So... My dream kitchen has turned out a bit horrid really

[monkeymamma]

I'm sending out an urgent plea here for advice/cheering up :-)

Hope this does not make me sound like a princess/kitchenzilla. It's by no means the end of the world, but I'm pregnant and cranky and feeling p'd off by the whole thing.

So DH and I are moving at the end of the month into what we're seeing as... Not the forever home exactly but the home we'll spend our children's childhoods in, iyswim. It's new build and we paid an upgrade fee for the kitchen so there would be more choice and better quality etc. In the event we were rushed into choosing, however, and led to believe the choice was limited to a wee roundel thingy in the sales office. I later (too late) discovered that there is a huge catalogue you can choose from with every conceivable style. From the roundel, I'd chosen cream cabinets (they didn't have white or pale cream) and wood effect top (there was only one wood effect on the roundel).

We've just had a look at the kitchen in situ and it's really not nice. The cabinets are yellowy and the work tops (and sadly the whole sides of the island unit) are really reddish and the overall thing is really 80s and too warm looking.

I'm wondering if we can paint the island sides at least to minimise the fake orangey wood look and I thought maybe go for a grey floor to cool it down (we're doing our own floors thank the lord) and some blue/green accessories for balance. Will this help? Does anyone have any other ideas?

Anyone who wants to tell me to get a grip is also very welcome, I'm sure I need to!

[MrsRonBurgundy]

Annie Sloan chalk paint might help you out with the cupboard doors.
If it's wonky though, that's not a matter of taste, it's not been installed properly. I'd ask for that to be rectified

[CockD0dger]

It's actually quite cheap to replace the doors of the units and the workshop can be replaced very easily too.

I would start from there, but I also think your idea for the flooring will help too.

[monkeymamma]

Thanks mrsron. It's been installed perfectly, unfortunately (I'd be going nuclear otherwise!). I say 'unfortunately' because there's nothing worse the a perfectly fitted thing that's just not to your taste the worst thing is I chose it!
I'll check out the Annie Sloan.

[burnishedsilver]

There might be something to be said for sitting in the office of who ever pressured you into making decisions without giving you all the information and having a good cry.

Worst case scenario they say sorry I can't help. Best case scenario they move the doors on to someone else's house. Being pregnant could work in your favour.

[evelynj]

I'd go with checking with them if poss to change the doors-ask why they didn't show you the whole big catalogue. Otherwise Annie Sloan stuff is great but would recommend getting someone local to do it (ask at your nearest distributor as they'll know who to approach)

Good luck & congratulations on the pregnancy.

[Icelollycraving]

I feel your pain. The kitchen in our new build irritates me too.

[burnishedsilver]

Any luck? Did the builders help you out in any way?

[monkeymamma]

Thanks guys! Well, once we actually got into the property as opposed to peering through the window (builders have been a bit crap re access) it wasn't as bad as we thought. I think if I can paint the side of the island unit cream it will look cooler and better. I've told customer care how crap the process was for choosing options, but sadly as an aside as we are having to pursue other cock-ups with the house. None of it's a big deal really (although some will cost a lot to put right) but it's disappointing having saved all these years and having finally treated ourselves to a lovely new house to be having all the problems and making a lot of compromises. Awash feels good to get that off my chest!

[monkeymamma]

Awash? 'Aah'!