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Original poster

Too many choices RE kitchen am feeling confused...

28 replies

navyeyelasH · 05/05/2009 16:14

Ok so we have recently purcased the Inverness kitchen from Wickes.

We bought it without worktops intending to get solid wood in either beech or oak (DP is a chippe of sorts so we know about oiling etc).

We love the idea of having a colourful glass splasbacks and upstands with the walls then done in a neutral colour. But now I am worried that the colouful splashback & upstands wont work with the wooden worktop and we may be better of with black/greay/white ala this?

Am now thoroughly confused! Any advice out there?

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Original poster
navyeyelasH · 05/05/2009 18:08

impatient bump!

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lalalonglegs · 05/05/2009 19:02

look at noddyholder's profile pictures - she used red tiles with her white kitchen and wooden worktops and it looked great (slightly embarrassed that I know this - obviously spend much too much time on property threads but she hasn't been along to tell you herself yet).

Original poster
navyeyelasH · 05/05/2009 20:26

Hey lalallonglegs I tracked down noddys rofile but she hasn't got round uploading her new pics yet, her old kitchen is still there [another secret noddyholder stalker here].

Red could work but I really have my hear set on something a little more zesty/different. But I can't see oranges or limes working with light grain woods like beech and oak.

What about a mixture of worksurafces would that be mad? Am thinking like this. Have some sort of Corian or similar in white on the same wall that will have the cooker and then for the brekfast bar (oposite cooker) use wood?

I might try and up load a picture of the room layout wickes has given us! Might be helpful.

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noddyholder · 05/05/2009 20:31

Hello still haven't up[loaded pics as about to knock a wall down.The red tiles we used come in other colours green looked great too but I went for red as I have a huge indian mirror on one wall with red in it.I like the mix of worktops too it looks great.I am about to add some wall cupboards to my kitchen once the wall is down and they will be red like the tiles.I think you can be adventurous in a kitchen .

lalalonglegs · 05/05/2009 20:38

I agree with noddy - orange or lime would look fab - or a deep peacock blue would be amazing. Not convinced by a mix of worksurfaces though. Could look a tiny bit like you bought a load of off-cuts...

Could have sworn I'd seen pictures of noddy's kitchen

Original poster
navyeyelasH · 05/05/2009 20:49

I owe you two a drink you have been so helpful with this house house milarky! I've never owned a house before or even painted a wall so it's tough making these decisions, thanks so much for all the great advice.

So of the woods then should I go oak, beech or a new one I might now like is walnut. I have oak and beech samples here and oak is quite a bit darker. Beech is obviously more durable.

The splashback I am thinking off will be similar to this and and brighter version of this yet to be found. I can't do tiles in the kitchen as I'm obsessed by grout discolouration!

Kardean American oak on the floor and maybe farrow and ball tallow or similar on walls.

lalalonglegs what sort of peacock blue shade were you thinking??

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lalalonglegs · 05/05/2009 21:01

Oooh, I love the zest green - scratch the orange idea, it might clash with the wood anyway (especially beech). Walnut would look fabulous but is so expensive I would be afraid to so much as butter toast near it.

Peacock blue might not be quite right description - I was thinking of that very deep blue with a slight, slight turquoise hue you get in Moroccan tiles (but not Moroccan tiles because ethnic won't work with your units). Here it is. But, honestly, the green will look amazing, especially with black ceramic tiles or slate on the floor.

In kitchens generally, and given that your units are very white white, I would go for a modern brilliant white on the walls rather than F&B.

noddyholder · 05/05/2009 23:16

I am now agreeing with lala as farrow and ball wall colours didn't work with ours either have pure white dulux trade ultra matt(what a mouthful!)and its great.Am just about to buy a sofa for it and am thinking grey pinstripe v modern corner style.Will post pics as soon as its done

Original poster
navyeyelasH · 07/05/2009 13:25

Ok so F&B is out. The thing is with white walls noddy is that the kitchen doubles as a kitchen diner, but I am thinking the diner is going to be a playroom 99% of the time. Are pure white walls a big no no in a playroom?

lala tiles and slate on the floor would be amazing; but as said the room needs to be dual purpose which is why we thought kardean vinyl might be the better option throughout the entire kitchen - diner/playroom. Do you think karndean floor might look a bit naff? It's so confusing but I need to start ordering stuff by today really so need this sorted.

I'm going to take some photos in a mo so you can all see what I'm banging on about.

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noddyholder · 07/05/2009 17:05

If you put dome art up in the playroom it will look fine.Dulux light and space in morning ligth is a good compromise as it is off white and has a real glow.I have it in ds bedroom and its so light and sunny b ut not yellow.I have slate but don't have small children.I am not a huge fan of karndean but it has really improved in the last few years and it is very practical and lots of choices in styles and colours

lalalonglegs · 08/05/2009 16:13

You could easily put slate down and soften it in the dining room/playroom area with some rugs - I think Ikea does a great circular one with concentric rings of bright colours, it would look amazine with the green splashbacks and black and white walls and floors. Incidentally, I have hardwood floors and ceramic tiles throughout and have three small children, it's fine - all my family in Italy have stone/ceramic floors and have had no problems combining with young children.

Original poster
navyeyelasH · 25/05/2009 21:56

Hey lala and noddy, sorry only just found these replies I thought your pateinece had run out with me and my eternal questions!

The reason we have gone with the karndean american oak (from the van gough range so not the cheapo stuff) is that I work with children and the floor will get a lot of abuse.

We really would like tiles/slate but are worried that they will get ruined, not stand the test of time and hammering they will be given, will always look dirty, will be too cold and finally it won?t be as safe fall wise compared to vinyl.

So do you think the karndean will look really rubbish then and do you think tiles/slate will be as bad as I'm imagining? I'll have possibly 6 children here 5 days a week!

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lalalonglegs · 26/05/2009 09:01

I would think tiles/slate would be harder-wearing but, I have to admit, I'm not a big fan of pretendy wood. Aren't you having underfloor heating or am I mixing you up with someone else?

Original poster
navyeyelasH · 26/05/2009 09:16

We weren't going to have underfloor heating but having looked at the cost of slate compared with karndean we could afford to have underfloor heating.

What is slate like for dropping things onto? I'm worried it might crack? Also do you think potential parents might see the floor as "dangerous"?

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Original poster
navyeyelasH · 26/05/2009 09:17

Sorry lala am in such a rush forgot to say thanks for your reply!

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lalalonglegs · 26/05/2009 09:41

It will break whatever you drop onto it rather than break itself (unless you were to really fling a Le Creuset casserole dish or something).

Some parents are weird - re: The Apprentice last week and the helmets for indoor use. As I say, it is perfectly normal to have stone or ceramic tiles in most countries in southern Europe and I don't think children grow up with any more injuries than over here. I only have hardwood and tiles and my kids are fine.

Original poster
navyeyelasH · 26/05/2009 18:27

Haha Lala I saw that on Apprentice so know exactly what you mean! I am now swinging more towards slate and underfloor heating. How would lighting effect things though? The kitchen is not overly bright I don't think. I should take some pictures shouldn't I!

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noddyholder · 26/05/2009 18:37

I have always had tiles in kitchen family rooms and no probs.

lalalonglegs · 26/05/2009 18:41

Your units are white and I think you are planning on white walls so probably you will need a darker floor so as not to suffer from glare. It will look fab, I promise you.

Original poster
navyeyelasH · 26/05/2009 18:49

Right that's it I'm deciding once and for all!

White gloss units, wooden worktop (either oak or walnut waiting for samples), green glass splashback, slate flooring with underfloor heating and dulux light and space on walls.

Now then one last question do I need upstands?

Thanks for all your help noddy and lala I should be paying you! Once it's all done (about 5 weeks) I'll post some pictures for you to have a nose at your amazingness!

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lalalonglegs · 27/05/2009 08:28

What are upstands? They sound faintly Victorian so I would say no but I'm willing to be persuaded.

noddyholder · 27/05/2009 09:23

I don't really like them but they are v popular.It is the little exxtra worktop piece at right angles with the work surface about 4-6'' high.I prefer interesting tiles or glass.

lalalonglegs · 27/05/2009 14:07

Wouldn't they interfere with lovely green splashbacks/

Original poster
navyeyelasH · 27/05/2009 14:49

I think the best thing is for me to put a picture up on here tonight when I get in from work to show you. The kitchen wortop is in 2 sections, seperated by an external door.

The one section which has the hob will have the glass green splashback, the other section of the kitchen will be more of a surface for cutting food etc. It's in the second section that I don't want wither upstands nor tiles/glass etc. Am I mad?

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Original poster
navyeyelasH · 28/05/2009 20:56

Am so short of time at mo it's a joke, am in work this evening and tomorrow evening but will do pictures for you all on Sat so can get some opinions on upstands.

Also are you sure pointing by F&\b would be a bad move?

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