Designing A Kitchen

[naomi24]

If you were designing a new kitchen, what style units, colours, tiles, etc., would you choose? I’m looking for ideas please.

[atalanta]

Careful if you decide on a boiling-water tap - in areas with very hard water they can fur up quite quickly. I wanted one, but nobody could promise it would last more than 6 months without clogging solid with limescale. And I don't want to soften my water supply.

[woofgang]

also also, and I might be in a minority here but the one thing i do regret is going for built in appliances. They were more expensive, there was less choice and when they fail, its a bigger job to replace them.

[woofgang]

atalanta, I live in an exceedingly hard water area and have got a softener for everything except the main kitchen tap. I have got a Brita tap with a third control for water which runs through a Brita filter. The water tastes much better and I never have to descale the kettle. previously I had to descale every 2 to 4 weeks. Not sure but maybe you can get a boiling water tap that filters?

[xstitcher]

I'd be looking for lots of light neutral colours that would give a feeling of clean and light.

[xstitcher]

I have a brushed steel fridge and it shows every fingerprint...the former white one was easier to keep clean and didn't absorb the light as this one does.

[jaynethepain]

Go for a boiling water tap if you can, gets rid of a kettle leaving more worktop space. Also, we've just had an induction hob, absolutely great! Was a gas user before but not now!

[venator]

It all depends on your room size. Lots of space means you can have more design freedom.

There are online design tools - I think Ikea have one - or places like B&Q will send someone round for a free design - phone round, perhaps.

Two tips-

1 You draw a triangle between the sink, food storage and preparation areas, and it should be reasonably small, minimising the amount of walking round.

2 Avoid those shiny granite surfaces - they show every mark. Old fashioned Formica has stood the test of time. An earlier post mentioned a newish alternative, which is called Corfam. It's gorgeous, but very expensive.

[woofgang]

I think you mean "Corian" "Corfan is faux leather :)
http://www.dupont.co.uk/products-and-services/construction-materials/surface-design-materials/brands/corian-solid-surfaces.html

there are other similar options too
http://www.envyworksurfaces.co.uk/index.php

[melv16]

The best thing I did with my kitchen was to have a glass splash-back behind the hob. There's no grout to keep clean then.

[Tilly2]

Corian is wonderful. I have Corian in my kitchen. It is seamless and therefore very easy to keep clean. No horrible mastic filler anywhere.

[Tilly2]

Corian sinks, splashback and window sills all in one.


http://i61.tinypic.com/2je746.jpg

[dunnitall]

Corian! That's what I was on about that I'd love in a kitchen, no joints and easy to clean, lovely but no doubt expensive.

[naomi24]

Thanks all. Lots of ideas there. I’m not sure a boiling water tap is necessary, and I don’t like stainless steel, but one thing I do want is shaped tiles around the edges of the floor that go up over the kick-boards under the units – no corners so easy cleaning. Still not sure about which worktops with which units though. I’m currently veering towards cream units with dark wood tops – the colour of the floor remains a mystery but it will have to be good tiles of some sort rather than wood. Vinyl doesn't even get a look in!

Mazie, the de-cluttering is coming along well, thank you for asking. Still a long way to go though. :o/

[DaisyNonna]

S P A C E

[Jolly87]

Look at those lightning http://store.barcelonaconcept.com/lighting cause last month I bought one for me and it was a good choice :-)