Here we go....

The build starts tomorrow - well seeing as its now 8 mins after midnight - this really is Day 1!!!!!
How do I feel...heart thumpingly terrified and excited all in one!  We went to the outlaws this weekend and whilst we were there we finally bought a kitchen...it was from a really swish kitchen showroom..we were lucky enough to get an ex-display complete with top of the range appliances.  There's the odd little fault but nothing major apart from a scratch on one door but the chap has ordered us another door.
We have been playing around with designs and been to so many different kitchen places..Ikea (several times) Jacksons, B and Q, Wickes, Magnet and Howdens - to name just a few - the hours I have spent playing around with the Kitchen Planner from Ikea - it is really useful having that tool at your disposal!

Anyway here are some sneak previews....

The Island which there was a bit of damage to the ending strip and a teeny tiny mark to the top edge - we are going to be reducing the width anyway and the chap has ordered us a new piece of edging strip - so hopefully that's that sorted.  Also the gas hob is being swapped for a Series 4 5 ring induction hob - we just need to get a stainless steel frame for it so that it will fit

Here is the run of units which are deeper than standard so even when the tamba screens are down there is still lots of worktop left to use..we are having the dishwasher and sink unit at the left hand side followed by the runs with the tamba units on

3 tall units - one on left is a integrated Kuppersbush fridge freezer with a siemens oven in the centre and we have negotiated a price for a Siemens combi microwave to be fitted in above it - they are going to cut the door down so that the two can go one above the other and still be safe/look right

and next are some lights from Ikea that I would like to have over the island - not going to have a hood - will probably go with an extractor on the wall

which layout

Which layout is best?????

This is Option A - things are symmetrical - tall units either side with beloved island close at hand - will I get fed up of walking up and down the 21ft of the room to get the milk out of the fridge although I prefer this one the best - I think

This layout B - tall units together and Dining Room area defined

This is Option C - U shaped run the breakfast bar will be wider than currently shown - downside with this is smaller dining area

or c shape with a twist

Change of plan

The oak kitchen didnt work out - they changed the hob and then said they hadnt but the lady that I was dealing with let me know that they had!!!  Not impressed and then the price for the other units came back so high - it just started to feel like - why are we doing this..so it was back to the drawing board. I have spent all weekend ringing around kitchen showrooms - there maybe a possibility at "In toto" in Birmingham (someone is ringing me back on Monday - the lady that I spoke to was lovely and told me about two kitchen - she knew one had gone but wasnt sure which and there was a kitchen there that was a cancelled order (hadnt even been out of the box) not sure which if any is available so am looking forward to hearing more.  Meanwhile a lovely lady a Magnet today told me about an ex display - she sent me the picture below

They do not make the range any more, however some of the units not shown on here are a cream textured one which breaks it up - so I thought I can get my tall units (cooker, microwave and food) in the cream. Unfortunately the range doesnt come in a tall unit other than a 300. The lady recommended I got their cream gloss - she thinks it will go beautifully. This photo is an actual photo of theirs, the ones for sale are the wall units on the left and the run with the sink and with the hob.  She said the worktop alone cost them 2K - it is a mixture of granite and quartz -  the product is called Roxx and its really think - the colour is a bit like concrete but polished - its supposed to be very very durable and rather beautiful.  The sink is included but not the hob but at least there is a cut out there so one can be placed in it.  The talls are not included hence my needing to get some in cream. There are units on both sides of the island and some are cream plus theres another two wall units in cream.  We will see what prices they come back with tomorrow.

Be back soon to record what happened.  This extension is going to cost so much to have done - we have got to keep a rein on the budget for the kitchen - some days I feel full of energy and drive and other days - aaagh!!!

Possibly my new kitchen but with a twist

I am thinking of getting this to go in the new kitchen when it is built - was a bit unsure at first as I dont want it to look twee and old fashioned - I certainly wont be having those wall tiles and am hoping for a more modern hood.  Decisions decisions!!!!