New Kitchen Thread

[booyaka]

Yes - there has been a few recently and I though I'd do one for mine.

Basically we moved into this house about 6 years ago and the extension and kitchen had been built about a year before this. Now it's a good solid kitchen but we always felt that it was a large amount of space wasted.

- no wall units at all
- no island/breakfast bar etc
- no proper use of space etc.

So we looked at lots of options including changing the doors, just adding an island etc to keep costs down and reuse the granite worktops etc etc.

However after much thought/deliberations/planning etc - we decided to go the whole-hog and rip out everything and start from scratch.

So visited various places locally to get ideas/quotes etc for the kitchen. A few places we saw - the quotes were just off the scale!! As in £20k plus etc.

The idea was to get the kitchen units and use a joiner that I used about 3 years ago for my garage conversion. (he's neat, tidy and trustworthy etc) I'm pretty handy having just renovated two bathrooms in our house but don't have the time on my hands to do a full kitchen.

So pictures of the said kitchen before removal -

 

[booyaka]

end of day one - All units out and appliances.

Sold fridge freezer, washing machine and units/granite.

 

[Russinating]

Where are you getting the new one from etc?

 

[booyaka]

Where are you getting the new one from etc?

local kitchen company. (Digital Kitchens) They design and build the units on site in their factory. All units come pre-build, with doors attached etc.

For instance, despite measuring being done by them, a small error has been made in the size of the opening for the fridge/freezer. It fits but there is no air gap/ventilation around it. Called them this morning, they will manufacture a new box unit and door and I can pick it up on Monday afternoon.

Good local smallish company, but quick to sort things if any issue so far.

Sitting waiting for new fridge freezer, washing machine, dishwasher and cooker to arrive from ao.com this afternoon.

We could have res-used some of the applicanes but they were all installed at the time of the kitchen being put in (about 7 years old) so probably worth a re-fresh.

 

[Brozart]

I'm surprised you ripped it all out, you could have at least kept the carcasses?

 

[booyaka]

I'm surprised you ripped it all out, you could have at least kept the carcasses?

not really. We had a range cooker, which has gone in favour of gas hob and built in tall unit cooker. The range cooker left a big gap to fill.

Wanted to move the washing machine/dishwasher to the other side of kitchen. So in the end by the time you tried moving the carcasses, changing things, getting new ones for the wall, filling the range cooker gap etc, it was all going to be a hassle trying to cobble together new and old bits.

 

[Russinating]

The carcasses are the cheap part anyway. I'd have done the same, much nicer to have everything perfect (and knowing it's all new) for a bit more.

 

[booyaka]

Update.

Another couple of days on and things looking good. Just about all the main part of the kitchen is installed, the utility bit is getting done tomorrow.

Sorting out flooring now plus all the appliances have arrived from ao.com and appliancecity.com

The big gain for us as a family is the island/breakfast bar. Allows us as a family to sit down for dinners/cook/tv/homework etc in this area. Before just a huge open space!

 

[Buffman]

Wow that seemed quick, did you do it yourself?

Are the units black, or is that a temporary cover? (taken off when finished)

 

[booyaka]

Wow that seemed quick, did you do it yourself?

Are the units black, or is that a temporary cover? (taken off when finished)

no - got a joiner doing it. It's a simple job for a joiner as the units come pre-build with doors on. fit in place and add handles etc.

I could probably do it myself but with 2 kids, my own job along with various other things going on it was going to take me probably a few weeks of nights and weekends. Also not to mention cutting worktops/sink cut outs etc.

Happy to pay a good joiner to do it - not costing the earth but saving me time of not having a kitchen and also saving LOTS of grief from the missus!!

Temporary cover with the arrows on (even denotes which way up the units go!) - colour is a bluey/grey

 

[Adam]

That's a lovely sized kitchen, I'm sure it will be a big improvement on before. Thanks for sharing.

 

[booyaka]

Update again

Joiner is done and finished for the time being - he needs to come back once the floor is done and put on the kickboards and a couple of small finishing things. Good job, lovely units etc

Floor getting started today hopefully - Carvalio Vinyl tiles going down.

new bar stools x 4 for the breakfast bar. Kids already love it sitting together etc - came from Atlantic shopping (next delivery - good quality and solid)

New coffee machine and tv mounted on the wall.

Still got protective wrapping on units till floor/paint/tiling done.

Trying to decide on tiling for splashback etc - no done yet!

Oven unit etc

Dishwasher and washing machine in here

New Samsung American Fridge Freezer - love it - tons of room

Hopefully flooing done today/tomorrow and then painting and tiling to get done after that!

 

[scrivz69]

Looking good, we have just had ours done and the dust is still doing my head in, 2 weeks later.