Need help on kitchen tiles and window treatment

6 years ago

Hi everyone. I'm after help with my kitchen, which I can't afford to completely remodel, so am looking for tips and advice. It's a traditional melamine cream coloured shaker unit with iron effect handles and beech effect block worktop . Walls are plain grey. Floor is mottled grey stone. I really want to give it a more modern look in keeping with the rest of the house that will tide me over for a couple of years until I can afford to replace it. The big sticking points for me are the wall tiles and the windows.
Here's what I have been planning on doing.
- new nod to industrial style
- new bar stools - wood and black metal.
- black and white picture wall (in black and grey frames) on back wall
- possible industrial pipe shelf on wall (where units end) for books and display
Other than that I'm at a loss. Really need advice on suitable tiles. I'm either thinking cream matt metro (maybe done in a herringbone style to modernise it) or a feature tile, but unfortunately the tile is everywhere so will this be too overpowering? The end of the kitchen near the window is where the dishwasher opens and wets the wall so we need it to be tiled. Also will a pattern fit with the traditional units?
Also we can't hang blinds in the recess as the window frame has a joist in it, so they'll have to go on the outside and I'm not a fan of romans, especially if I'm trying to create a more modern look. So colours and style ideas for window treatments would be great. Any help at all would be much appreciated.
Thanks,
Dahlia

Featured Answer

Rose Williams

6 years ago

The floor tiles have a nice layout, but where they meet the wall tiles under the window is a big clash with what are ugly wall tiles making it even worse. No matter what the tiles are replaced with, I would trim back the coverage at the sink side to be only upstand off the worksurface and the windowsil base.
I think an instant modernisation would be to get rid of the bridge over the cooker hood which has no function, where you can take the opportunity to add a plainer, more modern cornice at the top of the cupboards, and add either a glass of brushed steel backsplash behind the hob.
A low hanging light centred over the seating area may make it look more inviting?

I dont mind the beech surfaces,... if beech is out, IKEA are selling an awful lot of beech / light bamboo kitchen accessories

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Comments (14)

Daisy England
6 years ago
If you want to save money then the one item that stands out to me that spoils the existing kitchen are the wall tiles. The doors are still current and the floor tiles are ok. Beech is out, so if funds allow swap the worktops, but the wall tiles definitely need to go.
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I have to agree with Crafty Countess about having a vinyl flooring. I would recommend Loose Lay by Karndean. The range comes in wood plank and stone tile effects, does not have to be glued down except around the edges of the room and damaged "tiles" can be easily replaced. They are made for commercial use, so are very durable and will retain their looks for years to come. From our own tenants, I've found that white or off- white works best. You'll never get a colour right for a tenant. In the past, we've hung curtains, which our tenants always ask to take down and put up their own. We've painted lightly fresh or richly cozy feature walls, which our tenants have asked to paint over. So we always use a neutral paint now. We allow our tenants to hang pictures, providing they repair and paint the holes when they move out and use wall stickups that they can take with them. The less colour you put in, the more you allow your tenants to make the space their own.
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Danielle H
6 years ago
I'd replace the tiles definitely. I don't think they need to go all the way around the wall to meet the back door, as above, stop the new tiles at the edge of the counter on the sink wall with no return. Metro tiles are inoffensive and would probably work with any future new kitchen. Flat metro tiles are more modern, bevelled edge give a more 'Victoriana' look. New light fittings would make a huge difference, pendants over the breakfast bar too (try eBay for inexpensive 'cage' lights for the industrial look). Also replacing the handles on the cupboards, leather handles could give you the look you're after. If you want to go a step further, paint the cupboard doors and change the flooring. As for window coverings, do you need them? You don't look too overlooked. If you do, I'd look at taped wide slat horizontal wood blinds. I have one in my kitchen but I don't think I have closed it ever!
C C
6 years ago
Just paint the tiles In a cream or even grey colour won't cost much and I think would make a massive difference
kikiamack
6 years ago
Your existing kitchen is very definitely country farmhouse, so I'm not sure if adding industrial elements will enhance it or confuse it, in all honesty! I'm attaching a link to a blog where the kitchen has been transformed on a budget. The floor tiles and wall tiles are very similar to yours and cabinets are similar in style but start off dark. The transformation is amazing and will show you what can be achieved, although I think your kitchen doesn't need half as much work. I'd maybe embrace the country farmhouse for a couple of years and save the money towards your dream kitchen.
http://www.blesserhouse.com/2016/07/modern-farmhouse-kitchen-makeover-reveal.html
PRO
Bloc Blinds
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
I love your ideas and think that those suggestions will go a long way towards giving your kitchen a whole new look!

In relation to your windows Bloc Blinds manufacture made to measure roller blinds with a surface mount option available. I note from your comments that you have plans to change your look again not too far down the line... Bloc Blinds' have an in-built award winning Fabric Changer System that allows you to swap fabrics in seconds when you wish to redecorate without having to replace the existing mechanism. Simply hook off your original blind and hook on your new blinds in seconds. No need to remeasure as your fabric size details are stored from the original order [time and cost effective!]

Please don't hesitate to contact us for further information and advice.

Good Luck!

Sile
PRO
Celery. Visualization, Rendering images
6 years ago
Here is some inspiration for windows treatment.
Sonia
6 years ago
As already said, the tiles are a little dated, and should never have been tiled right up to the back door. Stop at the end of the worktop. It will not take a tiler long to remove all the old tiles and retile. I think metro tiles with a dark grouting will update the look. It's very commonly used, but that's because it works! I love your worktop, it's lovely and warm and certainly not dated. Lighting is easy to change too and places like Dunelm or Ikea do some great lights at a very reasonable price. I think you can get away without a blind unless of course you are overlooked. Wishing you lots of luck with your refurb.
PRO
Halo Tiles & Bathrooms
6 years ago
Rather than adding a colour that might tie you too much, you could add interest with a symmetrical shaped tile, we find that Diamonds/ Hexagon/Fan shapes are all on trend now for Kitchen Splash back.

We also have a range of Metro tiles in muted colours see here http://www.halotiles.ie/catalogue/masia/

However as your kitchen is cream you could also add interest with a 3D effect tile in one colour from our DIAMOND range click here

http://www.halotiles.ie/catalogue/diamond/

Best of luck with your renovations!
pastelgirl01
6 years ago
I agree with kikiamack that your kitchen is very definitely farmhouse, and it's hard to achieve an industrial look just by adding a few accessories. It might end up looking confused. You could just try to make it look more modern-farmhouse. I would definitely change the handles. IKEA have plenty of modern handles; a stainless steel would look more modern, or be more bold with copper or brass. I would also make the tiles even all the way around without going up at the corner, and without going down the wall by the door. I would paint the walls a lighter grey - more like a chalk colour, only hinting at grey. This will lighten up the kitchen. I would update the lighting as well. As for the tiles - your kitchen has a lot of detail (with the shaker doors, handles, etc), and so I would go for something very simple for the tiles. Simplicity tends to feel more modern. Perhaps white tiles with white grout, so that they almost disappear. Alternatively, do you really need tiles? We've just done up our kitchen and put a glass splashback square behind our cooker, and painted with waterproof paint (little greene intelligent matt) everywhere else. It looks very modern and we haven't had any problems with stains - they just wipe off, the paint is amazing.
Danielle H
6 years ago
Search 'country industrial kitchen' on the photos on here for inspiration. A couple I just found blend the two styles perfectly and could be achieved in yours.
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derekandsarah
6 years ago
I think you can transform this kitchen on a low budget to tide you over for the next couple of years. I would do the following:

Try painting a sample tile to see if it will properly accept paint. If so, I'd paint them a very pale cream to make them disappear, and remove the large section of tiling altogether near the door. Wipeable paint should be sufficient here.

I wouldn't change the door handles - your ideas for bringing in a few industrial styled items will work quite well even if you keep these.

Industrial style bar stools (black metal and wood) + black metal industrial style lighting will have great impact on the room and tie in with the cupboard handles and radiator you already have.

Photo wall on the end wall behind the breakfast area is a nice idea - just be careful how you place the frames so they don't conflict visually with the lighting you choose when you are standing at the other end of the kitchen. You could actually do this photo wall over your nice charcoal coloured radiator instead to avoid visual clashes with the light fitting. I would go for a group of photos all in the same frame finish to keep it coherent - just modern slim black frames to link with the metal on lights and bar stools.

Windows - if you are not overlooked I'd leave them without blinds. It is more in keeping with the pared back industrial style you are leaning towards.

Are you happy with the colour of your walls? It might just be the photo but it looks a little on the dark side - and I'm not sure grey really sits with cream very well? You could paint the walls a lighter colour - maybe something similar or the same as the tile colour you choose which will make those tiles disappear even further. Perhaps there is a tendency for many of us to try to include grey with existing schemes because it is strongly in fashion when in fact it needs careful planning to avoid it either clashing or looking too cold. (just what I've observed from experience)!

If you are planning on revamping the whole kitchen in a couple of years I think doing these small changes will satisfy you as to the existing with very little outlay. If the things you choose to buy now are going to be used in the new kitchen too you won't feel as though you've wasted too much time and money now.

Hope some of these ideas might perhaps be useful- I don't profess to be a professional but I really enjoy interiors and making things work!
dahlia444
Original Author
6 years ago
Thank you everyone for all the fantastic advice. It's the first time I've used this forum to get ideas and I'm overwhelmed by the time and effort that you've taken to respond to my query. Thank you so much! I'll be sure to upload some after pictures when I've made some of the changes you've all suggested. For now I've done the photo wall and hot paint and told sams
Thanks, Dahlia x
dahlia444
Original Author
6 years ago
Oops that should have said got tile and paint samples!

Need help on kitchen tiles and window treatment

Rose Williams

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Daisy England

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