To a degree we're suffering from option paralysis in the various design aspects of the kitchen. We already know what we're doing physically (gutting what we have, pushing out ten feet east, to have a specific layout we've decided on), but the particulars of filling that in — cabinets (and hardware), counters, floor, paint, backsplash, not to mention appliances from fridge to drink fridge to range to ovens to dishwasher — are still way up in the air.
The basic parameters are that this will be our Forever Kitchen — do what we want, no regrets, live with it until we can't live in the house any more. Price is an object to the extent that we don't want to waste money, but my goal is to not be kicking ourselves over not getting a particular upgrade, design item, etc. It's already a massively expensive project, just from the construction, so the rest becomes more a matter of selection as to what will work best for us, and that we'll love.
Margie's on all the appliances (with consultation/compliance, but it's mostly on her), except the dishwasher, which I get to choose, and the fridge, which is mostly mutual consent (french doors, water dispenser that has crushed ice, counter depth). She thought she had figured out what she wanted, but this particular visit threw some significant new options into her viewfinder.
We've decided on the cabinet styles, but that's it. Every discussion of countertops, or flooring, or backsplash becomes so interlinked that it's hard to take a step forward. So … working on that.
Time isn't of the essence — yet. We're still dealing with architect and engineers (structural and geotechnical, since we're expanding the house). We're planning on breaking ground in the spring, though, and I'd love to have some of this figured out by then …
Good luck. Too many options yes. Find a friend you trust with a design eye and don't look back.
We spent a lot of time dreaming in the kitchen section at IKEA Friday. Robert shocked me by telling me he had started putting our kitchen dimensions in the IKEA kitchen planner.
@Deb – That sounds like a _good_ shock.
IKEA has a lot of nifty kitchen ideas.
I did ours last summer. I think you are probably able to spend more than me- I spent approx £1500 in all.
It had been in almost 17 years and was beginning to fall apart- doors mostly. The original plan was just to replace the door/draw fronts. Then we found that they don’t make the wall cabinets in the smaller size any more, so needed a new one (or no new door). All this was from the local DIY superstore. Just as we were looking at the handles my wife sees the show kitchens, more importantly, a slimline dishwasher.
Our kitchen is quite small – we only have about 3m of counterspace (and that includes the sink) so we have never had a dishwasher before- no room. We also had a wasted corner- we couldn’t have a normal corner unit, as the cooker has to go next to that corner. I (reluctantly) agreed to make a appointment with the designer. A week later I had agreed to spend a total of 3 times the original ‘freshen up’ budget, including slimline dishwasher – though I was sceptical of the door next to the cooker being able to open, but the computer sim assured us it would.
I took a week off work to decorate (old tiles off, plaster, paint, new tiles on) something I actually enjoy – though having bought ‘rustic farmhouse’ style tiles I found they are not square – making it interesting lining them up!
Took another week off when the units were delivered. Obviously for £1200 you don’t get the top of the range ones, and more importantly you get to fit them yourself! However I never understand why people moan about flat pack – it is so simple.
Old units out, and down the dump. New units made up and the mountain of cardboard packaging down the dump! This of course is the tricky bit in a family home – you need to time it so that there is the minimum disruption of the most important room.
2 trickiest bits were the plumbing and the countertop. The dishwasher meant that we were going down from a bowl and a half, to a normal 1 bowl sink, partly because we antipated not needing the sink as often, and partly to make room underneath- it had to be shifted about 50 cm left I think, and the drainer is now on the right. I also took the opportunity to rearrange the pipework underneath. This was the problem. It is the only time I’ve not cut an important pipe clean- it left a burr, so the compression joint wouldn’t seat properly. Lots of swearing, because the stores were closed (late at night). I KNEW I had some 15 mil pipe somewhere – sure of it. Could I find it? Luckily when I and my dad first put the old kitchen in (in ’96- this is the only house I’ve bought) he taught me about isolation valves, and how its a good idea to put them on all pipes that lead to taps – that way you can remove the tap without shutting off ALL your water! I was able to connect the tap to the pipes- and leave it in the carcass of the under the sink unit. Had to get up before my wife to draw any water she needed. Then off to the builders merchants where I bought 8ft of pipe to replace the 6 inches I needed.
The worksurface was a nightmare – don’t know what I would have done with out my eldest being there (17 yrs) – trying to maneouver 2m50 of surface around the twists andturns, then fit it when it has to fit around a pipe in the end, and 2 pipes a couple of foot from the corner – I’ve put in 3 or 4 work surfaces now, and always scared I will snap a pipe!
After that it was just plumbing – getting the sink overflow to seat properly against the bowl was oddly the most annoyingly ‘won’t go right’ part. Also I had damaged the ‘tails’ (pipes attached to the tap) getting the old taps off. After not being able to find any I ended up buying a budget tap block. Those tails didn’t fit, so I had to fit the budget tap, despite the old tap being less than 2 years old! Refitted (with a little simplification in the route) the boiler overflow pipe, then added in the spur for the dishwasher – that bit was lovely and easy – I had made it up before hand – T joint, pipe, connector valve – so it was just a matter of cut the pipe and fit it in, then add a bit for the waste pipe to the drainage pipe for the washing machine.
We are lucky that we have old fashioned walk in larder – about 8 feet long with shelving on three sides, and I am glad that I have always talked my wife out of having it ripped out (and replaced but kitchen units!), so the lack of space in the kitchen isn’t an issue.
Only 4 issues with the end product
– There is a section about 1-2 feet under the window, behind the sink, where I didn;t have time to plaster properly as it was too deep, so I screwed some wood to the wall to bring it up level! (it is quite a deep bit of missing plaster) I tiled on top of the wood.
– I drilled holes in the wrong place on one door for the handle, so should really replace it (they are only thin, but once you see the filler, you cant help but notice)
– I used the wrong jig blade at first, so one end of a worksurface is not straight- however it is the end up against the fridge so you can’t see I’ve disguised it.
– I cut the hole for the sink a little too forward, so the strut across the top of the cabinet snapped when I pulled it (If I hadn’t pulled it, it would be fine). However I was able to use a length of pine used for packing to replace it.
However we have a nice modern looking kitchen WITH A DISHWASHER
So a few weeks later I found you can buy tails – just not solid copper ones, but flexi-pipe ones. The kid in the shop didn’t recognise what I showed him as the same thing! Then I went into the loft and found 2 foot of copper pipe, from when I cut out the old pipes for the shower, and capped off those spurs…
Then at Christmas my wife said “I’ve just realised – you can’t put this [special Christmas] crockery in the dishwasher”…
@LH – An excellent DIY tale. Sounds like a very nice finished product, esp. the dishwasher add.
Shortly after we moved into our house, 16-17 years ago, we redid all the countertops ourselves, as well as adding additional shelves to the peninsula and putting in a lot of new appliances ourselves (purchased from Houses for Humanity). This time we’re being extravagant (and having others do the job better than we could).