Good kitchen plan?

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7 years ago

last modified: 6 years ago

Any suggestions on how this can be improved? Bi-fold doors are also going in to replace back door & window to the right

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PRO

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6 years ago

Here you go...

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PRO
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Original Author
7 years ago
Thanks boundsgreener :-) If we're saying we need the upstanding for the sink area presumably it would only work to have that on the hob wall too, which would mean nothing behind the hob?!
boundsgreener
7 years ago
No, you don't need it on the hob wall. I'll look for pics....
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boundsgreener
7 years ago
A lot of this is personal, but I think this looks messy (partly because it is a dark contrasting countertop, but also because the upstand doesn't serve a purpose):

Laurelhurst · More Info

This looks good, but their window ledge is higher than yours. If you do this, make the sink wall backsplash height level with the bottom of the cabinets on the hob wall:

Contemporary White · More Info

And this looks good because the side wall has nothing:

Sarah Richardson Design · More Info

For such an amazing kitchen, I think the way they ended the backsplash on this wall is awful - not lined up between upper cabinets and lower:

Farmhouse · More Info

This is nice, but it isn't herringbone pattern:

Scheinholtz Associates · More Info

Helpful or annoying?!
PRO
User
Original Author
7 years ago
Ha ha, sooooo helpful! I've never done this before & I really don't want to fall at the last hurdle so all comments are very helpful!!!!
PRO
User
Original Author
7 years ago
P.s. Thank you so much for your time :-)
PRO
User
Original Author
7 years ago
Love these tiles - not as random in pattern? Anyone know where I could do source these in the uk?
Daisy England
7 years ago
If you have an upstand all round, the usual thing to do is have a splashback behind the hob in the same colour. Don't have both.

Personally I'm not a lover of tiles. They get grease splashed up them, need cleaning and in time the grout gets mucky.
PRO
User
Original Author
7 years ago
Too much if I had this with the marble/vein effect quartz worktop?
boundsgreener
7 years ago
No, but I'd put them together in person to check. Other than being budget busters, be careful with marble as a backsplash. Daisy's point is a good one and add in the fact that as marble is natural stone, it has a tendency to stain/absorb the goo you splash on it. No turmeric or passata for you!

I'll continue to be a dream-killer by saying that you'll need to make sure you have a very experienced tile person to prep the wall and lay these individual tiles :)
PRO
User
Original Author
7 years ago
Mmmm yes it is a good point, esp the way my hubby cooks!!!!
Perhaps plain white herringbone splash back to avoid the marble, then vein effect quartz?
boundsgreener
7 years ago
Yeah. Have a look at them with the quartz and your cabinets. There's white and there's white! Maybe a colour that picks up on the veining?

Indulge me and have a quick look at these: http://www.grestec.co.uk/capra-chevrons-hexagons/ They are all ceramic and still interesting....
PRO
User
Original Author
7 years ago
Love design of the 5th grey but with white from 2nd?
PRO
User
Original Author
7 years ago
Ceramic over marble seems the more practical choice!!!
boundsgreener
7 years ago
Me too (white chevron).

And how fun are the bubbly hexagon ones?! But in someone else's house :)
PRO
User
Original Author
7 years ago
Completely agree!
PRO
User
Original Author
7 years ago
Boundsgreener I have fallen in love with these tiles
boundsgreener
7 years ago
Oh, they are beautiful (I like the first two especially).

Here are a couple of threads that I think are helpful. You don't want it to end up too busy and you need to hold samples against the wall in your actual kitchen where they'll be placed:

http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/4381837/backsplash-help-subway-tile

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/lg-minuet-counters-with-marble-backsplash-dsvw-vd~3320563

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/is-it-wise-to-put-a-marble-backsplash-kitchen-where-theres-a-lot-of-dsvw-vd~3436272
PRO
User
Original Author
7 years ago
Thanks so much boundsgreener, interesting reads. Definitely seems risky to go for marble tiles so would have to be marble effect if we did go for it, but also risky that it could look too much with the marble quartz worktop. Perhaps we need to consider whether we go for plain white quartz worktop with marble effect tiles, or vice versa. And whether we just do upstand on both walls with larger piece behind the hob (?) or upstand on sink wall with tiling on hob wall?
PRO
User
Original Author
7 years ago
But then I keep going back to this pic
Daisy England
7 years ago
What in particular do you like about that pic?

For one thing in my opinion whatever is mounted in the wall cupboards is in the wrong place. I presume it's a microwave? Far too high. Imagine lifting a full hot bowl of soup out of that.
PRO
User
Original Author
7 years ago
Thanks Daisy, it's not so much the configuration of the kitchen, it's more the look of it. I live the colour/style of the cabinets with the worktop & tiles - it's whether this would translate & work in my kitchen which I'm undecided on!!
boundsgreener
7 years ago
I don't think you should compromise, I just think you need to know about the pros and cons of each material and making sure they work together. The counter in your favourite photo does have some veining and looks like your sample. The tile is just a rectangle, which is much more affordable than the actual chevron shaped tiles. They might come on a sheet. I think you also like that it is glossy/slightly iridescent, which is good for bouncing light around. It also isn't a flat colour, but has greys and whites in it.

You have enough space on your hob wall to do a herringbone pattern justice, and this is your dream look, so you shouldn't go to all this effort and expense and end up with something that makes you go "meh".

So, find ceramic or glass rectangular tiles or sheets for your herringbone pattern and get samples. I really don't think you have to decide on the sink wall until after everything is in. Then you can either get the upstand or more tile to do more herringbone as long as it goes high enough to see the pattern (same height as bottom of cabs on hob wall).

Just my Sunday thoughts :)
PRO
User
Original Author
7 years ago
Thank you SO much! Yes you've hit the nail on the head re what I'm drawn to :-) Like you say, maybe I'll go down the samples route for these type tiles and go from there. Didn't realise I wouldn't have to decide about upstand on sink wall until later so I'll bear that in mind too :-) Happy Sunday and thanks so much again
PRO
Feature Radiators
7 years ago
What about a vertical radiator either near the seating area or either side of the door? We have 100s to choose from, but here are a few as examples :)
Radiators in narrow spaces · More Info

Radiators in narrow spaces · More Info

Radiators in narrow spaces · More Info

Radiators in narrow spaces · More Info
PRO
User
Original Author
7 years ago
Thank you! I will actually be looking for a vertical radiator behind the main door coming in so I'll take a look!
boundsgreener
7 years ago
As a bit of insurance, you could buy the upstand for the sink wall when you order the counter. If it is an easy to source quartz, don't worry, but if you are choosing a specific slab, get them to cut the matching bit now. Not much of an outlay and gives you options....and more time to feed the backsplash obsession!
PRO
User
Original Author
7 years ago
Good idea!!! A fitter suggested earlier that I could have the windowsill made from quartz too to make it cleaner/smarter looking
Ellie
6 years ago
Kel - what site did you use to mock up the kitchen layouts?

And what did you decide to go with? Pics? Thanks!
PRO
User
Original Author
6 years ago
I worked with Magnet Trade for the plans (Howdens & Tom Howley produced good ones too) and it's being finished this week so I'll post pics soon! :-)
Monica
6 years ago
It turned out fantastically well Kel, well done :)
kiwimills
6 years ago
what are your colours ?
I love it!!! great job
PRO
User
Original Author
6 years ago
Thank you!
Magnet Leighton Grey kitchen
Dulux Cotton White walls
Camaro Quayside Oak floor
Quartz Venato Bianco worktop
Hope this helps!
boundsgreener
6 years ago
Oh, that's beautiful! A clever use of space and gorgeous as well. I hope you have many happy days, evenings, and years in your new kitchen diner.
kiwimills
6 years ago
Yes, great thank you. Do you love your dining area ? Did you do banquettes ?
PRO
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Original Author
6 years ago
Thank you so much, yes we totally & utterly adore it! The table extends from 120 to 180 too so great when we have extra visitors! Just need to upcycle the chairs & get foam pads for the banquette :-)
kiwimills
6 years ago
Looks sooooo good!
Isidora Markovic
6 years ago
@Kel Harmer wow it looks great - I love the colours and the bar stool is fab. Thank you for sharing the result!
PRO
User
Original Author
6 years ago
Bar stool - blackbrook interiors x
PRO
Caldicot Kitchen & Bathroom Centre
6 years ago
Lovely result - nice design, well executed with a tasteful colour palette!
kiwimills
6 years ago
my table is 180 x90 . I want banquettes on two sides as well. how wide are your seats? I read 40-50cm is about right. is that true!?
PRO
User
Original Author
6 years ago
Here you go! I used these as guides with our builder...Hope this helps! I can take closer pics & measurements of ours if you like x
kiwimills
6 years ago
Brilliant, thank you..too kind
edwardallen
6 years ago
Hi Oh So Kel, have you made a false wall for those cupboards above the banquet seating? I’ve got a corner of my kitchen redesign where I’m thinking of doing this kind of seating, but have a pesky boiler I can’t move but this could do the trick! Could you explain the design / post another picture or two of this area please?
PRO
User
Original Author
6 years ago
We fixed cupboards then built the wall out to meet them to create a flush/panelled wall. I’ve written about it on my site. Hope this helps:
https://www.ohsokel.com/single-post/Kitchen-banquette
PRO
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Original Author
6 years ago
Edward Allen this could deffo do the trick as you could build out & around the boiler. I hope my webpage helps but feel free to shout if not x
Carolina
6 years ago
Just looked at your post about the kitchen-banquette. Your kitchen looks great and I love the idea of the cupboards above the banquette.
PRO
User
Original Author
6 years ago
Thank you, Carolina
edwardallen
6 years ago
Thanks so much! I took a look at the page but couldn’t quite figure it out..so the cupboards on the wall are standard wall cupboards (I guess 60cm deep?). The banquet is then built out below that? So there is 60cm of hollow space behind the seat under the wall cupboards?

Sorry if I’m asking a silly question! We’ve been looking at building a stud wall to hide some stuff but this could work much better, just feel that the hollow space could possibly be put to use to store something!
PRO
User
Original Author
6 years ago
Yes you are correct! The cupboards are standard depth, the stud wall is built around it, and the banquette seating is built out from that point.

We have lift up seats in the banquette so we have large storage space underneath the seats and back into the void on that side. It fits SOOOOO much stuff in! You just have to be careful of the depth of the items you want under there as the size of the gap when you lift the seat up can only be so deep. I can measure for you if this helps.

Good kitchen plan?

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