Another refurb thread
Discussion
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!
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, 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
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
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
Builder should be starting on Monday....
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
Builder should be starting on Monday....
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!
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
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
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. Podie said:
That corner to the right of the oven, up yo the f/f just doesn't "work" - certainly worth trying a few more iterations.
If you moved the breakfast bar up to the soil pipe bit, then consider you'll lose a bit more space - 4 stools may be a squeeze.
Yep, the FF needs to go. I don't mind if we can only fit 3 stools but if we move the breakfast bar we can probably lengthen it slightly.If you moved the breakfast bar up to the soil pipe bit, then consider you'll lose a bit more space - 4 stools may be a squeeze.
singlecoil said:
What do you plan to do about refrigeration, then?
Oh, and those corner base units aren't helping at all, they need to be replaced with magic corners which not only work better, but don't impose so many strictures on the layout.
Under counter refrigeration Oh, and those corner base units aren't helping at all, they need to be replaced with magic corners which not only work better, but don't impose so many strictures on the layout.
Agree on the corners. I prefer the ones with the very PH "Le Mans" pull out: http://www.clever-storage.com/modern-kitchens/inno...
Thanks for the feedback chaps.
Singlecoil, really appreciate you having a crack at this. Is there any reason you didn't take the breakfast bar up to the nub? What did you have in mind for the over counter unit in the corner?
Podie/muncher; from a practical pov an ff would make sense but I still think we'll need an extra fridge.
Perhaps I wasn't clear that the reason for 2 ovens is for the look, a double oven on its own would actually be fine for our needs. May be the two tall units could house a double oven and a ff, but we'd lose the symmetry.
Singlecoil, really appreciate you having a crack at this. Is there any reason you didn't take the breakfast bar up to the nub? What did you have in mind for the over counter unit in the corner?
Podie/muncher; from a practical pov an ff would make sense but I still think we'll need an extra fridge.
Perhaps I wasn't clear that the reason for 2 ovens is for the look, a double oven on its own would actually be fine for our needs. May be the two tall units could house a double oven and a ff, but we'd lose the symmetry.
Finally some progress. Kitchen is being fitted this week by Wren fitters. We'd held off having the install until now as it's half term and the kids have gone to visit their grandparents.
Today the old kitchen has been removed, and the electrics for the appliances have gone in.
Utility
In typical Wren fashion, the cupboard and drawer fronts haven't been delivered yet but the fitter is confident they'll arrive in good time...I'll keep you posted. Hope I'm not waiting 4 months like Muncher! :/
Today the old kitchen has been removed, and the electrics for the appliances have gone in.
Utility
In typical Wren fashion, the cupboard and drawer fronts haven't been delivered yet but the fitter is confident they'll arrive in good time...I'll keep you posted. Hope I'm not waiting 4 months like Muncher! :/
Edited by VX Foxy on Monday 14th April 21:59
Didn't realise it had been so long since I updated!
Kitchen still not finished - no thanks to Wren. It is complete but almost all the drawer and door fronts need changing due to problems with the paint finish. No idea when that will be though.
In the meantime, the rest of the windows at the back have been changed and the garden has been tidied up ready for some planting and finishing touches.
Kitchen still not finished - no thanks to Wren. It is complete but almost all the drawer and door fronts need changing due to problems with the paint finish. No idea when that will be though.
In the meantime, the rest of the windows at the back have been changed and the garden has been tidied up ready for some planting and finishing touches.
Edited by VX Foxy on Tuesday 5th August 00:03
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