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Our observations were that gloss handless was everywhere in the usual stores. That look is ok but decided it wasn’t for us.
Also cheaper doors are foil wrapped as opposed to painted.
In the end we went for white matt slab painted doors, minimal brushed chrome wrap over handles and light grey gloss carcasses, plinths and end panels. The Matt/gloss combination looks really good.
Also went for a white quartz worktop and 100 mm upstand splashback all round except for behind the hob where it’s height is set to meet the extractor. (no tiles anywhere) that was a quarter/third of the total price. Went 20mm as 30mm looked a bit chunky and old fashioned. 20mm looked sleek and modern also a wee bit cheaper. The sink is inset and the worktop has draining grooves cut in by the sink area.
Carcasses are much of a muchness I found unless you go high end. Most come ready assembled which makes sense for fitting. I wouldn’t consider flat pack.
Mrs Steve loves it - our third house but the first kitchen we’ve designed and implemented.
Edit: just remembered something else. Our carcasses are really light grey gloss on the inside as well.. They stay cleaner much better than the white ones we’ve had that seem to pick up every speck of dirt and look grubby.
Seriously: If you value it, take/fetch it yourself
Remember, it's easier to criticise than create!
@phil_aka_pip unfortunately the layout needs to be changed
@duotone 10-15k
@fretwired what sort of cost per Metre did that work out at?
cheers
It's a bugger to keep clean, isn't very hard wearing (It's very brittle so chips really easily).
Go for heavyweight pre-built carcasses. Think there's only two thicknesses - 15mm and 18mm? The thicker of the two is what you want. Choose doors to suit.
I'd go to a worktop specialist - we use Mitchell's of Southampton.
Put a stunning worktop on a decent unit and the kitchen will look fantastic. Think carefully about colours, lighting and materials and how you use them together.
Look at acrylic worktop, a cheaper alternative to Corian that looks evey but as good. It can be factory cut or site cut but if the latter you'll need someone who knows what they are doing to cut and fit it.
We regularly supply and fit large kitchens - +7m of worktop - for under £15k and they look like £25k kitchens.
https://www.diy-kitchens.com
Remember, it's easier to criticise than create!
My builders told me that every foil wrapped door they had fitted had distortions and bulges evident within five years, so we went with sold wood doors, painted in graphite and alabaster.
Looks great. Photos soon.
We've done quite a lot of building work recently. Kitchen xperience:
It all depends on the style you are after. Our experience with granite was the same as someone posted above - it chipped a lot, and alarmingly easily.
Quartz - very good, looks good and wears well. Had a big island top in this, years ago, in white, no issues.
Silestone - very good, looks great too, so far so good.
Quality laminate - same story, good and wears well. Not cheap for the good stuff though, but buy right buy once etc.
Corion - we had some remoulded. Essentially took out the previous kitchen tops, and had them redone for a utility room. I think the corion work & fitting was about £700 but the chap took some very battered and rough edged pieces and remoulded them into a worktop and upstands - looks new and there are no seams in sight. Amazing tbh. Just make sure you keep curry away from it, as it stains it. However, it is very durable and very repairable.
All in, I prefer silestone, but its down to personal taste, and the style of kitchen you like.
Carcasses and doors are IMO are complete racket. Appliances are something you shouldn't cut corners on IMO. If they aren't right, they get on your pip. Fridges - if built in, tbh I think there is no point in shelling out loads. Last time, we had a Miele, this time and AEG. Both built into units. Guess what, they both store and cool food equally as well, but one was half the price of the other.
Remember, it's easier to criticise than create!
Also my Granite worktop cracked when a hot pan was placed on it....again it was a heavy pan that stored a lot of heat.
Granite is a bit outdated due to colour limitations
Corian is fine but has lost it's exclusivity now they have started using it in Motorway Services washrooms for sinks( although that is because it's very durable and easily maintained )
Corian works out more expensive than the others
We used a local firm on word-of-mouth recommendation from 2 separate acquaintances - they were fantastic, managed the whole thing in 8 days, including strip-out, plastering, electrics, plumbing, and fitting the kitchen itself.
Also good advice above re appliances - we paid about £800 extra for Bosch throughout (induction hob, double oven, fridge, freezer, and washing machine), and have had no problems at all.