Help with kitchen refurb - Skylights?

7 years ago

We're about to under go a full refurb of our very old fashioned kitchen which is very exciting! It's an existing extension which was done about 25 years ago so there's no insulation in the flat roof. While we're getting this redone we're keen to get skylights fitted as it's such a dark kitchen. It's a good size kitchen (a bit over 4x4m) so we're thinking two 1.5m x 1m skylights and I've tried to fit masking tape to show where these would be. I'm wondering if it could be too much though? Would one be better? Which way should they run?

I've attached a design for the new kitchen, we're going for off white handless units, light worktop and wood effect floor tiles.

Featured Answer

PRO

Artichoke

7 years ago

If you have a flat roof, add a roof lantern. It will immediately transform it.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (27)

nikstar55
Original Author
7 years ago
Here's the new layout...Many thanks in advance for any help, we're complete novices at this!
PRO
SAM's Designs & Building Constr
7 years ago
You can always reduce the dimension to 0.5m by 0.5m, thereafter go get a good lightning object to luminate the vicinity of the confined aforesaid kitchen area
nikstar55 thanked SAM's Designs & Building Constr
Related Discussions
Kitchen Refurb - narrow and dark! Ideas please...
Q
Comments (21)
Hi Laura, You've received many suggestions and some have been quite good. Particularly useful are the photos above of the French pied a terre with the slim line cabinets on one side. If you need somewhere to eat, you can swap the table and chairs for a bar and stools with slim cabinets either side. And don't worry about losing the panel radiator. Your plumber can install a hydronic plinth heater that connects into your central heating. I think the key to your colour scheme should start with your new cooker. Have you considered beige cabinet doors in high gloss? They would make your range look integrated and help reflect light around the room. Polished black granite (or laminate) worktop will pick up the black trim on the cooker. The arched lower door of the cooker points toward a more traditional or transitional look for a cooker hood (black) or an integrated hood. Beige and black tiles would keep the walls of the working area scrubbable. Look at metro tiles for a high gloss finish or patchwork tiles for some retro designs. Lastly, change over to LED lighting with warm white lamps. Avoid harsh white light overhead, but don't forget worktop lighting. Good luck and have fun.
...See More
Total refurb and need help with floor plan! (going in circles here!)
Q
Comments (13)
Thanks for your help and advice- all really useful and helping me sort the confusion of what I need and want and what is and isn't possible. The skinny space is the kitchen now. It's not ideal as of course is very small and narrow so can't house much. But I like that it's just off the reception room and. It quite in it! The kitchen houses the boiler currently and all pipe work there for oven and sink etc so I know this can be the kitchen but just worried the space is too small. My original plan was to keep the kitchen where it is but rehouse boiler and put washing machine in the toilet. The toilet would go in the bathroom but of course now that's not possible I need to put the boiler and washing machine somewhere and if back in the kitchen then I lose so much space. Could such a small space work? I need to rule out this ideal by speaking to a specially that deals with very small spaces. Any recommendations please?
...See More
Budget kitchen refurb - paint or replace doors?
Q
Comments (9)
Latest update, I have decided to head for the front of the curve - surely pine will be coming back into fashion soon and I’ll have an original! So we’re not changing the kitchen units, nor painting them, just focusing on worktops, walls, floors. My question now concerns flooring and wall colour. We will be putting in a square edge marble effect worktop, with an upstand, and the sink is being replaced by a quartz one. Where the window and wall underneath have been removed we are extending the worktop to the end of where the original external wall comes to, and should be able to put some very slim cabinets underneath, they will be light grey. Im looking for ideas regarding wall colour - I’m thinking blue/green but quite undecided, maybe I should go off-white. Any ideas gratefully appreciated. tia Stephanie
...See More
Kitchen refurb.....Free standing American Fridge/Freezer
Q
Comments (2)
Yes. Most are deeper than your kitchen units so will stick out and if you look at the specification sheet of the fridge you are looking at you will find instructions of the gap you are supposed to leave between the fridge and cabinet to allow the doors to open.
...See More
Midcenturylass
7 years ago
I think it's really dark because of the dark units and dark flooring & furniture. once you've changed these, it will be much more airy and bright in there. It looks like you're installing patio doors, which will increase light even more. So for me, a skylight probably isn't necessary.
nikstar55 thanked Midcenturylass
nikstar55
Original Author
7 years ago
Thanks for your comment. The patio door leads into an old conservatory so we don't actually get much light from the garden. Unfortunately we don't have the budget to sort that out yet! Here's the view from the other way
doogie72
7 years ago
It does look like the kitchen would benefit from some more natural light but consider roof lights carefully. If you go for a completely flat one - when it rains it can be incredibly noisy. Not sure if a lantern style would solve this as I've never had one but its something to consider. Especially if you spend a lot of time in the kitchen.
nikstar55 thanked doogie72
PRO
Around The House Furniture
7 years ago
I don't think you can go wrong with skylights, we had 3 put into our kitchen extension along with patio doors and even on dull days the natural light is amazing! Im so glad we did it! Noise from rain is so minimal you dont even notice, however ours are slanted so wouldn't like to comment on flat ones. Good luck with the transformation, i bet it'll look fab when you're done! X
Jonathan
7 years ago
The light you get from glass in the ceiling is significantly more than a normal window so I think the sty lights will do just what you want.
As far as kitchen design goes I would think ahead to when you replace the conservatory..... Are you going to want a big opening into it and will the kitchen sink be in the way? Now is the time to plan.
Also you seem to have fewer units in the new kitchen perhaps you might need extra on the right hand wall (when looking to the conservatory).
Lastly the wall units are very close to the extractor and personally I think it looks nicer to have a gap either side of the extractor so it doesn't look crowded
nikstar55 thanked Jonathan
PRO
User
7 years ago
I think that two skylights is one too many. Infact I wouldn't go for a skylight at all, i'd go for 1 roof lantern. Far more attractive, and practical with the openers as a kitchen can get hot at the best of times and when you add glass to the roof it get much hotter. I've done your example with 1 and 2 roof lights, but given you an example of a roof lantern, I would suggest that 2 metres by 1 metre is more than sufficient, but you have the room to go bigger for impact if you wish. ( as a roof expert )
nikstar55 thanked User
nikstar55
Original Author
7 years ago
Thanks everyone, that's really helpful especially with those visuals and I do agree one looks better. I think I'll investigate roof lanterns then, our roofer originally put me off saying they were prone to leaks. Any recommendations for which brands are good?

Re the kitchen plans, yes we'll have less units but are ok with that as we have too many at the moment and will add more storage to our utility room. Although the plan doesn't show it we want to have a large table closer to the wall where we have no units. Good point on the extractor fan, I'll look into this.
PRO
User
7 years ago
Good news about the Roof lanterns! My wife will be very jealous as she'd banged on about those for years. I put the table and chairs by the wall on the plan as you mention above, it just seemed to look better, good luck with your project, and can't wait to see the finished pics !
Carole Wood
7 years ago
We have a roof lantern over our dining table. Transformed the room, lets in lots of light, hardly hear the rain, can see the stars and it has never leaked.
PRO
House Martin Online
7 years ago
We suggest this a lot in our coving range, but do thing about indirect uplighter coving which will give an all over flood of light filling in all the shadows kitchens so often suffer from. Michael.
PRO
McCann Moore Architects
7 years ago
We often install frameless rooflights in our projects. There's something magical about looking up and just seeing the sky. Flushglaze is worth looking at. I would opt for something around 3m long and install it between the rear run and the island. Not only will it look spectacular and make you smile (even when it rains), it will also flood the space with light. The lantern is a nice idea too but I guess it comes down to whether you want sleek and contemporary or traditional
Paul
E D
7 years ago
Isn't a roof lantern way more expensive than a skylight?
Or does that depend on the type?
jayneforrest
7 years ago
We've put a lantern 3m X 1.5m in our new kitchen, it's brilliant, even on a dark gloomy day the kitchen is light and bright. It wasn't expensive although prices range hugely, one quote we had was £10,000!!! We bought ours for £1,800 so it's worth shopping about online. It's clear glass with blue on the outside (can't see the blue from inside) and it looks great at night too.
PRO
Sterlingbuild
7 years ago
Hi Nikstar55, this is what our (ex-VELUX) sales director has to say:
- Create approx. 20% of your floor area in daylight. Your kitchen is 16m2 so in an ideal world you should consider approx. 3.2m2 of effective daylight area.
- 2 smaller skylights will give better light distribution than one large skylight.
- So I would look at 2 100x150cm flat glass units evenly spread on the roof. This will look balanced and keep in with the shape of the roof. Create a wow factor, add value and have a dramatic effect on the amount of effective daylight.
- Fixed or opening? The best way to keep a building cool and fresh is to create a chimney stack effect (one lower window open and one high window open). Having an opening roof window in your kitchen will help ensure you have a comfortable living space all year round - as well as getting rid of burnt toast smells!
- Think about design considerations. You will only be doing this once (hopefully!) so I'd always think about aesthetics, balance, etc.
- Don’t forget to consider how to best to add value to your home within your budget.
I hope this helps. If you have any questions, please feel free to get in touch directly.
PRO
McCann Moore Architects
7 years ago
i have to agree with Jayneforrest above - best to shop around
PRO
OnePlan
7 years ago
Maybe just one this sort of proportion ?!

There's a roof light on that CAD programme - why not ask then to show you with it in ?!
nikstar55
Original Author
7 years ago
Having had another look at roof lanterns, we've decided we prefer the look of flat glass windows. Just a personal preference that it's nice to have something with a clear view of the sky and no frame.

Love the look of your kitchen Jayne Forrest so thanks for sharing.

One plan - good idea to add to the CAD drawing, will look into that.

Sterling build - thanks for the advice, I've been looking at the roof Windows you supply so will be in touch
PRO
Sterlingbuild
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Thanks Nikstar55. Please feel free to get in touch on 01304 219922 if you have any questions. We'll be happy to help you get the best product whatever your budget :)
nikstar55
Original Author
7 years ago
Thanks to everyone again for the advise, we ended up going for two flat roof skylights and are really pleased with the result. It's so lovely and bright even on a dark day.
E D
7 years ago
Kitchen looking great now, nikki55!
Think you made the right decision to go for two skylights.
tam1966
7 years ago
Kitchen looks fab. I noticed in your initial comment you said you were going for wood effect tiles. Your flooring does look like wood, did you use porcelain tiles and would you recommend them?
nikstar55
Original Author
7 years ago
Yes they're wood effect tiles, really pleased with them as they look so realistic
nikstar55
Original Author
7 years ago
They've only been in a few weeks but so far I'm loving them and would recommend. My only concern is whether they might chip if we drop things on them, I'm going to order a couple of extra spares as a back up in case we need them
PRO
McCann Moore Architects
7 years ago
Your kitchen looks great. health to enjoy!
P