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Kitchen design help - feels cold/soulless

6 years ago

This is the proposed design of our new kitchen. The plan is to have the cabinets a light grey colour and the benches either concrete or a darker grey stone. We love metal and want to incorporate that into the kitchen too, as it is being used through out our build.

I am concerned that the kitchen feels a little soulless - where cooking dreams come to die. Need some opinions ideas as I have looked at it for just too long.

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Comments (8)

C P
6 years ago
i like it, love the layout and the legs on the ends. what is your flooring? if its timber it will appear warmer. What are you planning for splashback?
girlguides
6 years ago
Where is your fridge going ? I presume the pantry is where the shelving at the RHS is?
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I've just come across this thread and it reminds me of two incidents when I first moved to the rural market town I live in (about 20 years ago). I had been living in London and found it quite a culture shock, in an endearing way, as it was often like stepping back in time. Whereas many of my London friends had jobs, a lot of the mums at my daughters' new school did not and were very into coffee mornings or afternoon teas. The second day of dropping the girls off I was invited back to the home of someone who subsequently became one of my dearest friends. She was obviously incredibly proud of her home and gave me the grand tour, only problem was a) I didn't like it and b) I am the world's worst liar. It was a very valuable exercise in trying to find the good in any interior, even if it isn't to your taste. I was a bit worried that I blew it when we got to the garden, which was delightful, as I was able to really enthuse! The second was another mum who I used to chat to for ages in the playground but who never invited me back. Eventually just as I was starting to get paranoid she suggested I come back for coffee and then spent the whole walk there apologising for the lack of 'character' in her house. I had, by then, become known for my quirky taste in decor and she was worried that I would condemn her home for being too bland!!! What gives a house it's soul is the people who live in it, whether they have flamboyant taste, minimal taste or don't give a monkey's about design and those of us who are just a little bit obsessed with interiors should never forget it :)
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PRO
MB Design & Drafting
6 years ago
The back wall/cooker area is a large featureless space. Aside from the range hood of course.

Make this big wall a feature by using timber cladding, tiles to ceiling, etc.

What are you using on wall between cook top and range, tiles, stainless steel, etc? A whole wall in that material could be cool!

Beware of to much grey, it can become bland. Its popular at the moment but is starting to move to other colours. Grey will stay but in lesser amount's.

What about a Navy Blue or Charcoal for cabinets?
Anna Shaw
Original Author
6 years ago
Thanks for the feedback:

- The opening near the sink is a walk-in-pantry (large) and my fridge will be in here.

- On the right where the open shelves are will be a desk area for the kids to do their homework etc and a broom cupboard.

- The flooring will be recycled Tasmanian Oak - lots of old nail holes etc

MB Design - I have know idea what to use as a splashback!! I love the idea of feature wall, but not sure what to use - any ideas or pictures greatly appreciated.

- I like the idea or charcoal cabinets but am weary as in another house we had back cabinetry and is was horrible to keep clean.

- originally we were going to have floating wooden shelves either side of the rangehood, but because of the cavity slider door on the left, we cant.
PRO
MB Design & Drafting
6 years ago
Get another opinion on the floating shelves, some will say no, some will same yes.

They'll make a big difference to that area.

Use floor boards horizontal above the shelves and a stainless splash back ?
PRO
Lick Light + Colour
6 years ago
I would do the island as one monolithic piece / colour then break the rest of the joinery up with some timber , it will really warm it up . It does not need to match the floor , I like the comment about using a tile for the whole back wall , too make it cheaper you can always have the wall painted a feature colour then do a glass splash back the same colour so u don't see where it stops and starts
Country House Gal
6 years ago
Have you thought about using pressed tin on the wall behind the stove? There are some more modern designs available these days if that's your style. You could leave if raw or paint it any colour you like.
Country House Gal
6 years ago
Maybe copper pressed tin would help warm the place up...
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