Hate my new kitchen, what can I do?

[Kitchendrama1]

I’ve had a new kitchen fitted by cowboy builders.

I’m working at getting the worktops replaced with solid surface worktops that are basically plastic but look a bit like granite. The worktop has a slight marble through it.

I’ve got Lino fitted and I like the darker look. The Lino isn’t quite right but I’m thinking some tiles would look good.

The units are the same colour, the top colour is more representative of the true colour.

I would like to get a mirrored splash back on the left.

Any ideas on what I should do? I do have upstands so technically wall doesn’t need plastered.

X post. Just re-read your OP, are you thinking of swapping the lino for tiles?

Ok I think I’ve misunderstood. Putting aside the fact you may not like the decisions you made, if the workmanship is substandard they have a duty to put it right. When I said get them back I was assuming you hadn’t yet paid and would be doing the normal snagging further appointment BEFORE paying fully.

The style of the range cooker doesn’t go with the design of the kitchen. It looks out of place.

The upstand looks like it's made from worktop. Our upstand are only about 1cm deep. Those look 3 or 4 cm deep.

Why is the boiler not boxed in?

The range needs to be lifted and centered. Looks really odd on the left.
The new extractor also needs to be centred.
The flooring needs to be the same throughout.

Mirrored plinths-Why? The area would look much bigger without plinths at all, just nice stainless steel legs.

The biggest thing which leaps out at me is the flooring. It really should match the other room, it would look so much better.

A tiled backsplash above the worktop and behind the oven would look good imo. Even just plain white subway tiles with white grout would make it look more finished and would make the oven area look more together. Mirrored backsplashes look great but aren't practical, never stay clean and would potentially make that wall look out of place. The floor is fine but tiles are easier to deal with and last longer, at least this gives you plenty of time to look for the right thing.

There are companies that will fix things like the worktop joins- I hired a guy who markets his company as a 'snagging service'.

@LizzieSiddal

The biggest thing which leaps out at me is the flooring. It really should match the other room, it would look so much better.

That’s so interesting about the flooring!

@Esspee

Why is the boiler not boxed in? The range needs to be lifted and centered. Looks really odd on the left. The new extractor also needs to be centred. The flooring needs to be the same throughout. Mirrored plinths-Why? The area would look much bigger without plinths at all, just nice stainless steel legs.

Plinths are kickboards and are required.

The boiler is still to be finished…. Along with a new extractor and also the kitchen worktops that butt the oven….

Yes why am I getting mirrored plinth lol

I think the flooring makes the room look odd, the same flooring carried through would look much better.

Also mirrored tiles will be a bitch to keep clean! I like the design of the kitchen units though, fab colour!

I think it grates on the eye because there are too many colours. I think the white and magnolia both need to go. I also agree that the two different floorings jar. Can you extend the dining room flooring into the kitchen and use a grey matching the high wall cupboards for the walls? I think the worktops should match the cabinets. I'd avoid anything mirrored but consider lighting in the plinth.

The kitchen is lower down than the living room… is that clear from the photos?

@Kitchendrama1

The kitchen is lower down than the living room… is that clear from the photos?

No! It just looks like you've put a bar across the floor to section off 🙈 But even still with a drop I would of matched the flooring, sorry op!

Is that woodchip near the upstand?????

@MrsMoastyToasty

The upstand looks like it's made from worktop. Our upstand are only about 1cm deep. Those look 3 or 4 cm deep.

Lol try 15cm or something. Yes they are far too high but the worktops will be replaced so that’s not an issue.

@myheartskippedabeat

Is that woodchip near the upstand?????

Nope probably glue

I agree that it's the flooring! First thing I noticed. Also I'd paint the whole space the same colour - white is fine. In all honesty there's nothing wrong with the rest of it if you do the work you've said - moving extractor, boxing in boiler and better work tops.

I have to agree with the previous posters, the floor is the first thing that’s jarring to me. I’d change it to match the rest of the room is possible as it just looks a bit odd having that section in a such a contrasting floor. I’d also box in the boiler and pipe work. If you’re not happy with the workmanship though just get them/someone new back to fix it?

• flooring - personally I'd never do browns together with grey? But you are pretty committed now because everything in your kitchen is a grey theme so unless you re do your lounge but that seems an unnecessary expense?

• box in the boiler

• definitely don't do mirrored plinths!!

• soften the colour of the walls depending on your worktop colour

I like the flooring i just think it should have been layed across rather than in line with the wooden look floor.

The cooker not being centred would make me crazy. If you're going to replace the worktops I'd fix the cupboards so the cooker and eventually the extract is centred. It's just visually very jarring.

I don’t mind the height of the upstands as an idea, they’re just not very well put in. When you replace the worktop are you going to do new matching upstands?
What colour are the walls in your living area?

I would:
Centre the cooker, could you do this by getting a standard 600mm one and adding a 300mm unit to the left of it?
Get rid of upstands and tile all the way round from worktop up to wall units.
Paint the kitchen walls a colour complementary to the living room wall colour, to help tie it together.
Plinths the same colour as the floor units (or legs if the flooring goes all the wall to the wall).

@SloopB

The cooker not being centred would make me crazy. If you're going to replace the worktops I'd fix the cupboards so the cooker and eventually the extract is centred. It's just visually very jarring.

Yes as I’ve mentioned before it’s a temp extractor and the worktops will be replace and cooker fitting in ok.

@Knittingbaker

I have to agree with the previous posters, the floor is the first thing that’s jarring to me. I’d change it to match the rest of the room is possible as it just looks a bit odd having that section in a such a contrasting floor. I’d also box in the boiler and pipe work. If you’re not happy with the workmanship though just get them/someone new back to fix it?

Do you know it’s a step down? Just making sure.

Impossible to match now because the laminate flooring was fitted before I moved in, so would have to replace the whole floor.