New Kitchen Phobia

My kitchen is 23 years old and very rough now - it was only a cheap one to start with. However, do you really want to spend upwards of £35K on this?
I'd rather have a holiday any day and do at least twice a year.
I wonder if something else is going on, what are you really trying to prove?

Iluvcruz, you say that "we have a couple of doors leading off limiting options", is it feasible to brick one of them off? We had three doors in ours and closed off the one through to the garage - made a lot of difference to the lay-out. (£35k ).

Ellen T. Howdens still good after 5 years?? I should think so.
My present property has Winchmore kitchen units These were installed when the property was a new build in 1983.
Inspite of many alterations I have carried out since purchasing this property I will not change these units and have observed imitations
Still standing strong and looking good 21C
(can't speak for myself)

Don't compromise unless you're genuinely happy to. I convinced DH and spent €€€€ on quality white granite work tops but compromised and saved money on the units. Everyday, I wipe down my worktops and seriously love them. They receive so many compliments. Also, consider pull out metal shelves/draws everywhere. They're fabulous. No awkward bending trying to find something.
I had an old original farmhouse style island unit, painted it purple and replaced the wood worktop with matching white granite. It looks fabulous against my grey units.

Oh dear ... I do sympathise. We have a couple of new kitchens in the last 40 odd years and each time it was traumatic (slight exaggeration, but not much!) deciding what to have. You have plenty to spend which probably makes it harder ... too much choice. What worked for us was finding an installer who would visit, plan with us, then emailed us a virtual thingy (also not technically minded) which gave us a 360 degree view on the laptop. That meant that I could take the laptop into the kitchen, let it run through the virtual thingy and see it in situ. I hope that makes sense - as I said not technically minded! Good luck and please put a picture on here when it's all done. I am mildly envious. I dream of ripping our house to pieces, relocating walls, doors, bathroom etc., but I'd have a nervous breakdown. You are a very brave woman to even consider it.

Oh how I feel for you Iluvcruz! Just had a new kitchen installed. Started planning over a year ago, but my DH passed away just after Christmas and I simply couldn't carry on with it all. But then I remembered his words a few days before he died "carry on with the kitchen plans, I want to know that you keep busy". So I did.
He would love it, specially the picture on the wall that is just for him.
My advice to you is stick to your "ideas". It is overwhelming all those decisions but it's your kitchen, your dream. I would NOT compromise on the colour of cabinets..put your foot down! Try cutting cost where it's not too important to you. And relax! It is worth it. Good luck

As you are not in the throes of your very first kitchen all mod this that and the other I would go for what is practical but that doesn't mean basic.There is so much available on the market but it will need to fit in and harmonise with the rest of your home.I recently visited a friend to view (admire ?) her new kitchen.It stood out like a sore thumb. Her property was an old cottage renovated but still had original beams huge fireplace etc etc
I walked into the kitchen which I can only describe as being designed/ fit to carry out surgery.Very clinical with its stainless steel and granite work surfaces.
Functional but so out of place.
Chose carefully as there are many options.

Strange how some people are telling her to tell her husband to shut up. He has to live with it as well.
On other threads people are complaining about their husbands not doing anything in the kitchen. Ideal time to get him involved.
My husband designed both our kitchens. I never had any complaints. However, he was an architect, varian.

We have Howdens units fitted by a local joiner and they're still good after 5 years. Things I'd do differently now, with a bigger budget: wood or granite work tips rather than laminate, better quality branded appliances rather than Howdens' own. They all worked, but not always very well. Have replaced dreadful hob which had solid electric plates with an induction one, and upgraded the dishwasher and oven. And the deep drawers I've seen in other people's kitchens look much easier than cupboards.

If you let your thirty year dream be taken away now then you'll harbour resentment for your husband forever. Who cares what the builder thinks. Hubby has no skill with aesethics yet you're listening to him?!! Of course you're under stress and can't decide.
It is because you are being forced into decisions by your husband and builder.
You have spent thirty years deciding and waiting and now it's not even your decision any more. You don't have kitchen phobia, you have a hidden resentment that you're not being listened to. Hubby doesn't like deep drawers... so what ! You like them , so you're having them.
If you want chimney breasts knocked down or any other work done then say so. Get another builder. Tell hubby to shut up. It is your dream so tell it how it is.

Have you thought about inviting an architect or properly qualified interior designer to look at the existing space and ways of enlarging it to get a layout that really will suit you?

Although the people who sell kitchens can usually operate CAD software to produce plans, elevations and perspective drawings, which are useful to help you visualise the layout, most of them are primarly salesmen, although they call themselves designers. They aim to sell you the most expensive fitted kitchen, whether or not it is right for you. They are usually paid commission so the more you spend, the more they're paid.

We have recently installed a Howdens kitchen however I got granite worktops from another supplier which added a wow factor. I too could not fit an island so instead of a row of units under the widow i had a peninsula which houses sink and washing machine with overhang for seating. This means I now have no corner units and can clean the window without balancing in the sink



kitchen

Pinterest have lovely kitchen ideas ...

We have just had our kitchen replaced after 20 years - nothing wrong with it at all, except I wanted a new one with pull out shelves, carousels, pull down shelves etc. Just generally easier to use . What a trauma it has been - never again! In the end we had to re plaster the walls & have a new floor. Plus , the integral fridge/ freezer & dishwasher are smaller than my previous ones.
I would not recommend Howdens - far too expensive. We went to Magnet in the end & had the same quality kitchen for half the price. The labour was far less expensive too .
I'm happy with it now, but it's taken 5 years of my life with the stress!

Iluvcruz - I can relate to the stress this is causing you. Not in the same boat with builder and kitchen not ripped out but am working through the planning as, at last, we too are having a new kitc hen.

Neptune are fabulous. I love them though disappointed one fab larder cupboard only available in one style.

I've been to JL.not cheap but good stuff. Was shrprised some ALNO styles cheaper than their own.

I had designers out from JL of Hungerford- need follow up. Fabulous. Painted units and best selection of colours seen anywhere. Means you can paint them in future if you fancy a change. Apart from Harvey Jones, they're top of my likes.

I've a,so had County Kitchens out and they're excellent too. They sell Sigma 3 and if you Google Sigmayoull see where they are sold near you.

Lucky enough to have Schmidt near us and where we may end up. They have good range of colours and styles and can include special unit to fit in your space, also extra tall unitss and slightly higher base with lower kick board to give an extra drawer. Recommended to me.

We have a peninsula which I'm getting rid of. Going for one wall of units and hoping to be ruthless. We have two horrible dread space corners and wasted space.

This will cut cost. My budget not quite yours but know you can get fabulous kitc hen for £35k, including labour etc

I am getting less scared than I was as know the plan, now it's colour I'm blinded with. North facing.

A new kitchen is very important to many- my fav room.

Put a stop and let hubby know it all matters to you. Not a need 're cooking maybe but a special room and environment.

I'd love to know how you get on. X

I've had two IKEA kitchens, in two different houses, and my son is in the middle of fitting his own now.
They are really good quality, lots of choice.
We sound like an ad, WelshWife.

35K is a huge amount to spend on a kitchen- you could refurbish the house for that and include a reasonable kitchen.

Has your house been rewired within the last 25 years because you do not want a fabulous kitchen to be disturbed if that task needs to be done in the near future.

My kitchen is new and I have white gloss doors which I love. I also have a bin sitting in the corner.

We have had two IKEA kitchens and DH and a friend fitted both (different houses). The cupboards are deeper than many ranges as they go right back to the wall with no gap behind. In my current kitchen I have tall cupboards with five strong pull out drawers in them - one section 40coms I keep for spices and small jars and the other 80 cms wide I use for flours, sugars, pasta and rice etc. Each cupboard has two deep shelves above it. I also have a tall unit all shelves which stands beside the fridge - my layout is governed by doors etc. We have solid wood worktops. They now do some beauties in Quartz type stuff but I think they are made to order.
You can change the doors quite easily if the layout is good but you would like an update with colours etc.deep drawers are good I found for china and things like the toaster.
Good luck with it all.

"alone" in the corner, that was meant to say. I wish this forum allowed edits.

With regard to bin drawers, I hate them too, having tried one. The smell of bin completely permeated the cupboard, and the one next to it, and remained long after I stopped using it for the bin. I now always keep my kitchen bin standing along in the corner.

My deep drawers are under the hob and sooooo practical and easy

"dh and builder hate bin drawers so that's out." Who cares what the damn builder thinks?! It's not his kitchen and his opinion is neither here nor there, he is just a tradesman employed by you to carry out the work that YOU decide, and if he can't or won't sack him and replace him with someone who will! You've waited 30 years for your kitchen, so you should have exactly what you want if you can afford it or you'll hate/resent it every time you go into it and quite possibly hate/resent your husband too. Explain this to him. If that doesn't work, you could tell him that you'll get the kitchen that you want or you'll only be cooking for and cleaning up after yourself in there if you don't!

I have never had a new kitchen and we have moved 6 times and being rather lazy I am glad I have not had to choose a kitchen! The house we are in now was renovated by previous owner and the kitchen is fine.
Well it's more like a gardener's hut now as it's full of stuff that needs to go to the shed.
But there is loads of advice here. Choose a basic one and go for a cruise as well.


and you could

Do NOT have an island (it causes you to have to walk many more miles a week to get around it) and only have a breakfast bar if anyone who lives there prefers to eat uncomfortably perched on a high stool with your heels hooked to the fiddly little foot support to stop you sliding off. It's a fad introduced by the industry to get people to redo their kitchens at great expense.

What you should do is think about which aspects of your current kitchen have been a constant irritation to you and change only those. If nothing has, then keep the same layout and just get some nice new units and tiles!

If your kitchen is a place you spend alot of time in & enjoy cooking please please take your time & don't be pushed into something that YOU don't like and will regret!!
I designed a kitchen for a community centre I was involved with, we used an independent firm. They were reasonable and the products were excellent quality. (Sadly I only cooked in it once but that's a different story ?)
Be strong and stand your ground ?