Gloss kitchens- will they go out of date?

[LadyArden]

I recently visited friends who've had their kitchen done in a glossy black design that I would never have thought of (being very traditional) but which looked really good and have noticed that gloss kitchens seem to be more popular. Does anyone have one, do you think they will date, are they harder to clean etc? Any tips greatly appreciated, as am obsessing about a new kitchen at the moment.

I've been looking at kitchens lately - the glossy ones do look good, but I think they'll date very quickly, so I'll be going for something in a nice wood when the time comes.... I don't plan to ever have to re-do it, so I don't want anything which will be easily "dateable" in 10 or 20 years time IYSWIM.

My aunt had a glossy orange one installed - in the 1970s ! Just wait long enough and it will come into trend again. I think this is my dad's theory with his ties as well ..

What I mean to say, yes, very trendy design at the time is more likely to date and look out of date later on than something boring more classical.

All kitchens date - think of all those oh-so-tasteful "classic" wood and shaker kitchens done about ten years ago. I see a lot of houses and I can tell to within 2 years when the kitchens were installed. Get the layout right and then replace doors when you have got tired of them. I think gloss kitchens are really nice and have always chosen them (five so far) - can't tell if that makes me ahead of the game or behind it .

Blimey my mum had a shiny orange kitchen in the 70's too! I'd forgotten that! It was the height of modernity at the time and she even has (still has in fact) an orange Kenwood mixer to match,.

Mine is glossy I guess in white although it's been there for years. I like white kitchens whether they're 'in' or 'out' I'd still prefer it more than a wood looking one.

Stainless steel looks v dated now imo. Also hard to keep looking good I imagine.

They are an absolute pain to clean. My friend has a deep red one and it drives her mad, they constantly look smeared.

They'll date quicker than other kitchens, no doubt.

When I visit friends with a glossy kitchen, I want to put my cheek against their cupboards and stroke their surfaces. I love them. But I would never get one because they will date very quickly. But then again, so what? So maybe I should get one.......

If all kitchens date, is it better then to just go for cheaper Ikea ones and replace every three years?

I think it depends on the whole look of the kitchen. I have the plainest of plain flat fronted cream gloss cupboards. I'm hoping it'll stay looking ok for about 10 years or so, but I agree if you go for something very in vogue (I'm thinking something like this) would date very quickly.

Yes, I would never be brave enough for that one headfairy.

WW, we were told by an estate agent friend that if we didn't plan to stay in our house forever to go for a (relatively) cheap kitchen because almost all new buyers will want to change it.

Our kitchen in our last house was plain, cream Ikea, which everyone seemed to like, but apparantly Ikea would put off buyers in our new (more expensive) area.

Gloss is easy to clean - but you do have to polish it properly to keep it looking nice.

Yes they will date but so will all kitchens even "classics". Depends if you're getting it cos you love it or cos it's trendy and if the former then does it really matter anyway?

ours is white gloss - and our builder was amazed that it was that 'old'! Still looks great and I never polish it... I'm intending to live in this house for the next 20 years with the same kitchen, so not too bothered about it being a selling point.

i love the gloss finish kitchens, the red one from ikea is lovely, but was put off mainly due to sticky finger prints showing up so much. i don't think they will date at all, gloss finish kitchens were the height of fashion in the 60's and 70's, they are retro.

We are planning our kitchen atm and DH is in love with a high gloss red kitchen. Going to have beech carcasses and red gloss doors. If i get fed up/feel it's dated we just plan to get beech doors and viola it's a new kitchen.

I think i prefer the vanilla gloss tho so we'll see who wins the argument??

Gloss reflects light, good for smaller or darker kitchens.
Cleaning, yes, they need cleaning, but clean easily.
We have just installed not gloss kitchen, though, and I love it, so obviously not impartial. I know I will keep my current kitchen until I move to a retirement flat and I am not that bothered whether it is on trend or not.
Love idea of red gloss kitchen though, sorry, I am with your DH, aGal!

My kitchen is red gloss - looks great [completely unbiased emoticon].

I also have a white gloss kitchen and it never needs polished, just a quick wipe now and again.

If you can get it at B&Q or Homebase then it's already out of date, dahling...

Ever EA I have ever known says the new buyer will want to change the kitchen and bathroom and then 2 years later they go around to value them and the kitchen and bathroom are the same, nobody can be arsed.
Buy what you like and then change the doors if necessary when the time comes to sell.
Or do what our sellers did and superglue the doors on so it looks ok when viewing.

I've been drooling over one in John Lewis. Not that I have the budget for JL.

If you wipe with a damp cloth only and dont polish/dry then it will look smeary if the sun or direct light shines on it .... just like glass. I speak as one who knows But, because it is a completely flat surface and not wood it is VERY easy to clean - so what you lose in polishing time you gain in cleaning time. And if you don't have direct light on the cupboards then you don't need to bother with the polish

I hope not, cos my lovely gloss black kitchen delivery has just been delayed by a month . Hope it doesn't go out of fashion before it arrives!