Work on kitchen has started
Carolina
6 years ago
I know that some people on here are curious to see our new kitchen. As are we. It has taken months, what... years, of thinking. Then I explained to Karen from OnePlan what kind of layout I had in my mind for our new kitchen. She drew the plans and amended them a couple of times, because I'm stubborn and wanted it like this, not like the wonderful design ideas she came up with. She's a lovely, patient designer with great ideas, so everything that you consider weirdly designed in the end product is the result of my own twisted mind.
So, finally work has started. We sold our old kitchen that we've enjoyed looking at and working in for twenty years and that was still in very good condition, but we wanted a change. A totally different kitchen that we can hopefully enjoy for another twenty years and more.
So it's not really a design dilemma, but quite possibly dilemmas will turn up as we go along. And it's not a before & after yet either.
I've included the before photos of our lovely 'old' kitchen that has gone to a good home, and one photo of the very narrow, very messy (I have no shame ;-)) and never finished pantry space that was behind the tall cabinets. And will be behind tall cabinets again, but in a revamped version. And much tidier!
Bear in mind that we live in a converted kind of industrial building. It was never built as a home, so it has some unusual features.
So, finally work has started. We sold our old kitchen that we've enjoyed looking at and working in for twenty years and that was still in very good condition, but we wanted a change. A totally different kitchen that we can hopefully enjoy for another twenty years and more.
So it's not really a design dilemma, but quite possibly dilemmas will turn up as we go along. And it's not a before & after yet either.
I've included the before photos of our lovely 'old' kitchen that has gone to a good home, and one photo of the very narrow, very messy (I have no shame ;-)) and never finished pantry space that was behind the tall cabinets. And will be behind tall cabinets again, but in a revamped version. And much tidier!
Bear in mind that we live in a converted kind of industrial building. It was never built as a home, so it has some unusual features.
Featured Answer
Comments (54)
Related Discussions
Kitchen/Dining/Sitting Area - where to start with layout?
Comments (7)Hi Chloe. I can't design for toffee (nor is to scale etc!) however it might give your thread a bump for those that can:) Personally I would probably employ Karen at OnePlan to design the whole space! Hopefully the plan is self-explanatory but i might look at banquette seating with shelves and conceal a tv over the banquette bench (should be about the right viewing height!). For others to help it might help to give more details. I assume from the plan that you have a separate living room so maybe sofas aren't the priority? It also looks as if you want a study area? What type of oven (and hob) and how many do you want? Do you want a sink or hob on the island? I'm assuming the log burner is to go in the existing chimney breast? Is the room to contain utilities? Do you want a microwave, wine fridge etc? I can see a concealed tv in your ideabook so assume that's on the list? Do you want a pantry/breakfast cabinet etc? How many is dining to seat? If you speak to someone like Karen they will ask lots more questions so as to design the space specifically for your family!...See Morewhere to start my whole house is in need of work building plumbing wir
Comments (3)I was in the same boat. broke it down into chunks. Got quotes. Created a budget. I save for each chunk and get it done, then start saving for the next. It does mean living in an unfinished house for a looong time but also gives me loads of time to have ideas and make decisions, which I like. FYI I started with a full rewire. Then downstairs plumbing, then structural work to kitchen, then new windows, then repairs to floors upstairs, then structural work to chimney. Still lots to do and it's cost far more than I ever imagined but it isn't as stressful as I imagined either....See MoreAdvice on where to start a kitchen diner needed please!
Comments (8)I don't think you need an architect or home designer. It seems a fairly straight forward thing to want done. As long as you're quite clear about what you want to come out at the other end with from the start. I think you need a good, reliable multi skilled builder who could do the work. Any competent and time served builder should be able to do what you need, maybe you have friends who can recommend a good one?. Obviously for such a big job, you'd need to take references and preferably visit some similar work they've done and of course get a quote for the work. It's ideal to get a few for comparison. Whichever builder you ultimately choose, always bear in mind if they are the sort of person you could work with on a long project. I recently had my kitchen totally re-done over 3+months and I can honestly say the builders we had were literally a joy to have in the house, but some other tradespeople I've had have been an nightmare - not from a work quality perspective, but from a sheer bloody mindedness perspective, lack of consideration, simple carelessness or unreliable. You may need some sort structural engineer to advise on removing walls or windows, we've hired a couple in the past, who have just charged for their visit, their time and the advice and it's never been overly expensive or onerous. As Huw Buckley says it's worth approaching your local council about intended building work, even before you start, talking to builders etc. Once you have the basics covered (building control, builder etc) and a clear idea of what you want and what the area will look like, you can then look at companies that supply and or fit patio doors/bifolds etc. The company we chose for our doors (Panoramic) did the supply and installation for us, we just had to provide them with a suitable, prepared opening. Similarly, you can approach a kitchen designer if you're not confident enough yourself. Depending on your budget and level of knowledge you could go with companies that just do kitchens like Wren for instance, or you builder may have a relationship with someone like Howdens or you could go to the mainstream B&Q, Wickes etc who supposedly have kitchen "designers". Bear in mind the likes of B&Q and Wickes (and Howdens to an extent) will design your kitchen to fit their cupboards, which is not necessarily the best use of your space or the most suited to how you will use it. But there are also the independent kitchen companies - smaller businesses who may be able to deliver you the service and product you'd prefer, tailored more to your needs - some are very reasonable - others can be eyewateringly expensive. Alternatively, you could approach a totally independent planner like OnePlan (a fellow Houzz'er), who is not affiliated to any supplier or fitter and just work with you to design exactly what you want. You could then perhaps buy the kitchen on-line or visit somewhere like Ikea and your builder would probably fit it for you. The kitchen and utility plan needs to be roughly agreed (obviously you don't need to know exactly how many knobs or drawers you're having - but a general plan ) before the building work gets too far ahead, because they'll need to make provision for services - plumbing, drainage and power. Similarly you need to make the decision about where you want patio/bifold doors and things like whether you want of need underfloor heating (what type?), central heating, other heating. Once you start looking into things and speaking to a few people it will seem a lot less daunting....See MoreNew home - starting with kitchen renovation
Comments (6)Hi Sally, if you are on Instagram, have a look at our account @odcdoorglass, lots of inspiration there for kitchen extensions. You could indeed opt for glazed roof panels, like in this project here Or have a large roof lantern as featured in this kitchen below Large rooflights will be a more cost effective solution, such as these in this kitchen Hopefully this will have given you a few ideas! Best of luck with your project....See More
PROOnePlan
6 years ago
PROJones Britain Kitchens
6 years agoCarolina
6 years agoProgress. Amazing how much dust still managed to get to this side of the plastic sheet.
Carolina
6 years agoUpdate: today they've started building the new kitchen. Walls have been plastered last week.
chief_brody
6 years agoCarolina
6 years ago
Claire Nicholson
6 years ago
Monica
6 years agolast modified: 6 years ago
A S
6 years ago
Dan
6 years agoCarolina
6 years ago
LTS
6 years agoCarolina
6 years ago
Daisy England
6 years ago- PRO
OnePlan
6 years ago 
PROHampstead Design Hub
6 years agominnie101
6 years agoCarolina
6 years agoCarolina
6 years agoCarolina
6 years agoCarolina
6 years agoUpdate. Kitchen is finished, we only need to paint the walls and finish the pantry. Hope the pics show well and don’t do the weird thing they sometimes do on the iPad or phone, like stretch out or only show half off he photo when you click on it. Anyway, here we go...
Carolina
6 years agoAnd the last...
The blackboard is on a rail and we can slide it to where the doors to the pantry are. Or anywhere in between. Should we want to do that. We probably never will, but it’s sort of historic. The rail was there when we bought the house 20 years ago and we decided to do something funky with it and use it for a sliding blackboard.
Monica
6 years agolast modified: 6 years ago- PRO
OnePlan
6 years ago 
Carolina
6 years agoPallas
6 years agoMonica
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agoPallas
6 years ago
Juliet Docherty
6 years agojayatipal
3 years agoCarolina
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agojayatipal
3 years agoCarolina
3 years agojayatipal
3 years agoCarolina
3 years ago
CarolinaOriginal Author