Cloth Nappy Tree Forum

We're having our kitchen redone so I'm looking for ideas/inspiration. Wish I'd done.. . Etc

@clothmama I like your worktop from your cake pic...

that is from Ikea - we bought it as a temporary fix (the kitchen isn't where it will be) - it was in the outlet area so not sure if it was there as it was end of line. I'm actually really impressed with the quality - it has been in pretty much a year now and other than some cut marks (not sure if it was not owning up kids or visitors ) in one small area it is absolutely immaculate, it is also quite thick compared to other places and it has quite a square profile which is nice. It is really dark in our current space so the lightness works really well. I've done a few kitchens now.

Our first we used wooden B&Q cupboards and black granite look worktop with terracotta and blue splash backs, the wood was that simple square bevel over flat centre. It annoyed me as it was very flat on the little lip and I remember it always felt like it got dirty and was annoying to clean with the sharp angle! One of Oz houses was the same! I didn't have much bench space (limited by large sandstone ancient forge in the middle of my kitchen wall ) so only had a single Ikea sink which helped with that and it wasn't too bad as I had a dishwasher but not sure I'd do it again. I'll try to dig a photo out from the hard drive!

The second we fitted but was chosen by MIL when she owned the house (we later bought it off her), it was Ikea wooden top and blue units (I loved them initially but think it was wearing off by the time we left - would always go a bit more neutral - although bonus of Ikea units is easy to change the doors) that were totally flat. I really, really liked the wooden top, always looked good and I knew if there was ever a children / knife disaster I could sand it back and just reoil it. This is what I'm putting in the new kitchen as worktop. What I didn't like about this kitchen was the funky looking legs on the bottoms of the units - total PITA as things always went under there - so go with a plinth! Also would always put a fitted stove (unless lovely range of course!) but at the time in France they were pretty rare. It was fitted about 8 years before this pic was taken and it never missed a beat - all the drawers and everything were great quality and I believe they now have 25 year guarantees on thier kitchens.
Here is a pic:

When we were looking at building in Oz I read a lot of people saying that the quality of Ikea kitchens is pretty hard to beat and that they had seen very expensive 'bespoke' kitchens that didn't last as well. We want solid oak doors which we have bought and I'm going to paint grey but I'll be buying all our internals from Ikea. They also have a fab online design programme which is really easy from what I remember (although I think for the ones I did in the past it was pen and paper only ).

So in terms of what I'm doing, I'm going for a wooden top with painted units, ceramic butler sink if I can find a not too big one. I am going to get J to custom build a under worktop bread bin as bread storage drives me batty - this kind of idea:

I also like hidden coffee pots / toasters so will see if I can fit in something like this:

I think clever design and storage is what matters most - another idea I really like is the new under sink system they have at Ikea where the 'cupboards' under the sink are actually a huge drawer that all your bins sit in for easy recycling (I have bottles, other stuff and compost and normal bin!). Can't find a link to UK one but this is what it looks like:

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/produ ... /S19040850

Can you tell I spend far too long thinking about kitchens @ems101 Will add anything else I think of!

Love the hidden storage! Good advice re legs. What a pain to clean under! I think we're going to go with laminate work surface, even though wed love wood, it's too expensive and we wouldn't maintain it. Also this house will only do us for a couple more years, so the kitchen will be to help sell it really.

I really like the under sink/counter bins. That's a great idea

We used Ikea for most of ours, all the units, doors etc. It's our third ikea kitchen and would recommend them and the computer planner that Tory mentioned.
We have used the wooden worktop in a previous kitchen and loved the look, but did find it took a bit more maintenance than we expected to keep it looking good, we knew it would need oiling and occasionally sanding, but around the sink if we didn't keep it really dry it started to go a little black.
This time we found a local company that does beautiful stone worktops but loads cheaper than normal. However, this is a house we intend to live in for a long time!
Handles came from an online company because I had a specific request which we couldn't find in ikea, luckily DH is happy to spend time trawling on line to track down his wifes request!!1
Plinths essential! We also fitted a plinth heater, which if you have a chilly kitchen and want some extra warmth, but limited space are really good!

Oh my goodness Christi I absolutely LOVE your kitchen - gorgeous ! I originally had those doors on my list but for some reason DH doesn't like white / cream kitchens

autumnalgirl wrote:but around the sink if we didn't keep it really dry it started to go a little black.

Eeeeekkkkk you are making me rethink now - I never had that issue as our kitchen sink was freestanding (massive old butler sink) in that kitchen so we never had water near it I really hate that black look What to do what to do I hate making decisions

I'd heard that IKEA kitchen were very difficult to fit, and read lots of good reviews for howden's. I just can't look at the huge catalogue and see what I should choose. They are all very similar. How are you meant to know what will suit your space?! The cupboards will be white .. that's as far as I got....!

Really never heard that about them being hard to fit, we did it all ourselves and had no problems at all!

Are you changing your current layout? What annoys you and what do you love about your current storage / set up? do you need more drawers, change of unti shapes etc @ems101 ? Do you mean the carcasses white or the doors white?

I think the worktop in our current temp kitchen is this one or very similar:
http://www.ikea.com/fr/fr/catalog/products/50283054/

Not really changing the layout much, moving oven and fridge.adding more cupboards. I think it's just all the choice of colours and stuff that confuses me! I thought the carcasses and doors would be the same colour.... i think I just want a new kitchen with appliences that work. I'm not sure I'm too bothered what it looks like!