I've just bought a house! Slate in kitchen - yes or no?
Danny Donagh
7 years ago
I have just taken receipt of a home outside the Sydney metro area. It has a range of 1970s and 1980s features that I need some more opinions on.
Sorry if post too many times, but i have a lot of decisions to make!
keep it
rip it up
replace with ____
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Comments (16)
Luke Buckle
7 years ago
PROCostello + Graham Design
7 years agoRelated Discussions
What's your favourite thing in your house which you bought?
Comments (10)What concerns me about buying furniture on-line is that I can't try it out to see if it is comfortable and if it fits me , which for me is a crucial quality in furniture (I'm taller, shorter chairs aren't a good fit). I also don't like not being able to assess the quality. I'm not a big fan of on-line furniture retailers for that reason and probably would not use one. So research the market, and especially the price point at which people will buy on-line. I suspect younger people are more apt to buy furniture that is reasonably priced on-line. Include all measurements (including seat height on chairs) and have a review/comment section so people can see how the folks who have bought furniture like both quality and the delivery service....See MoreFirst item you bought for your home?
Comments (10)When I came to this country as a student, the first thing I HAD to buy was cutlery - trying to spread butter on toast with your fingers (or a pen, as I ended up doing) is rather yucky. The second time around, it was a hoover. I had a generous relocation package when I came here again for a job (and a set of cutlery in my luggage), managed to rent a really nice flat rather quickly - it looked clean when I viewed it. However, when I actually moved in few days later, I just couldn't believe the amount of dust everywhere; I knew I wouldn't be able to sleep unless I went around at least once with a vacuum cleaner and some wipes. So, about 5 minutes to closing time, I was in Curry's pestering a shop assistant about the best hoover they had and then, probably to my new neighbours total annoyance, running the thing for about half an hour... not my best move making new friends, but at least I didn't fear dying of asphyxiation over night. And just to bore you some more: first thing for the first house I bought in this country (great house, bad neighbourhood) was an Ikea mattress (first photo); I slept on the floor for quite a few months until I bought a bed frame - only bothered because I'd just met this great guy (my now husband) and reasoned we couldn't break the bed unless there was a bed to break :))). And for this house that we bought together (ignoring all the necessities) it was the red cow!!! bought in Paris and brought back in a hat-box, to the French custom officers dismay :p (dear me, my life story in house objects.... never thought of that... thanks, Emmeline! :))...See MoreI’ve heard mixed reviews about Howdens kitchens
Comments (12)Some of the doors are perfectly acceptable (and from firms used by other kitchen companies). The carcasses are mediocre at best when compared to other British & European brands; the back up support, ah, variable and I have seen quite a few painted doors with issues. A quick trawl on the interweb to seek out views on their Lamona appliances will tell you all you need to know - I shall say no more! And I echo @Daisy England's comments on worktops. I spend much of my life looking very closely at kitchen units & worktops from all the different brands and while they are certainly not the worst units out there, I would say they are very much at the "budget" end (what we would refer to as a basic builder's kitchen), even if their sales patter, promotion & pricing would infer otherwise. There are better options out there. While naturally I am biased, I would still advocate seeking out a good, local independent who can help make your budget stretch and give you a good quality kitchen at not dissimilar prices, with probably fewer headaches. Every year we tend to get a customer or two through the doors with a Howden's design & quote. In almost all cases with a bit of guidance towards certain ranges & products and by improving on often quite poor designs, we can usually get within a sniff on unit prices, as well as putting together appliance, sink & tap packages with branded product for not much more than the Lamona prices, particularly for supply only. We cannot (and do not) compete with "man in a van" fit prices, but then we are a "full service" provider and so our offering is different. And as a slight aside - most of the independent teams of kitchen fitters we use either don't fit Howdens. or charge a premium to do so. Which I think is telling in its own right....See MorePainting kitchen tiles...yes or no?!
Comments (4)Thanks to everyone who made suggestions and gave advice here, and sorry for the massive delay (baby, building site, 9 weeks...we're finally home!). I actually took the risk and painted after further research on good tile paint, and after every stockist in the UK of those bar/finger tiles sold out with a massive backlog and months to wait (yes, I should have ordered at the time). So I thought I'd share the before and after and the paint I used... I bought the rather naff coloured tile from Tiles Direct for £3.99 sqm, painted with V33 wall tile and panelling paint using a mohair roller. It took 4 coats but the result is great (I think) and although there were times I was like 'ugh, why didn't I just order the damn white ones', it did come out well for a fraction of the cost, and at the right time without waiting for deliveries in to the UK. The finish is matt and quite 'acrylicy' and tough, if that's even a thing, apparently all good with kitchens, heat, water etc. so easy to clean and robust. On a totally separate note, we used engineered cork flooring and they are FAB, would highly recommend and designed for kitchens and bathrooms. Got them from www.corkflooring.co.uk Bear with the work in progress of the photos, and sadly the only delay we did suffer was to our worktops, which are thankfully being delivered this week... Before... After... In situ......See More
samrose18
7 years agoChristy Reves
7 years ago
Nicole K
7 years agopascoeyvonne
7 years ago
Varinia
7 years agohelendyjak
7 years ago
Jo M
7 years ago
Kyrsten Bell
7 years ago
siriuskey
7 years agosiriuskey
7 years agoAre you replacing the cabinets as they and the splash back don't go with the floor, so does it mean keep floor or cabinets? This of a lovely Foodie in her kitchen, loving the green subway tiles, they would look good in your kitchen with the current floor.
Louise
7 years ago
how2girl
7 years agoJennifer Bradley
6 years ago
mazgardiner