fatigue - and trying to pick things from pictures online because we can’t get to see them in real life isn’t helping.

This is what we're thinking colourwise for our new kitchen - the dark blue for the base cupboards, the pale grey for the wall cupboards, and the calacatta style worktop on the left in the photo. In terms of the cupboard style, probably picking between linwood and norton style from diy kitchens...

Thinking brass t bar handles with matching tap, stainless steel extractor, and herringbone wood effect tiles( probably oak effect?). Will also have one wall exposed red brick and dark grey crittal style window and door.

Would welcome your feedback on anything please!

Hello! We are one month in to a 4 month build and I'm trying to finalise kitchen design. We're going with an ikea kitchen, then I've been getting quotes from custom fronts, Husk and also our builders to paint mdf.

One thing I'm really struggling with is worktops, not being able to get to showrooms to see them on a big scale. I have about 20 tiny samples variations on a marble theme and I've lost my mind on it!

@curiouscat1987 I love your main marble sample there - is it Dekton?

People who have used Karen from Houzz (or similar) - what is it she's been really helpful with? I've been geeking out on home.by.me making 3d renders of my designs, and wonder if it would just be a similar service but done by someone else, or if it is worth my money?!

@Coldandcross

Hello! We are one month in to a 4 month build and I'm trying to finalise kitchen design. We're going with an ikea kitchen, then I've been getting quotes from custom fronts, Husk and also our builders to paint mdf.

One thing I'm really struggling with is worktops, not being able to get to showrooms to see them on a big scale. I have about 20 tiny samples variations on a marble theme and I've lost my mind on it!

@curiouscat1987 I love your main marble sample there - is it Dekton?

People who have used Karen from Houzz (or similar) - what is it she's been really helpful with? I've been geeking out on home.by.me making 3d renders of my designs, and wonder if it would just be a similar service but done by someone else, or if it is worth my money?!

No, its quartz,calacatta style. If youve startes your build already you probably wont be able to use karen, when i enquired in early jan she was booked up til mid march so she recommended emily covey of covey kitchens who has been fabulous so far!