Interior Designs

I saw an elephant crashing through an understairs cupboard and I really love it but, sadly, we don't have the room :(  

Meanwhile, we've been designing the kitchen/diner and utility room. After research and meeting with suppliers' designers, we have chosen Howden's. We don't yet know how they will work out but the initial meeting was encouraging. Other similarly priced companies want to install their kitchen units and leave gaps where they don't fit. Howdens, being primarily a joinery company, will ensure that the cupboards fit our kitchen, with infills where necessary.

The designer knew her stuff too - and we shared similar tastes, which always helps when trying to explain what's in your head.

We decided to install a Quooker system so that we can save precious worktop space by not having a kettle. We also want a couple of tambour doors to hide away other small kitchen appliances. Howden's doesn't supply these but we've found a couple of companies on-line who will supply kits to fit the space we have. Not cheap but not too expensive at under £300.

The water supply to the house, like the whole of Hertfordshire, is very hard water which shortens the life of everything, including shower heads, toilet cisterns, etc., therefore we are planning to install a water softener system.

We're looking forward (with everything crossed!) to seeing the kitchen design and hopeful that it will be within budget. 

Link to next post...

Ultra Slim Aluminum Framed Patio Doors have been installed!

The SunSeeker UltraSlim doors are IN! They look fantastic - better than bi-folds - such a shame that they are unlikely to get much use this year as everything else is being delayed. The electricity supplier and internal doors company, having agreed to August dates, want to delay to September and October, respectively.

We prefer the sleek, low maintenance aluminium frames to the comparatively clumsy wooden frames around the windows but we are trying to keep within our budget so compromises are inevitable.

 

The granite hearth has also been installed, ready for the log-burner.

The kitchen will be at least a month or so before installation can start but, to be fair, that's our fault. We have not been particularly happy with kitchen companies that offer fitted kitchens which then turn out not to meet our requirements (despite claims on their websites). We will try another company this week - some include a remote design service, which might speed up the process. We are trying to avoid bespoke as they are likely to take even longer and cost much more. If you know differently, please let us know in the comments, bearing in mind that the property is in Hertfordshire.

We shall also need fitted bathroom units. It would be great if the same company could do the kitchen and bathroom.

More news as it happens...