Budget kitchen refresh - help and advice!
Having initially planned a new kitchen, we have decided to focus on other rooms and attempt a budget refresh for now. I'm looking for some creative solutions and open to all ideas, go crazy!
The room itself is a decent size for a small terrace, has a large window and is south-facing so gets a lot of light. Every colour ends up looking warm and slightly yellow. I think it lends itself to a more traditional, English country kind of style, but I'm open to other options.
Main areas I would like to tackle:
- Walls - plan to go white, husband hopefully painting this week, I'm thinking a warmish white without too much yellow?
2 Tiles: painted green by previous owner (including grout!) I think the easiest option is to paint over - Visible boiler - any ideas to make it less prominent?
- Appliances - planning to upgrade and go for mainly integrated
- Cabinets: issue is choosing a colour that connects the travertine tile floor (pinky beige) and worktop (black/blue). I would consider changing the worktop but actually its in pretty good condition, so I'm wondering if our budget would be better spent elsewhere. Although a rug may help, we have a dog so not very practical.
- Creating an entry area: we don't have an entry, so need somewhere to store shoes and coats etc. Considered the top of the cellar but may get damp/damaged over time.
I've attached a photo of the estate agent pic, as we're getting a new dining table, painting etc this weekend. I'll add more pics once we're done. I appreciate that's a lot of different issues! But I'm hoping it'll be quite fun trying to tackle this. I plan on updating as we go.
Comments (16)
HU-198007405
3 years agoSputnik
3 years agoRelated Discussions
Kitchen needs a refresh!
Comments (21)Wow, so many brilliant ideas! Thank you everyone, I knew you'd come up with things I hadn't even thought of. The area around the washing machine is definitely going to need to be the priority. It looks awful and doesn't really serve any purpose. I like the idea of boxing in the 'utility area' into a cupboard, and will investigate this as a longer term option. In the meantime a curtain across next to the washing machine will be an inexpensive solution. I will contact the kitchen supplier and find out about integrated appliances and cupboard doors, and will also investigate the possibility of moving the washing machine to the other end of the kitchen, although unfortunately I don't think there is enough width to be able to do this whilst avoiding the bowl of the sink. Ultimately, I would like to move the washing machine into the garage and remove the worktop in that area, which might give us enough room for a small table and chairs. The current table and chair was loaned to us to see how much we used it and whether it works in the space that we have. The children don't use it for homework as I had hoped! I think I'm the only one who has used the table, and I've only used it a couple of times, so perhaps I could do without it altogether. E D - yes, you're correct. The breakfast set is no longer there, I just included the photo to give an idea of the seating that the previous owners had, and to give more of an idea of scale. Carolina - yes, I've opened the table out into a square and there was enough room to get around the kitchen still, but I don't think I'd want to use that much space for a permanent arrangement. I really like your idea of removing the top half of the dresser and retaining the storage at the bottom, with some pictures on the wall behind it. Although it looks like a lovely big kitchen, it really is limited in terms of cupboard space (either that, or I have way too much stuff)! Thank you again for all your ideas, it's helped to open my eyes to some more options that I would never have thought of. I will come back and update when we've decided what to do....See MoreVictorian Semi - Kitchen Renovation Help & Advice Needed!
Comments (15)Re the lounge area don’t forget it will not have any natural light once doors are closed, it looks quite dark already although that may just be the photo. Definitely consider some roof lights in the roof section that is replacing the conservatory as that will bring more light into the dining area and the lounge through whatever opening you choose. Maybe use glass doors between lounge and diner?...See MorePlease inspire me to refresh my small kitchen
Comments (9)I painted my utility cupboards , and love the result ! I used Zinzer 123 as the primer , it’s amazing .... and trust me I have done a lot of painting in my time . This stuff dries in a couple of hours , so lots less hanging about . Then Brewers mixed the colour to match a Farrow and Ball one in an acrylic eggshell .... that only needed one coat too . On the negative side ... you do need to remove the doors to paint them properly ( though I only did the front and the edges ) so somewhere to lay them horizontal , but above the surface ( I propped mine up on old paint tins ) . However ...... big tip !!!!!! Before you remove the doors , keep the hinges on the cupboards , makes rehanging easier ( well hopefully ) The before picture shows one cupboard that I tried with chalk paint ...... that didn’t look nice . I also painted my tiles which were utterly hideous and in the after photo still need another coat .... they are better ....See MoreWhat to do with the kitchen on a budget!!
Comments (17)Interesting to hear reactions on this as I’m pondering what to do with our own kitchen. We have very similar old fashioned cathedral cabinets which previous owners put in many years ago however it’s all in sound condition although very dated. Have lived with it for a few years tho now so time for a refresh. As we don’t plan on full new kitchen for a few more years yet I might paint everything (except the floor;)). Just be warned that painting any type of cabinetry is a real faff and time consuming. All in all I agree with other comments that a cheap vinyl flooring and a quick lick of wall paint will instantly give your kitchen a lift, but I’d live with the cabinets for while before deciding what to do with them. Let us know how you get on. X...See MoreHU-35207484112
3 years agoHU-35207484112
3 years agoHU-35207484112
3 years agoAnnoyingly the pipes from the boiler are in this strange box, which has complicated boxing it in. It also sticks out further than the other cupboards, but still would probably look better in a cupboard even if its different from the surrounding cabinets.
Sonia
3 years agoNice big space. When I had a new kitchen 10 years ago I had all the appliances integrated, that is the washing machine, dishwasher, hob and oven. I also had a standard kitchen wall cupboard built around the ugly boiler. It really gives a tidy appearance. As your kitchen is sunny and bright (like mine) why not go for brilliant white walls? It will look a warm white. I agree don’t do anything with the units until everything is in place. I would seriously consider new cupboard and drawer fronts otherwise how are you going to match the new integrated cupboards with the old?
Here’s a row of cupboards in my kitchen containing my washing machine and dishwasher, and the wall cupboard housing the boiler.
PROi-architect
3 years ago
PROWallart installations Ltd
3 years ago
Hope this maybe of interest,We fully wrap Kitchen doors and units. With over 500 designs. Either Printed Digitally and laminated or off our textured range including Woods, Leathers, Marbles and even Glitters.
Damsel Dame
3 years agoSarah
3 years agoHU-35207484112
3 years agoHello all, thanks so much for all the suggestions. We've taken the first steps and made a few changes:
- painted the walls white
- painted the tile splashback white (may need one more coat, i can still sort of see a green cast)
- added a shoe cupboard with some bits on top
- new table and 2 comfy chairs (plus 2 old ones!)
- wall art
I'm pretty happy with the changes so far, it doesn't show in the pics but the room feels much bigger. The next big step is going to be new appliances and new cupboard doors, I'm still unsure what colour to choose though, I'm leaning towards blue or green?
I'm also unsure if I need to put something else next to the shoe cupboard, maybe coat hooks?
We're also planning new doors and blinds at some point.
I've attached some pics, sorry about the weird lighting, its the evening.
Thanks all!
Sonia
3 years agoSputnik
3 years agoSputnik
3 years ago
Chioma Caster
3 years ago
Sarah U-S