Blog – Page 3 – Fitted Doors

October 4, 2017March 13, 2020

How to Choose the Right Kitchen Worktop

Finding the Most Suitable Work Surface for Your Needs & Budget

When it comes to kitchen worktops, there’s more choice out there in the marketplace than ever before. With new materials being introduced, it’s hard to know which is right for you, so it can feel like a minefield.

As well as the basic decision making criteria such as budget and style, there’s also a number of practical concerns to take into consideration. Different surfaces offer varying benefits and pitfalls so you may be someone who is looking for a unique look, or you may be a keen cook who needs something robust and hardwearing. Perhaps you are cleanliness conscious and need a surface that is hygienic or you might just be someone who wants a great allrounder that ticks all the boxes.

Let’s take a look at the various kitchen surface options out there today and discuss their plusses and minuses in the decision making process.

Laminate

To some, laminate is a no go as it has a stigma of being cheap and cheerful but in recent years, this ever popular work surface has come a long way. With much improved manufacturing techniques, a good quality laminate can mimic a much higher price tagged surface for a fraction of the cost.

Of course, it will never look as good as a real granite or wood surface but for those looking for an updated finish that doesn’t empty the coffers, it’s a great option.

Pros: as costs go, it’s right at the bottom end so it’s the most affordable option on the market. There’s a huge range of finishes available so the likelihood is, you’ll find one that you like that fits your style and needs.

Cons: durability is a persistent issue with chipping and split edging still a common problem and it is easily scratched or scorched by hot pots and pans. Joins also tend to be visible so require edging to compensate.

Solid Surface

Considered a much better upgrade to laminate, solid surface is a far more robust work surface that offers a much better finish and looks amazing. Composed of minerals and resins, this man-made material comes in a huge range of colours and finishes and will give any kitchen a dramatic makeover. Most solid surfaces boast a modern satin sheen to them, making them very much en vogue and with seams being virtually invisible, it gives a high end finish.

Pros: very easy to clean, is hygienic and hard wearing. Can be formed into practically any shape including sinks and upstands, making it a popular options for the most demanding of kitchen designs.

Cons: darker shades tend to show up scratches so lighter colours tend to be a more popular choice. Not great with heat and will damage easily if hot pans come into contact with it.

Solid Wood

Wooden worktops are timeless and exude a warm organic beauty that no other work surface can replicate. Ideally suited to a farmhouse or shaker style kitchen, wooden worktops last for several years and even if marked, add character to the look (within reason). Even if slightly damaged, can be sanded and retreated to bring it back to life so is the ideal choice for a kitchen that is going to be used and abused.

Pros: naturally antibacterial, easy to install and maintain. Looks beautiful if oiled and cared for regularly.

Cons: if left untreated for too long, can be susceptible to water damage and staining so ideally, needs oiling at least once or twice a year. Easily scorched by heat.

Granite

The most popular stone worktop option as it guarantees a high end finish every time. With the vast array of shades, grains and patterns that mother nature has to offer, this natural material will make a kitchen look fabulous whether modern or traditional. Whether you like bold patterns or subtle grains and sparkles, there;’s usually a granite out there to suit and due to it’s organic qualities, will be completely unique to your kitchen.

Pros: a tough surface that is less likely to damage due to heat than most other surfaces (although will damage if repeatedly exposed to very hot objects). Will give an incredible finish to any kitchen.

Cons: can be pricey but worth the extra investment. Is porous so must be sealed on day one and every six months thereafter to prevent water damage. Is extremely heavy so your cabinets must be strong enough to support it.

Quartz

Made from a combination of crushed quartz and resins, this engineered stone is a very popular alternative to granite. With its consistent finish available in a wide range of colours, quartz is a very hard material that doesn’t damage easily unless abused. Guaranteed to give a high end finish, seams are virtually invisible and is suitable to all styles of kitchen whether traditional or contemporary.

Pros: up to five times harder than granite, is non-porous and very low maintenance. No sealing required like granite.

Cons: does not tolerate heat well and will cause irreparable damage if exposed to hot pans.

Copper Is Not For Everyone But Does Produce a Very Unique Look. Image credit: (http://www.bgdenvil.com/alternative-copper-kitchen-counter/) BGDenvil.com

Metal

Due to an upsurge in home cooking enthusiasts, stainless steel and copper worktops have seen a huge rise in popularity. With the industrial look being very much in the now, these rugged, sleek work-surfaces are just the ticket offering an easy to clean surface that is hard wearing and very modern., Although they can scratch, imperfections do not look half as bad as they would on a solid surface or laminate worktop.

Pros: can be formed and wrapped onto any shaped. Hard wearing, non-pourous and easy to clean.

Cons: shows up scratches and marks very easily. Can dent if heavily abused.

August 24, 2017October 24, 2017

What is a kitchen makeover?

Understanding the process from start to finish

If you watch any home improvement shows or DIY television programmes, chances are you’ve heard of the terms kitchen makeover, kitchen transformation or kitchen facelift at least a few times. What actually defines these terms can vary however, so it can be a little confusing.

In the UK, we regard a kitchen makeover as changing the doors, drawers, hardware, worktops and in some cases; taps, appliances and splash-backs to be the norm. Whilst in North America, their definition is essentially the same but as many of their kitchens are made from solid hardwood doors, they do tend to respray doors whilst over here in Britain, we prefer just to replace and modernise them instead. So in this article, we’re going to clear up exactly what a kitchen makeover is and how we do it.

Does your kitchen need a makeover?

Essentially, every homeowner reaches a point where their kitchen looks tired, outdated and shabby. The cost and hassle of completely replacing the entire kitchen is high. Not only is there the expense of having the tear out the existing units, make the interior walls good with potential re-plastering, painting and tiling; there’s also the time factor of not having a useable kitchen, not to mention the dirt, noise and dust that comes with any construction work. All going well, a brand new fitted kitchen can take at least 1-2 weeks to completely install from scratch and the cost of the kitchen units, worktop and installation can go into several thousand pounds. So it will cost you a lot of time, money and stress.

As the homeowner, you need to decide if your existing kitchen layout still works for you or not and essentially, if it’s just the aesthetic qualities that are letting it down. If this is the case, do you really need to tear it out and replace it? That is a decision only you can make so you need to weigh up the pros and cons of having a new kitchen installed versus a kitchen makeover, something we discuss in another blog post.

Assuming you’ve come to the sensible conclusion that a kitchen makeover is your best route, let’s take a look at the process and understand just how simple it is to getting a new look kitchen quickly and more cost effectively.

The Consultation

The first thing that will take place is to explain the full process of what a kitchen makeover entails. In most cases, customers are thrilled to learn that they do not even need to empty the cupboards as most of our work is done using the existing units. It is very discreet so we tend to cause far less disruption than you might imagine. Items such as doors are made-to-measure and swapped over, as are the drawer fronts. The countertops are overlaid onto the existing worktop instead of removing it entirely and replacing it, so it’s very clean and quick.

Once we’re satisfied you have a complete understanding of the process, our consultation will then move onto reviewing your existing kitchen and to see where it works and where it’s letting you down.

Our design consultants will check over the entire kitchen including the doors, the hardware and mechanisms, and review the state of the actual carcasses to see if they are in good order with no obvious signs of mould or water penetration, cracking or splitting of the edge banding and damage to the frame structures. Some older kitchen units may suffer from damage over time from the sheer weight of the counter so before any proposals are put forward, it is best to get a good understanding of how your existing kitchen units have been holding up over the years.

Assuming the units are all intact and in a good state of repair, a kitchen makeover is most certainly possible. Even if perhaps one or two units are in a poor condition, they could still be replaced individually, rather than having to take out the entire kitchen.

Our team will then take detailed measurements of the existing housings, door and drawer sizes, counter dimensions plus the plumbing and electrical positions with overall size details of the room itself.

We’ll firstly look at your existing kitchen a make suggestions for improvement.

The Choice

You may already have a style and colour of door in mind, but our design consultants will offer their opinions as to a good style and finish of doors that will bring your kitchen back to life and improve its overall aesthetic appeal in its current surroundings. They will also suggest a suitable countertop to match the doors, which in many cases might be a quartz overlay plus sinks, taps and hardware to complete the new look.

Every customer is welcome to come to our showroom and see the complete ranges on offer but we will put forward proposals that we feel are sympathetic to the existing space, especially if you do not plan to redecorate or repaint the kitchen walls. Any new doors need to complement and enhance their surroundings so choosing a colour and finish that suits is vital to making it look fresh, bright and modern.

Ultimately, the choice is entirely yours but we do find that with our experience and know how, our proposed choices always go down a storm and customers are thrilled with the choice of doors, worktops and handles we put forward.

Once we have all reached an agreed look, we’ll then offer you a quote to have your doors made, your countertop overlays cut and a date in the diary to get your makeover started.

We can also offer a cost to replace any extra items such as appliances, sinks, taps and backsplashes. Whatever you need, we can take care of everything.

We’ll then strip out the kitchen doors and worktops leaving the shells in place.

The Process

Once you’ve agreed to commence, we’ll get your doors made to the exact sizes to match those currently in your kitchen, plus have your countertop overlays made to order and set a date to start the work. The entire process is very quick and in most cases, only takes a couple of days to complete once we have everything ready to go.

The great thing about a kitchen makeover is the lack of intrusiveness. All the contents of your cupboards and drawers can stay in place so we don’t cause you too much nuisance like a complete kitchen refit would. We’ll firstly remove the worktops (if it is being completely replaced and not overlaid), making sure the water has been disconnected and any sinks and taps are free for removal. We’ll then dismantle the existing doors and drawer fronts leaving just the kitchen carcasses in place, ready for us to do our magic!

At this point, we’re ready to get started with replacing the doors with exact fits in the new style and colour of your choice. The whole process is very seamless so within just a few hours, you will already start to see the difference your new doors can make.

Once the doors and drawer fronts are in place, we’ll then concentrate on the worktop. Either a completely new worktop will be brought in and fitted or the overlays will be placed on top of the existing worktop. And this is where you really start to see it take shape. With the new doors and worktop now fitted, the new look kitchen starts to emerge.

All that’s left are the finishing touches. We’ll fit the new kitchen sink and taps, the hob and appliances, plus any desired extras such as extractor hoods or splash-backs and your new look kitchen is all but ready!

To make your kitchen just that little bit more high end, we’ll make sure we fit suitable modern handles and hardware, soft closing mechanisms, perfectly mitred plinths and cornices and finish off any edges with suitable sealants and caulking.

That’s it. Your beautiful new kitchen is ready for use and it only took a matter of days!

Our team will fit new doors, drawers, worktops and appliances to complete your beautiful kitchen makeover.

Are you ready for a kitchen makeover?

If giving your kitchen a makeover sounds like the perfect solution to updating and modernising your home, why not give us a call to arrange your own consultation

Appointments are free and there’s no obligation to go ahead. So what have you got to lose? Contact Fitted Doors today and get the dream kitchen you always wanted for less.

August 7, 2017October 24, 2017

Granite vs Quartz Kitchen Worktops – Which is Best?

Understanding the Key Differences Between These Two Popular Materials

When it comes to kitchen decisions, nothing quite divides homeowners than the final choice of kitchen countertop – will it be granite or quartz? Various claims and counter-arguments will fly back and forth about which is best, vehemently stating the other is inferior when in actual fact, both materials have their pros and cons.

So is the choice simply down to look or are there other factors at play? Firstly, let’s understand more about each surface and then take a look at the best and worst aspects of these two popular kitchen worktop surfaces and we’ll let you decide!

What is quartz?

Quartz is a man-made material, comprising of 95% ground natural quartz bonded together with polymer based resins. It is a very hard wearing surface that is waterproof and resists staining.

What is granite?

Typically Prepared Slabs of Granite. Image credit: Pinterest

Granite is a 100% natural material mined from quarries, cut down to manageable sizes and highly polished to a fine finish. It is a very hard wearing surface but it is not waterproof and does not resist staining without being treated and sealed first.

Quartz – Pros & Cons

Strength – contrary to many beliefs, quartz is just as strong as granite but benefits from more flexibility which makes it easier to fit during the installation process.
Water Resistance – quartz is a non-porous material unlike granite, so it never requires sealing or use of special cleaning fluids. So if a low maintenance surface is your preferred choice, quartz is a more suitable option.
Durability – both quartz and granite are considered fairly durable but they are not indestructible. Quartz should be able to stand up to the rigours of normal everyday kitchen use and tends to be good as stain resistance. So spillages such as wine, sauces and food is fairly easy and quick to clean up but it can chip and break if abused.
Discolouration – quartz can suffer from discolouration over time, mainly caused by excessive exposure to UV rays. So if parts of your counter are exposed to the sun for prolonged periods, you may see a change in colour over time. If this is a concern, a lighter coloured quartz might be a better option.
Weight – quartz tends to weigh more than granite so will be harder to deal with during installation.
Joins – if your counter space is fairly large, chances are your worktop will be formed of more than once piece. If so, the seams may be visible on lighter coloured surfaces. A solid coloured quartz is less likely to show the filler in the seams whilst a granite may show them up more if the natural veins and variations in colour in the slab are quite pronounced.

Granite – Pros & Cons

Appearance – granite is a naturally formed material so the appearance will never be uniform. This is essentially a personal taste so some may prefer the consistent look of quartz whilst other may be drawn to the natural appeal of stone.
Water Resistance – granite is a porous material so it will need to be sealed before use and repeatedly year-on-year to prevent damage from staining and spillages. Regular sealing should prevent any damage but once stained, it is almost impossible to rectify.
Durability – granite is considered to be fairly durable but it is not indestructible. If put under constant pressure and abuse, it can chip and break under extreme circumstances. Under normal use however, it should last a lifetime.
Weight – granite is very heavy so always have a qualified professional install it for you.
Joins – granite is formed of natural patterns and veins so it is quite hard to hide the joins on certain slabs. If this bothers you, a darker granite is best as the sealants used in the joins tends to hide better.
Consistency – you may receive a sample that you like but you will never get a slab of granite that exactly matches it. What you end up getting may be a pleasant or unwanted surprise as the veins and patterns are purely down to what mother nature created!
Heat Resistance – although it is not advised to place extremely hot items such as pots or pans onto any countertop, granite will resist heat a little better than quartz. It’s never a good idea to place hot items directly onto the surfaces but chances are, an accidental placement of a hot frying pan on granite will not cause any damage for a short period whilst quartz will discolour.

At the end of the day, quartz and granite have many things on common. Both offer a very high end, polished look to a kitchen that will make it look a million dollars and both surfaces are hard, durable and should last many years.

Some people love the natural, organic patterns that get formed in granite whilst others prefer the consistent clean lines that quartz offers. It all comes down to aesthetic appeal but to call one surface inferior to the other is generally untrue. Both quartz and granite are excellent choices for a kitchen worktop, so whichever route you take, you should be very pleased with the final result.

July 6, 2017June 19, 2017

Inspiring Ideas for Single Walled Kitchens

How to make a narrow kitchen feel spacious and modern

If your kitchen is particularly narrow, it may feel constricted and lacking in space, especially if units run along both walls, creating a cramped galley effect.

Having a kitchen run along one wall instead, using every inch of space can be a great way to transform a kitchen and give it a more breathable feel and far more flexibility. If your home is a typical Victoria terrace or older home that features a long narrow kitchen space, here’s some inspiring ideas to make a signel-walled kitchen feel much bigger and more useable.

A Bench Can Double Up as a Dining & Preparation Space. Image credit: Blue Fruit Design

Add a Dining Table

Many older homes do not have a usable dining area yet by removing units along one wall in the kitchen, you can easily create the opportunity to add a spacious dining area making the heart of the home a more practical space.

With some ingenuity, the loss of units on one wall can be compensated by using floor to ceiling units on the single wall or by adding taller wall cabinets, giving you ample storage space.

If a table is simply too large or removes that all important preparation space, try installing a counter-height bench that can double up as a dining and food preparation area.

Never underestimate the importance of having somewhere to dine at home. Eating in front of the TV on your lap is never a great idea over the long term when a family dining table can bring everyone together and make the kitchen a place to cook, eat and socialise.

Using Full Height Units Can Make a Single Wall Kitchen Workable. Image credit: Spacekit

Use Every Inch of Wall Space

Run the units along the single wall and then add corner units at each end where possible. This “wrap-around” effect will make the single wall feel cohesive but also ensure there’s no wall space wasted. Do not be concerned about this feeling too enclosed as the opposite wall will create the airiness your room needs to allow for walkways, tables and chairs.

Adding Compact herb Planters Soften The Look & Add Colour. Image credit: Kitchen Interiors

Add Eye-Catching Features

If you’re concerned that a single walled kitchen may look a little lifeless then add some splashes of colour. A simple shelf with herbs and plants will soften the look with some natural greens and shrubbery. If a bold pop of colour is your thing, a unique backsplash or feature tiles can give your kitchen areas of added quirkiness and character.

A Kitchen Island on Casters Adds Flexibility & Additional Prep Areas. Image credit: Hayneedle

Mobile Kitchen Island

If the lack of utility space or worktop is a concern, why not include a small kitchen island on casters? These great little mobile islands are perfect for serving up food, preparing ingredients or as a simple utility area that can be easily pushed out of the way when not in use.

Deeper Counter Tops Free Up Space for Preparation Areas. Image credit: Fine House Studio

Deeper Counters

If a single walled kitchen feels like it lacks enough counter space, you can always install your kitchen units with a slight extra gap of an inch or two away from the walls to allow for a deeper counter top to be installed.

It may cost a few extra pennies more but the added depth won’t encroach too much into the room at all and will make a big difference to store jars, containers and utensils on the counter and still leave plenty of worktop space to prepare food and cook.

Using Handleless Kitchen Doors Looks Sleek & Modern. Image credit: True Handless Kitchens

Lose the Handles

If you’re concerned about handles getting caught or snagged as you walk past them in a narrow kitchen then opt for kitchen cupboard doors that have integrated handles instead. That way, your kitchen will look sleeker and slimmer and there’s no issues of you brushing past traditional handles that stick out and getting bruised hips or thighs.

An Integrated Refrigerator Will Make Your Kitchen Stay Spacious. Image credit: Samsung

Don’t Forget the Fridge

An integrated refrigerator set into dedicated wall cabinets is ideal as this will not only hide the fridge, it will make the whole kitchen feel cohesive and flow along a single wall.

If however there’s simply no room for the fridge on the same wall as all the kitchen units, don’t worry. Find a suitable corner on the opposite wall where it can be placed neatly and it will still feel perfectly spacious in your kitchen. As long as it doesn’t block the central walkways, you’re kitchen should still feel more roomy than before.