How to improve this kitchen?
Discussion
There is brilliant stuff called Zinzer, it allows you to paint kitchen doors without any sanding. I have done it on a few BTLs, coat of Zinzer then paint with farrow and ball eggshell, put brass cuphandles on doors,drawers. Go to B&Q and buy the 3m lengths of wooden worktop that looks like butchers block (£100). Buy an extra length of worktop that you can cut down to use as splashback (cheaper than tiling); by putting the splashback right down to cabinet level the wortop will stick out further which looks more expensive. Cut another length to add to bottom of the leading edge of the worktop so it looks thicker.
Add a couple of toys like pop up sockets and good taps and you v quickly have a much more expensive looking kitchen for not much money
Add a couple of toys like pop up sockets and good taps and you v quickly have a much more expensive looking kitchen for not much money
Rangeroverover said:
There is brilliant stuff called Zinzer, it allows you to paint kitchen doors without any sanding. I have done it on a few BTLs, coat of Zinzer then paint with farrow and ball eggshell, put brass cuphandles on doors,drawers. Go to B&Q and buy the 3m lengths of wooden worktop that looks like butchers block (£100).
Sounds good so far...Rangeroverover said:
Buy an extra length of worktop that you can cut down to use as splashback (cheaper than tiling); by putting the splashback right down to cabinet level the wortop will stick out further which looks more expensive.
Not sure I understand... put a worktop thickness wooden worktop against the wall?Rangeroverover said:
Cut another length to add to bottom of the leading edge of the worktop so it looks thicker.
Providing it doesn't foul the cupboards opening and drawers etc 
hornetrider said:
Rangeroverover said:
There is brilliant stuff called Zinzer, it allows you to paint kitchen doors without any sanding. I have done it on a few BTLs, coat of Zinzer then paint with farrow and ball eggshell, put brass cuphandles on doors,drawers. Go to B&Q and buy the 3m lengths of wooden worktop that looks like butchers block (£100).
Sounds good so far...Rangeroverover said:
Buy an extra length of worktop that you can cut down to use as splashback (cheaper than tiling); by putting the splashback right down to cabinet level the wortop will stick out further which looks more expensive.
Not sure I understand... put a worktop thickness wooden worktop against the wall?rather than having the worktop butt up against the wall put the wooden splashback in against the wall first, this makes the worktop stick out further and look more expensive. Expensive kitchens always have more of an overhang on the worktops.
I also add elements to doorcases and skirting when wanting to add grandness by making them wider/taller
Rangeroverover said:
Cut another length to add to bottom of the leading edge of the worktop so it looks thicker.
Providing it doesn't foul the cupboards opening and drawers etc It usually doesn't foul, on one we had to add battens under the worktop to provide the clearance needed; it really does make a cheap thin worktop look much more expensive. Then add loads of Danish oil
I'd just paint it white, make it spotlessly clean, hang some colourful curtains or get a blind, stick some plants on the window sill & call it a day.
Its an old kitchen. At best it will look like an old kitchen that's been tarted up - but which still really needs to be replaced.
Ask yourself whether it would make the difference as to whether you would buy the house or not. If somebody really likes the house its not going to matter a fig to them.
Its an old kitchen. At best it will look like an old kitchen that's been tarted up - but which still really needs to be replaced.
Ask yourself whether it would make the difference as to whether you would buy the house or not. If somebody really likes the house its not going to matter a fig to them.
Well a few months later and...
tiles painted
new blind to match tiles
walls/ceiling repainted white
floor cleaned up
plants on windowsill
new tap
decided against painting the units, more worried about it looking pap and having to get new ones.
worktop would just be too expensive to replace, and same issue with painting it.
tiles painted
new blind to match tiles
walls/ceiling repainted white
floor cleaned up
plants on windowsill
new tap
decided against painting the units, more worried about it looking pap and having to get new ones.
worktop would just be too expensive to replace, and same issue with painting it.
thebraketester said:
Absolutely get rid of all signs of pets IMO. We went to view a house a few weeks ago and I walked out in less than 2 mins.... cat food/bowls everywhere. They will never sell the house like that....
Kitchen looks better. Maybe get rid of the big thing near the kettle to de-cluter.
Weird that you can't imagine what it could look like without a cat bowlKitchen looks better. Maybe get rid of the big thing near the kettle to de-cluter.
On the floor.
Not all buyers are unimaginative OP.
t hole) 
Not made a big difference has it OP? Not sure what you're trying to achieve as that kitchen screams 'needs ripping out' both before and after your update.
Which in itself isnt necessarily an issue, but the bigger problem is its an awkward, dingy small area.
The lighting really needs attention and all the clutter in that corner cupboard and on the wall removing. Floor doesnt help the cramped dark appearance.
Which in itself isnt necessarily an issue, but the bigger problem is its an awkward, dingy small area.
The lighting really needs attention and all the clutter in that corner cupboard and on the wall removing. Floor doesnt help the cramped dark appearance.
it' a 130k house. At this price range you are not going to get a massive marbe kitchen with aga and floating breafast bar
However will move the actifryer into a cupboard, and clear out the end coner section. Whilst I agree that corner looks crap, it is meant to be open and quite hard to change.
what needs doing with the lighting?
However will move the actifryer into a cupboard, and clear out the end coner section. Whilst I agree that corner looks crap, it is meant to be open and quite hard to change.
what needs doing with the lighting?
As someone who's going around looking at buying a house at the moment (at / not far above your asking price) I wouldn't be spending money on putting quality anything in for the sake of a sale.
once the colours / patterns look okay that's all you need; I've not paid attention to the quality of stuff like floor vinyl because I know we'll likely be replacing it with something we've chosen ourselves. If there are any dark areas / corners you're better off spending money getting lights pointed at them.
Put away everything bar the kettle or simple potted plants for viewings; same for all the other rooms. Take TV remotes/coasters/magazines etc off coffee tables, it's much easier for a prospective buyer to see themselves living in the house / making it their own if it's not already full of signs that it's somebody else's home
once the colours / patterns look okay that's all you need; I've not paid attention to the quality of stuff like floor vinyl because I know we'll likely be replacing it with something we've chosen ourselves. If there are any dark areas / corners you're better off spending money getting lights pointed at them.
Put away everything bar the kettle or simple potted plants for viewings; same for all the other rooms. Take TV remotes/coasters/magazines etc off coffee tables, it's much easier for a prospective buyer to see themselves living in the house / making it their own if it's not already full of signs that it's somebody else's home
Efbe said:
it' a 130k house. At this price range you are not going to get a massive marbe kitchen with aga and floating breafast bar
However will move the actifryer into a cupboard, and clear out the end coner section. Whilst I agree that corner looks crap, it is meant to be open and quite hard to change.
what needs doing with the lighting?
Fair enough However will move the actifryer into a cupboard, and clear out the end coner section. Whilst I agree that corner looks crap, it is meant to be open and quite hard to change.
what needs doing with the lighting?
but you need it to seem to have 'potential', regardless of whether it actually does.WRT lighting, it looks very uneven and 'cold'. Hard to tell off a pic but are they cold white halogen spotlight bulbs? Replace with a warm white diffused light source and put in some lighting along the plinth, can be battery powered if money is tight.
A light coloured floor, vinyl or laminate would make the space seem so much more spacious and cleaner though, I would strongly consider it.
Can you soften the window somehow? Its almost a feature of the room which really it shouldnt be. I dont know how to do this
cheers guys.
Have put in under unit lighting now (had one in the garage)
Actifryer moved into a cupboard.
Corner unit almost empty now, just a few glasses etc.
The lights are 4 LED spot bulbs, and yes I agree too white. Will see if I can get some warm ones for it.
Anyone any insight into which ones would be best?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=se...
Have put in under unit lighting now (had one in the garage)
Actifryer moved into a cupboard.
Corner unit almost empty now, just a few glasses etc.
The lights are 4 LED spot bulbs, and yes I agree too white. Will see if I can get some warm ones for it.
Anyone any insight into which ones would be best?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=se...
OP. When we sold Sarah's house in Slough the kitchen was 20 years+ dated. Worse than yours.
For less than a £grand I transformed it. Fronts, the cheapest I could find were from benjamin-james.com, handles, £1 each off the bay. Sink, £20 second hand, tap £10, cooker and hob second hand, £80 total. The tops were the dearest job.
Took it from (earliest pic I have)
to
Still annoyed at the cock up of the one handle placement nearest the washer, but that's all I got wrong. Still, the house sold at full asking price two days after going to market. I'm convinced as it was before people would have walked in and straight away thought '£5000'
For less than a £grand I transformed it. Fronts, the cheapest I could find were from benjamin-james.com, handles, £1 each off the bay. Sink, £20 second hand, tap £10, cooker and hob second hand, £80 total. The tops were the dearest job.
Took it from (earliest pic I have)
to
Still annoyed at the cock up of the one handle placement nearest the washer, but that's all I got wrong. Still, the house sold at full asking price two days after going to market. I'm convinced as it was before people would have walked in and straight away thought '£5000'
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