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Design Dilemma Kitchens

Update or Replace Kitchen?

6 years ago

Had brilliant advice from you all before so I’m hoping that you will be able to help again.

We have a good sized kitchen in our cottage and want to have additional cupboards, new worktops, update appliances and have an extractor fan installed (problem with condensation). Having cupboards on the wall behind the cooker would hide ducting for the fan as well as providing extra storage.

The existing cupboards are solid with pine doors that I painted cream. My enthusiasm ran out before I got to the kickboards and side panels!

We are getting designs and quotes, however I am anxious that a total replacement could be bland, we could end up with MDF doors rather than wood as our budget is limited and this would be extremely wasteful from an environmental viewpoint.

However, if we stick with the existing cupboards but replace worktops and appliances and add top cupboards, there will be difficulty matching them and we could be paying almost the same and end up with it not looking that good.

I look forward to receiving your ideas and advice :-)

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Comments (5)

Carolina
6 years ago
Campbell Valley Remodel - Kitchen · More Info

I agree with you that it would be a shame to replace the existing cupboards, especially if you have a limited budget. If you add a different colour cabinets, it won't matter that they are a different design. You could perhaps do (glass door) upper cabinets in blue.

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claire morgan
6 years ago
If this was my kitchen I would just spend the money and update it, as if you start to replace certain elements within the kitchen and you don't like them, then it may be a waste of money spent.

I think the kitchen needs colour and warmth and I think going for a light grey cabinet and adding some wooden shelves may be nice instead of having upper cabinets (it also will save money). You say that you live in a cottage style house so maybe adding elements like this will make it feel more cosy.
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Daisy England
6 years ago
Caroline's idea of a two tone kitchen is good. It's very popular at the moment. On the other hand I don't think there would be a problem matching the design of the existing doors. It's an easy job for a joiner. Do you like the existing fascias or feel as though you'd like a complete change?
Fuggles 17
Original Author
6 years ago
Thank you. We are beginning to come round to replacing everything as we've taken off the wallpaper (painted blue) and the walls are rough underneath and need skimming. We also need some of the electrics updating so it will be a bigger job than we first thought.

We have spent a weekend doing kitchen showrooms and are now looking at a wood effect laminate worktop to give warmth and a soft colour on the doors. The black and white does look very stark.

Will keep you updated.
Carolina
6 years ago
Yes please, would love to see it :-) Good luck with the kitchen project.

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