The Kitchen Extension – Roll the Credits
Well… it’s just about over. The floor’s down, the fitters have signed off, and Mrs R is happy with the paintwork. Apart from the splashback behind the cooker, which is being hand-carved by elves as I write, whisper it quietly but I think we’re finished. Here are some photos!
View from kitchen door
The “Cooking Side”
View looking back at the kitchen door and utility room
Induction hob, Gas “wok hob”, Oven and Combi Oven
Skylight
Sandwich Prep Area! …and view to garden
The “Disco Cupboard” (illuminated carousel)
View into dining room and former garage. Both are filled with the spoils of a sixth birthday party and really aren’t that untidy as a rule!
Credits in chronological order:
Architect: Neil at CC Associates
Building Work: John Fox-Teece and sons: 01223 840640
Kitchen Design: Graham at Nimbus UK
(Units by Crown Imperial, Haefele and Blanco, Appliances by Siemens)
Lighting Design: Dominic Myott
Electrical work: Rob and Tony at RP Electrical: 01223 710439
Kitchen Fitting: Allan at Nimbus UK
Worktops: Ivett & Reed
Flooring: Amtico supplied and fitted by Dentons Carpets
Blinds: Cambridge Blind Spot
Tea: PG Tips
All thoroughly good chaps and thoroughly recommended. Ask me for a testimonial any time.
(And now the local links again but with some nice anchor text for the search engines: Cambridge architects, kitchen design Cambridge, domestic lighting design, granite worktops Cambridge, Amtico Cambridge, blinds Cambridge)
Kitchen Extension series: Part 1
Kitchen Extension series: Part 2
Kitchen Extension series: Part 3
Kitchen Extension series: Part 4
Kitchen Extension series: Part 5
Kitchen Extension series: Part 6
Kitchen Extension series: Part 7
Chris,
Your kitchen looks fantastic! Dare I ask how much the whole thing cost? I am considering the whole extension, kitchen refurb thing myself and have no idea where to start.
It’ll vary a lot depending on the size of the extension, etc, of course! I’d budget £20k for the buildings and utilities, and £10-£30k for the kitchen and installation.
Hi Chris – Stumbled across your kitchen refit saga in an idle moment but it makes an interesting read. I am currently going through the new kitchen process and am considering the same corner unit with the metallic door, wooden top and disco shelves. How would you review it a few months on? While I think it looks great I wonder if in reality I would always be avoiding actually using it in case I scored an expensive, difficult to replace top. Also I would want to move it to a more convenient place to use and therefore it would occupy worktop space that would be better used as a plain surface. What is the official Rand line on this unit?
Big question mark as to whether we’d have one again, I have to say. The cutting board itself is great quality, we’ve been using it every day for a year, and it looks fine still. However, it has to be unscrewed to remove it, so we never do, just wiping it in place, which isn’t optimal. We also make sure we only cut bread etc on it, not meat or fish. As for the cupboard, it’s slightly awkward to use, so you wouldn’t want it to be full of stuff you use every day. But for irregularly-used stuff, it’s a lot easier to access than getting down on your knees and pulling out all the items from an almost inaccessible corner. So it depends how much you need the space (if you don’t need it much, no need to get the disco unit) and if you do, whether you have a fair bit of only irregularly-used stuff (like occasional baking tins, etc).
Hi Chris – Thanks for that. I suspected that might be the answer. I am now torn even further because it looks pretty groovy but realistically probably isn’t worth it in ease of use and cost etc.!
Fantastic design! Great use of space. I am looking for kitchen ideas and this is the best one I have seen yet.
Love the kitchen, I’m considering doing an extension on my 10 year old Victoria and wonder if you had any trouble matching the external bricks?
There’s some discussion here.
Just wondered how big the extension is.
It doubled the size of the kitchen area from 4m x 3m to 4m x 6m. But note when you do that, the access areas don’t get proportionally bigger, so rather than the worktop and storage space being doubled, it’s probably nearly trebled.
Hi Chris, nice of you to take the time to share your great project with us. Can you tell me what year your house was built. Secondly, I’ve read alot of negative reports about Bryant plumbing. Have you ever had any problems with yours?
How long have you been in your house now. How do you rate the quality of build?
We’re no longer in the house after 14 happy years there. Build quality never gave us any cause for complaint. Plumbing was fine.
Hi Chris
Love the blog! We’re looking at doing our kitchen. I love the kitchen, it must have been a wrench to leave it having put so much time and effort into it…
We looking at doing a similar size extension to you. Do you remember how much of the “cost” you think you got back in the resale value? ie half, three quarters…
Are you still in area or did you move completely…. don’t think I could have moved on easily having put in such a beautiful extension.
I think Nimbus have gone bust which is a shame as yours is the 2nd lovely kitchen from then I’ve seen….
Hi Helen
Indeed, Nimbus have gone. I’d say we comfortably got back the cost of the extension and kitchen (see separate post from summer 2011 on the house sale). In addition, it made the property much more saleable.