How to Budget for your kitchen

In today’s blog post we take one kitchen layout and apply it to three budgets. We get asked a lot at IDEAS what a rough quote for a kitchen at ‘X x Y’ would cost, but as explained below there are 1000’s of variables from doors, worktops and appliances to make your kitchen truly unique to you and your needs. You may just be shocked at the low starting price for many of our kitchens and we will always endeavour to price match, so if you find a quote cheaper elsewhere we will match it. Book in to speak to one of our designers today on (0115) 922 1188. So which would you choose?

One - £4,400*

This beautiful shaker style kitchen is bang on trend and is shown in one of our most affordable doors we offer the new Belsay range by PWS. It is an incredible door and at an amazing price. Pair with copper or gold handles for an extra stylish touch. This price includes:

• BELSAY door available in 4 colours (shown in Graphite)

• Glass splashback

• Laminate worktop

• Carcass’s, pelmet, cornice and plinths

• Microwave lift-up door

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Two - £5,300*

If you are looking for a more contemporary style for your kitchen then look no further than the Glacier door which is shown in a stunning metallic blue. Sophisticated, classy and simple we just love this look. This price includes:

• Glacier door (shown in metallic blue)

• Glass splashback

• Laminate worktop

• Carcass’s, pelmet, cornice and plinths

• Microwave lift-up door

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Three - £7,000*

Looking for something really bespoke? How about this Broadoak paint to order door? Choose from over 25 stunning colours or mix and match two colours for a unique style. We would pair this door with gold handles and a gold tap for a high end finish. This price includes:

• Broadoak paint to order door (available in over 25 colours)

• Glass splashback

• Laminate worktop (upgrade to Qaurtz for a really sleek finish!)

• Carcass’s, pelmet, cornice and plinths

• Microwave lift-up door

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* Please note all kitchens quoted above do not include fitting, appliances or handles and are based on specific kitchen measurements. Please contact us today to receive an accurate quote for your dream space!

*A basic integrated 5 piece appliance CDA package starts at £1,850 and basic 5 piece appliance NEFF package starts at £2,350

Bold and Beautiful Dark Kitchens

We may be experiencing the hottest summer for decades which is bringing us all the bright sunshine but one of the biggest trends this year is the dark and sophisticated kitchen. Think emerald green hues, midnight blues and matte black mixed with shiny metallics such as gold and copper for a sharp, bold interior look.

Be brave and design your whole kitchen in a dark hue or dip into the trend with an island or dresser in a dark colour with a lighter door elsewhere to compliment and lift the space, particularly if you have a smaller space to work with.

Another way to incorporate this trend into your space without the full commitment of a new kitchen is adding darker accessories such as tea towels, wall art or paint your walls in a deep and rich shade such as Hicks' Blue by Little Greene Paint Company for a slight nod to the trend.  

Below we have picked a few of our favourite kitchens that encompass this trend and can all be designed around your space from our showroom in Attenborough Village. What would you design? 

Second Nature Urban Heritage Porter in Matt Graphite 

Second Nature Fitzroy in Corpse Green

Traditional Pasta Sauce

Looking for the perfect, basic pasta sauce recipe? Then look no further, Helen’s tried and tested recipe has been cooked for many years and always goes down very well. Originally taught to her by her Italian mother-in-law, Helen has now got this Italian essential down to a fine art. This sauce is the perfect base for any tomato based recipes such as Bolognese, moussaka and chilli con carne – just add in anything you fancy!

Ingredients

-        1 carton of tomato passata

-        1 carrot diced

-        1 medium onion diced

-        Sprinkle of sugar

-        Rapeseed oil

-        We also add a little mince meat (optional)

-        Garlic clove (optional)

-        Cherry tomatoes (optional)

Method:

Heat some rapeseed oil in a large pan

Add the diced onion to the pan and lightly fry (be careful not to overcook)

Pop the diced carrot in as well as some salt & pepper

Add in the garlic if you are using

Once all the veg is starting to soften add in the mince meat if using

Add in the carton of passata to the pan

If you are using cherry tomatoes add these in

On a low heat allow the sauce to bubble away for 3hrs +

Add in a sprinkling of sugar

You will start to see a dark red oil appear at the top of the sauce this is the sauce becoming richer and tastier!

Once the sauce has been bubbling away for 3hrs add to your favourite pasta and enjoy!

Interior Design For Your Home - Part Three

In the final part of our Interior design for your home blog series we look at a personal favourite of ours – the Cotemporary Classic Kitchen. This style of Kitchen is becoming more and more sought after with it’s sleek overall look mixed with the beautiful detailing of a traditional styled kitchen, perfect for any family home.

Many types of interiors play well with this design but one which works particularly well is ‘Luxe modern’, combining strong metals such as brass with marble, herringbone flooring and bold wall colours like emerald green and dark blues.

We offer many kitchens to suit this style such as the ‘Ellerton’ by Alchemy or the ‘Slab’ by 1909. Mix one strong colour door with a lighter base colour for a bold interior look.

Inframe Slab Kitchen by 1909

Simple, Stylish & Contemporary 

MODA CHAIR - CULT FURNITURE - £139

MARBLE PRINT - DESENIO - £15.95

BOON TABLE - MADE - £549

TESSE LIGHT - MAISON DU MONDE - £164

Interior Design For Your Home - Part Two

In the second part of our Interior design for your home blog series we select furniture and accessories for the more traditional style kitchen such as our beautiful and bespoke 1909 range.  

From sophisticated shaker style kitchens to a more intricate detailing such as scalloped edging and matching cornice these kitchens are for people who want their kitchen to be the focal point rather than hide in the background. Designed to be sturdy, practical and to become the most used and loved room in the house the traditional kitchen requires timeless furniture to suit. See our top picks below to complete your dream kitchen. 

Traditional Kitchen Styling

A BEAUTIFUL 1909 KITCHEN WILL ALWAYS HAVE DISTINCT CLASSIC DETAILING 

ROBERTS RADIO - £199

TOASTER TABLE - LOAF - £845

CHORTLER CHAIR - LOAF - £330

GLASS PENDANT - COX & COX -£75

Interior Design For Your Home - Part One

Every week we are asked the question “What sort of furniture/interior style do you think will work best with the design we have chosen?” from many of our customers looking to complete their room to suit them, their families and their newly designed space, so we have decided to run a mini blog series on various stunning interior styles we often recommend to our customers to compliment their dream kitchen/bathroom or bedrooms.

In the first of our Interior design for your home blog series we look at how to furnish your kitchen if you have chosen one of our most popular and sleek kitchen styles – The Modern, for example the Remo by Second Nature or handless/gloss ranges.

This style of kitchen is so versatile, perhaps why it is so popular, with sleek lines and an uncluttered approach your furniture should do the same whilst being simple enough to be brave with colour or textile choices. Scandinavian or 60’s styles mix so beautifully with this scheme – look for ‘hair-pin’ legs on dining tables & chairs, light timber such as beech furniture mixed with copper pendant lighting for over islands and breakfast bars for a beautifully calm, contemporary and timeless look.

SCANDI VIBES

AN EXAMPLE OF ONE OF OUR CUSTOMERS' SCANDINAVIAN INSPIRED KITCHEN FEATURING THE REMO HANDLESS KITCHEN IN 'PORCELAIN' 

MODA CHAIR - CULT FURNITURE - £85

MIDAS PENDANT LIGHT - CULT FURNITURE - £39

EBBE GEHL - JOHN LEWIS - £479

TEA TOWEL - BEAR & BEAR - £8

Scandinavian Styling

Here at IDEAS we love the clean cut elegance of Scandinavian inspired interiors which usually start with a natural colour palette teamed with sharp,simple and well designed furniture pieces. We feel this is a scheme that works well for every home in the house whether it’s a calm living space or a bright and open kitchen. We have recently completed a kitchen, bathroom and bedroom for a lovely set of customers who used their kitchen as the starting point for an overall Scandi inspired design throughout their home – We designed a stunning Secound Nature ‘Remo’ handless kitchen finished in ‘white’ and ‘graphite’, a beautiful fitted bathroom and the most stunning floor to ceiling fitted wardrobes in their master bedroom, see the pictures below for all the cleverly designed spaces we helped them create.

Metallic Taps

The trend for metallic and coloured taps started in late 2016 moving into 2017 with designer brands bringing out some beautiful designs but with a high price to match, however fast forward to 2018 and we see more of our own suppliers producing some on-trend designs at very reasonable prices. From Cassellie’s beautiful Rose Gold bathroomware including shower heads, taps and radiators to Quooker’s limited edition gold plated boiling water tap. Pick matte black ironmongery in your bathroom to compliment the monochrome look or a stunning rose gold tap in your kitchen for a metallic nod to the trend.