project plan

Preliminaries

  1. Rough Design Plan(s) [PAA / AW]

  2. Investigation - a few access holes [PAA / AW]

  3. Boiler repositioning survey - get Anton the Plumber to visit; make provisional choice of boiler; Anton 07808 242636 [PAA]

  4. Submit rough design plan to Howdens for detailed design and costing; make provision cabinetry and worktop finish selections to include in quote; contact Martina 0207231 4891 at Bermondsey branch; probably have facetoface meeting to tweak and optimise design; provisional choice of any new appliances [PAA / AW]

  5. James and Atilla to visit for site survey or at least have facetime video session [PAA]; Atila - 07542 385307; James 07904 046971; their new work phone that I’ve bought them - TBA

  6. Ancillairy decisions - sand boards in hallway and landing if possible? Loft insulation in roof rafters? [PAA]. New radiator? Flu exit hole? Anything else?

  7. Ordering - order new kitchen, new boiler and new appliances

Execution of Kitchen

  1. Clear existing kitchen into storage boxes and put in bedroom / out of the way; clear some prep space on lounge; sheet up to protect everything [PAA]

  2. Rip out existing kitchen [JAA]; boys or Anton to remove boiler and seal off gas; waste disposal with ‘wait and load’

  3. Remove pantry wall and support??

  4. Shell prep - lift floor and seal sub-floor / void area; prep walls so square; replaster as necessary; baton ceiling

  5. First fix - set out for new electrics positions, lights in ceiling, rerouting of gas and water pipes

  6. Install new boiler; run flu (need new hole or use existing)

  7. Close up shell - board ceiling, plaster as necessary or dryline; first sand of floor and / or lay sub-floor

  8. Install new cabinetry

  9. Decorate

  10. Second fix - terminate electrics, lights, taps, appliances etc

  11. Afix worktops, doors and fronts

  12. Clean and clear out

design Challenges

  • Amenity

    • Sink / window area

      • The existing wall units foul the window and restrict day light and views

      • The boiler cupboard is ugly and also consumes the window / view, and offers no worktop / drainer space

      • The sink is jammed into a corner between the long run and the boiler with little room to stand

    • Pantry area

      • The pantry space is mostly used up by its own lobby stand space

      • Mystery boxing restricts its space

      • Tall units housing the FF and oven overwhelm the entrance experience and offer no worktop / food prep space

    • Overall

      • Long thin shape feels slightly claustrophobic; does not allow social interaction; no connection to lounge

  • Other

    • Lots of hinge loose, doors out of alignment

    • Floor was not laid properly and is damaged

    • Mouse problem

Opportunities

  • Spatial

    • Move the boiler, reposition the sink with more space around it

    • Use the pantry better, possible with access from hallway

  • Amenity

    • Create more storage, more worktop space with a better, more open design

  • Design

    • Choose a nicer more contemporary design, improve the lighting and decor

    • Redo floor

    • Solve mouse problem

Possible plans with concept ideas

NB The grid squares are 1m2

3D renders - Option A

  • Simple logical design, plenty of open worktop space and storage; maximum passing space

  • FF, WM and boiler moved to inside of pantry, all pipework and flus rationalised

  • Floor lifted, fully proofed for mice and holes, new subfloor laid with new flooring on top or boards restored

option B

  • Wall seen from lounge / entry is more open with tall units hidden on inside wall

  • More workop space all around with narrow units providing space for kettle, toaster, fruit bowl etc

  • Reduced passing space but still c80cm - enough

option c - ???

Open the pantry completely, support as necessary, and use that space along with the rest as part of a holistic design

This idea needs investigation to ensure pantry wall can be supported easily. I would presume it can

very very rough cost estimate

  • Remove existing / waste management / disconnect - £1k

  • New kitchen units - £4.5 - £6k

  • New composite stone worktops £2 - £3k

  • New Appliances - £1 - 3k or re-use existing - most looked ok

  • Boiler move - £1.5k; new boiler £1.5k (total £3k); if you moved it, I presume you’d replace it

  • Building materials (sub-floor, sealant, timber, plaster, ceiling? - £2k

  • Flooring / lighting - ??

  • Labour / building work - 2 / 3 weeks - £5k - £7.5k; to solve mouse issue and resolve pipework / flues once and for all, we’s strip it back to shell and start again from under the floor to behind the walls

  • Total - £15 - £25k

Could create temp kitchen in spare bedroom in meantime whilst works progress

Andrew Williams
November 2022