New Kitchen Phobia

We have the same, or similar, cooker hood, Cari, excellent- I keep pills ect. in there away from little people.

We have been in our house from new, 1968. That kitchen was very nice, then we extended and found more units from the same range. 20 years ago, 1997, we took the plunge and had a new kitchen fitted. We managed to easily sell our old units as they were so well made. Our 'new' kitchen still looks good today, but we have had new white goods over the last few years. A local firm fitted it and we have been more than pleased with our choice. At the time it seemed like a lot to be spending, but has worked out to be cost effective. So, Ilovecruz, don't be persuaded to go against your instinct, you have a big budget, so can afford to be fussy, and I hope you find what you are dreaming of, soon. Good luck.

My b

My best friend, unfortunately no longer with us, had lots of work and extensions on her farm house. She never got exactly what she wanted as they always used a builder, who was also a friend of the husband. She always had to compromise massively, I could see that it was to make life easier for the builder and to keep costs down for the husband, even though it was her money from an inheritance. It drov

Drive me mad and I actually hated the bullying builder friend and he knew it.
Sorry about this post being disjointed, angry fingers. This thread has got me angry for my dear, dear friend again. Sorry!!!

Now the old units have been ripped out it is the ideal time to get professional advice (not just from your builder friend). An architect will soon tell you whether it is feasible to knockdown walls, remove the chimney breast or block a door to get a better space for the island unit you really want. Good luck with persuading your husband that it could be worth puting up with a little bit of hassle.

I recently had a new kitchen fitted, from B & Q. I love it, and it cost a fraction of the 35k that you are thinking of spending. The only thing that I don`t like, and it`s my fault for not asking about it when the planning was done, because I just assumed, and I shouldn`t have done, is that I`ve always had a drawer in my sink unit, and now I don`t. There`s a drawer handle, but that`s just for show. My family think that it isn`t important, but to me it is, I keep turning to open the sink unit drawer to get something out, the something that I`ve still to get used to keeping somewhere else.

Wow. Thank you for all your wonderful advice. I never imagined I'd get such a response. Apologies for not responding earlier - new grandson made his entrance .

I'm sorry if I don't respond to you each by name as I keep losing my post if I look back, but to clarify a few things:

The £35k was a high end quote undoubtedly. However I'm sure there is something midway, but my issue is time as kitchen has been ripped out and electrics/plastering etc being done in a fortnight. I was looking at diy-kitchens but you need a scaled plan to order and most designers just give you an artists impression without measurements.

No architect and no structural work - dh wouldn't want the faff (or expense). . However we have had a designer from Howdens round and I have had a few designs done on line - none that excite me.

The three doorways are all essentials - one leads to only bathroom, the other is the archway from dining room which is only way into kitchen and route to said bathroom. The other is an internal airing/understair cupboard which is becoming a sort of larder (in my head).

The door colours are an issue as kitchen is north facing and so colours change in situ so my beloved shades of grey change to black/brown or just washed out. I had more or less decided on a pure white shaker style but can only seem to get white gloss with the main players which wouldn't really suit the Edwardian house.

To be fair Dh is now saying not to be panicked by the building work as it needed doing anyway and I can take time to decide - he said he "would take a step back" (a euphemism for "well do what you want but don't expect me to be enthusiastic").

I think I just have hifalutin ideas that are unrealistic - I mean does it really matter how the cabinets are constructed - who looks inside only me, right? And who could tell the difference between a wooden constructed door and mdf/chipboard once painted, and what does it matter whether drawers are metal/plastic or dovetailed wood? Sigh

Sorry to sound so negative (and also for making dh sound
Awful as he isn't really (other than being a bit careful with money). He just isn't bothered about a room he sees purely as a workroom.

I on the other hand dream of cooking with my six grandchildren and making wonderful culinary Christmas memories and restoring the kitchen using traditional materials as would have been used when it was built.

I just fear that I won't love this kitchen as much as I had wanted to and that I have wasted half my lifetime (literally) on a pipe dream.

Update - finally found something I'm happy with. However can't find reviews anywhere on this company - Burnhill Kitchens in Tonbridge. Anyone heard of them?

Hi Iluvcruz
How did it go.

I'm now all over place in my head 're new kitchen. First one ever and probably the last.

North facing too.

Going with County Kitchens Esher. Sigma3 kitchens. Cost £18k excluding rip out, plastering and floor. Having paid deposit now my indecisive side rules. Want neutral but my favourites light Blue (looks more aqua or misty) and heritage grey (beige). It will be all over in April, thankfully.
Would love to know your colour choices. I'm going for Corian too but still flummoxed with limited choice. Quartz is stunningbut I'd like a seamless upstand.
Bd

I was told by my neighbour that Howdens do two ranges, she chose one for her kitchen and a cheaper one which looked the same for the linking utility room.

I've always ended up compromising Iluvcruz - I would love a new kitchen (everything, floor, the lot) but can't face the upheaval and don't want to spend that much as I'd rather spend my savings on "going places". But I sm probably older than you anyway and savings can't be added to these days.

Are there any kitchen firms local to you - they would come and give you a price.

Jacky I got round the inconvenience by keeping everything in them in plastic boxes that I just have to take out, so that nothing gets forgotten at the back. I've done that with very large plastic boxes which works just fine but would still love to have a pull-out larder unit and swivel carousels - plus good deep drawers to store china, pans etc instead of lots of cupboards.

a something and cooke one. Cooke and Lewis I think and I like the rounded end cupboards, that's what I would choose

I live in house built in 1980 and still have the same kitchen. Thank goodness MargaretX - someone who has a kitchen just a bit older than mine

This house was built in 1990 ,that kitchen style has long gone

Whatever you do, don't use Wren; I've heard terrible reports about them. As for choosing anything these days, I find it impossible as everything I've done to my house over the past few years I've hated.

Me neither!
I used to be indecisive, now I'm not so sure. It's because I can't make up my mind that I am stuck with my old kitchen. However, if we ripped it out .....

...

grannycakes you have recommended the same company I was about to recommend. We are planning a new kitchen and I had Howdens in mind but then DH found DIY kitchens.

We visited their showrooms on the outskirts of Doncaster and were blown away not just by the range of kitchens available but their very nice and helpful but unpushy staff. We are due to make a second visit to make the final decision about the kitchen we want in a week or two's time.

You can get ex-showroom kitchens for a good price. I had one once, absolutely fine. You don't get to choose the colours etc, as you take what's there, but if it's the right thing then it's a good bargain.

I concur about not having something you dislike. It will probably be in your house for ever and every time you look at it you'll hate it. Though I do agree the £35k is over the top. It's your (family's) kitchen so it has to suit you, not a salesman or builder.

You called it my new kitchen Ilovecruz so I presume you are the one who spends most time in there.

So have what you want and what suits you, as Amma says, it will probably be in your house for, well, for a long time, if not for ever!

A few things that occurred to me reading you op.
Who uses the kitchen?
The builder is paid to do what you want him/ her to do.
Bin drawers are the best thing some much easier to store pots and pans.
Had my kitchen done last year after waiting years and if you have waited that long have what you really want. No point in going from one you don’t like to another you don’t like.

Tegan2, a friend's daughter has just had a Wren kitchen installed band ius delighted with it. Your warning has put me off though, I'm still looking.

A friend of a friend has had no end of problems with theirs and the company haven't been helpful at all. Then there was a thread on another forum about companies to avoid and Wren was mentioned. I have no experience of them myself, though. I think a lot of these companies subcontract the work so it depends on the people they subcontract to, I always think a local, recommended joiner is the best person to use.

I sorted my kitchen out when I moved in this house 1983 it’s still going strong nothing needs changing ( well I ve had a new washing machine and fridge freezer in that time of course ) but the basics stay the same well I ve painted the walls and had a new lampshade ?

fff