Another refurb thread

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VX Foxy

Original Poster:

3,962 posts

242 months

Thursday 3rd October 2013
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I've really enjoyed the inspirational build and refurb threads on here, so here's mine. It's as much as a record for me as it is to gauge opinion of my ideas and perhaps get some inspiration.

I expect progress will be slow and bitty and my thread does not deserve to be in the same forum as Muncher's or Garyhun's etc!

Anyway, here goes...first a little background...

My wife and I decided to sell our last place and use the equity to start a business. Four years later the business is still going so we felt it was time to buy again after renting various places. We finally completed the purchase after a lengthy mortgage application process last Friday but we don't plan on moving in for another six weeks. Have got a little bit of building work to do some decorating and will try and change the kitchen as well before we move in. here is the ground floor plan and some pictures of the place as is.


The kitchen is actually 3m wide not 2.4. Dozy EA.





We're going to knock the two walls out between the kitchen and lounge to form a larger L shaped open plan living space.
(Excuse my bodged csi plan...you get the gist!)


We like the wickes masoni kitchen or something similar. I know it won't be everybody's taste but I want something contemporary and not too expensive!


DIY is definitely not my thing, so progress will be dictated by availability of tradesmen and cash!

Edited by VX Foxy on Thursday 3rd October 23:10


Edited by VX Foxy on Tuesday 22 October 21:42

VEX

5,256 posts

245 months

Saturday 5th October 2013
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We are about to something similar to our house which we have been in for 10years.

So time for another update.

One thing we have descided to do is open up between our Lounge and Kitchen / Diner. But we are using a sliding door to be able to close it back off again when we are cooking.

Open plan is great but noise and more importantly smells travel!

V.

Ps there will be a thread because it will be techie!

jke11y

3,181 posts

236 months

Saturday 5th October 2013
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VEX - I thought you had a cracking build thread posted up 18 or so months ago, or am I thinking of someone else? Vx- looks a good sized property; I'm guessing repo from the state of the garden?

VX Foxy

Original Poster:

3,962 posts

242 months

Sunday 6th October 2013
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Vex, on the open plan thing we will use the smaller front room as a second lounge tv/games room. I guess we'll have to put up with the cooking smells but I can't see noise being a problem. Partition doors a good idea. Might need to pick your brains about AV stuff...

House wasn't a repo but had been rented out while the owner took an 'extended holiday'. Had been empty for about 6 months. It looked very tired but actually now we've started tidying up, it's in pretty good condition. We got a very good deal smile



VX Foxy

Original Poster:

3,962 posts

242 months

Wednesday 16th October 2013
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Had the first visuals for the kitchen. Forgive the photo of a printout...



There are 2 single ovens with the fridge freezer in between. This obviously maintains the symmetry but I wonder if it could be perceived as a little odd?

There is 80cm space either side of the island. Is that enough?

Total price inc install and appliances is just under 20kThe ice white 'slab tech' work top comes in at over 5k. The shark nose profile is circa £1500 ! That'll have to go frown

Builder should be starting on Monday....

VX Foxy

Original Poster:

3,962 posts

242 months

Tuesday 22nd October 2013
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Builder finally started work this morning but seems to be making good progress:



I'm so glad we're not living there at the moment!

VX Foxy

Original Poster:

3,962 posts

242 months

Tuesday 22nd October 2013
quotequote all
Oh yeah, forgot to say that the dozy kitchen designer mis-measured. He had the kitchen at 3.9m wide. Back to square one!

Anyone fancy having a crack at a kitchen layout for me? smile

E31Shrew

5,920 posts

191 months

Wednesday 1st January 2014
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Any updates?

VX Foxy

Original Poster:

3,962 posts

242 months

Wednesday 1st January 2014
quotequote all
Haha, I didn't think anyone was interested biggrin

Most of the building work is done, just trying to sort a kitchen and layout. Pretty much decided on layout...just need to buy it and get someone to install it.

Will update with some pics soon.

E31Shrew

5,920 posts

191 months

Wednesday 1st January 2014
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Love these. Just about to start our own. Dreading it

singlecoil

33,312 posts

245 months

Wednesday 1st January 2014
quotequote all
VX Foxy said:
Oh yeah, forgot to say that the dozy kitchen designer mis-measured. He had the kitchen at 3.9m wide. Back to square one!

Anyone fancy having a crack at a kitchen layout for me? smile
Sorry, I missed that when you first posted it, I would have had a go at that.

VX Foxy

Original Poster:

3,962 posts

242 months

Wednesday 1st January 2014
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I'll post up what we're planning...would appreciate your critique.

VX Foxy

Original Poster:

3,962 posts

242 months

Thursday 2nd January 2014
quotequote all
Ground floor windows in. We'll do upstairs when we do the bathrooms.



Hole for TV formed and fire removed. We've got a hole in the wall fire to go in so there'll be a decent gap between the fire and TV:



This is pretty much how it is now - except we've moved in and it's a bit cleaner!



singlecoil said:
Sorry, I missed that when you first posted it, I would have had a go at that.
This is what the chap at Wickes come up with second time round:




Here are the dimensions:



I'm not convinced by the design but now we've lived in the house a while we've got a better idea of what we want. I don't want any wall units apart from where the ovens are. There is a bi-fold unit on the left of the ovens, I think it should be mirrored on the right. I don't want a tall f/f, instead I'd like 2 integrated fridges and an integrated freezer in the kitchen (all under counter). Would the hob be better between the windows? I wonder if the breakfast bar should meet up with the ‘nub’ (where the waste pipe runs). That would give a bigger gap between the end of the peninsula and the corner of the wall and we could fit an extra unit in the long run under the windows. I’m assuming we don't have enough space for 2x300mm, tall pull-out larder units either side of the ovens and I think 2 double ovens will look better than 2 singles. Hope that makes sense! Appreciate your comments beer



Muncher

12,219 posts

248 months

Thursday 2nd January 2014
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I like the black windows! Something isn't quite right with the kitchen layout with the 2 ovens, it looks a bit odd with the worktop broken up, I am sure someone here could suggest something better.

Podie

46,630 posts

274 months

Thursday 2nd January 2014
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I'd put the hob between the windows.

1) It makes it more sociable if you're cooking when you have guests (they can sit at the breakfast bar without fear of getting splashed / burned

2) Gives you a really deep work surface (brekkie bar) if you want the space for cooking (e.g. making pasta)

3) People usually have s splashback behind a hob... where is this going to "splash" in its current location?

Podie

46,630 posts

274 months

Thursday 2nd January 2014
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Muncher said:
Something isn't quite right with the kitchen layout with the 2 ovens, it looks a bit odd with the worktop broken up,
Agreed.

Also - where are you intending to put a bin?

What is the 600mm unit by the door?

Have you tested 4 bar stools next to each other?

VX Foxy

Original Poster:

3,962 posts

242 months

Thursday 2nd January 2014
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Muncher/Podie - I agree with everything you've said!
The bin will go in one of the units - prob near the sink. Unit by the door is FF - i don't like it. See my comments at the bottom.

Prince Rupert

430 posts

204 months

Thursday 2nd January 2014
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Love the black window frames - if you don't mind me asking, where did you get them, what material are they and were they comparatively expensive?

Muncher

12,219 posts

248 months

Thursday 2nd January 2014
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I agree the hob does not work either with the stools there.

VX Foxy

Original Poster:

3,962 posts

242 months

Thursday 2nd January 2014
quotequote all
Prince Rupert said:
Love the black window frames - if you don't mind me asking, where did you get them, what material are they and were they comparatively expensive?
They actually very dark grey UPVC (white on the inside), and I don't know where they came from as the builder supplied them. I'll try to find out. They weren't expensive - £2k including fitting and bricking up where the 2nd french doors were.