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Quick! Help me decide on a kitchen! This morning!

14 replies

robino · 24/04/2009 11:35

Very briefly - We own a large-ish 2 bed terrace (was our starter home), it has been on market for a year with only 2 viewings. We have been renting 4 bed detached near to OH's work for 9 months since dd2 was born.

We are temporarily moving back to 2 bed terrace with the 2 kids and dog but are knocking through the kitchen and ex-downstairs-bathroom to make kitchen/diner first. 2 reasons for this - 1) need to make more space, 2) to make house more saleable (appreciate we're unlikely to make any money on it in this climate!). I'm going to see the guy who's sorting it for us this afternoon to choose the kitchen and am a bit scared!

Room will be 18-20ft by 10ft (ish) so not massive. It's quite dark (sun is round the front of the house most of the day, kitchen gets a bit late afternoon. I'm aiming to make it as inoffensive as possible because ideally we want to sell the house.

I am thinking white shaker style cabinets with a beech worktop something like this because the white will help reflect the limited light. I think high gloss, even though it would reflect a lot will be a bit too contemporary for the market (it's a 100 year old terrace in a not very fashionable yorkshire market town!). Good idea or not?

Then splashbacks... this is where I'm really stuck. Was thinking acrylic splashbacks for my ideal kitchen (which this isn't going to be..) - would they go with a shaker style? Was thinking they might make it look a little more contemporary but be relatively easy to remove if people didn't like them? Or is tiles the way forward?

And while we're at it - colour! White with coloured accessories (maybe turquoise acrylic splashback)? White with accents of a fresh blue or green (I think these might be best colours given lack of light...) or full blown colour?

Not so brief after all...

OP posts:
Gmarksthespot · 24/04/2009 11:46

Like the kitchen in the link and think it would suit the style of house. I don't think the high gloss would be too contemporary - I guess it depends on the rest of the interior and what is on the floor.

I think tiles for the splashback.

lalalonglegs · 24/04/2009 12:04

I'm not mad on shaker kitchens but think the one in the link is fine. I agree that acrylic splashbacks wouldn't really gel with the style and think tiles would look better - probably something quite understated as it's traditional: terracotta or grey ceramic? Earth tones? What flooring do/will you have?

I would add colour with some accessories such as Alessi storage jars, bright tablecloth, dining chairs, big clock, some coloured glassware etc etc. Have you thought about Sarah Beeny's favourite thing which is to have french windows out onto the garden which would bring in a lot more light and does look really lovely (providing your garden is reasonable of course )?

robino · 24/04/2009 12:18

Thanks! Shaker style aren't really my fave either but I'm looking for innoffensive and light and that they are!

I'd quite like to go for the double doors into the back yard (which has been done up nicely) BUT a) it would cost a lot more (would need to do the doors, add a new window, move plumbing) and b) it would limit the space in an already fairly small space

Floor - not decided yet. I would prefer a solid coloured lino (will be looking up the thread from the other day!) but might have to go for neutrally tile effect something or other. God, I HATE neutral .

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mumblechum · 24/04/2009 12:24

I think that's really nice. Lots of people (myself included) really hate these modern kitchens which look like dental surgeries. The shaker one is at v. inoffensive. Agree tiles would be better than acrylic with that type of kitchen.

robino · 24/04/2009 12:28

inoffensive Must start previewing

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Fimbo · 24/04/2009 12:31

My kitchen units are very similar to the one in the link. Although you would probably hate it as we have white everything from wall tiles to floor tiles!

robino · 24/04/2009 12:35

Ooh no, I can do white it's just beigeyness I can't stand

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Fimbo · 24/04/2009 12:39

Beige is the pits, my mil has beige floortiles and wall tiles in her kitchen which just don't go with the rest of it. That said she also has clashing beigy floor and wall tiles in her shower room.

robino · 24/04/2009 12:45

Fimbo - so you have white everything. Do you reckon a white/ clear acrylic splashback would have gone too?

God, it's so hard. Been in the house for 7 years and would have loved to have done the kitchen. Only been able to afford it in last 2 years but have had 2 kids in that time so not had the time or inclination. Now I get to do it but not to my taste particularly! Ah well, next time!

OP posts:
robino · 24/04/2009 12:49

And while I'm at it Fimbo! What are your white tiles like? I might pinch your kitchen

OP posts:
Fimbo · 24/04/2009 12:57

I lurve white me. My whole house is white. We have those tiny white square block tiles for splashback. We have the beech work top too!

In conclusion the answer is yes!

Fimbo · 24/04/2009 13:02

These type of wall tiles in white

robino · 24/04/2009 13:06

ooh yes! The ones that are a bugger to grout! Won't be doing them in this kitchen but I do like them

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noddyholder · 24/04/2009 13:13

We have plain white units oak tops and huge chilli red matt brick tiles.Dark grey slate heated floor Looks great

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