Kitchen upgrade

If your kitchen looks old fashioned, consider a makeover rather than ripping everything out.

Replace the doors and drawer fronts for an end result that will look brand new again.

This route is better for the environment as there’s a lot less waste. There’s less mess and upheaval for you, as you can continue to use your kitchen (in most cases) while the work is being done. In fact, the work can often be completed in one or two days, whereas a full replacement can take a week or more.

It’s cheaper too. The cabinets element of a new fitted kitchen is where the biggest cost lies. Plus there’s more labour involved starting from scratch. So if your existing units are sound, then simply swapping old doors and drawer fronts for new is an easier and cost effective way to upgrade.

We did this with the kitchen in our annexe. The 20 year old cabinets were fine, but the doors were very dated. So we swapped the doors and updated the handles, the sink, and the worktop. Everyone who sees it thinks the entire kitchen is brand new, but we proudly let everyone in on our secret. Come and see it for yourself – I’d be delighted to show it to you.

Ziboh Interiors is an East Coast Fittings (ECF) partner, a made-to-order kitchens and bedrooms manufacturer based in rural England. Founded in 1980, ECF is one of the leading names in the KBB industry, and has been supplying professional tradesmen, retailers, developers and contractors from across the UK and Ireland.

Replacement doors

I supply replacement doors from ECF’s Hoxton collection. This standalone doors range is manufactured made from solid ash wood, which is a sustainable wood because it is fast growing. Supply is plentiful in Europe due to the problem of ash dieback disease.

All the raw materials used in the manufacture of the kitchen doors, cabinet frontals and panels are only sourced from certified, sustainably managed forests. Which means that trees are replanted as soon as they are cut down. The manufacturer holds certificates from the (FSC) Forest Stewardship Council and also the (PEFC) Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification to ensure that they are purchasing their raw materials from ethically managed forests.

Doors and drawer fronts can be made to any size, so will always fit your existing units. Hinge positions can be identical to your existing doors, making the news ones easy to quickly swap over. All hinges are BLUM soft-close to add modern function to your kitchen or bedroom.

Versatility that doesn’t compromise on quality, there is a myriad of door styles from timeless shaker to contemporary simplicity. Combined with the distinctive aesthetic of a painted finish, in a varied palette of 29 colours from impactful bolds to soft pastels. Or you can omit the paint and have the natural ash laquered.

It’s amazing how much personality you can bring to a room. Try mixing and matching the colours – this looks fabulous in a kitchen where you have a darker colour for a central island and base units and a lighter one for the wall units.

This is also an opportunity to change from having doors to drawers instead. Remove the old door, and fit drawer runners and new drawer fronts. I love drawers – for me they’re much more convenient than cupboards.

In addition to doors, the Hoxton range includes cornices, pelmets, end panels, pelmets and plinths to fully transform your existing kitchen or bedroom.

New cabinets

If the layout of your kitchen needs improving with additional cabinets, then this can be done too. Perhaps you need some additional units or you’ve always wanted to add an central island.

There’s a choice of 17 cabinet finishes, a far greater choice than you’ll ever see in any of the big chain kitchen retailers. Select from woodgrain effect interiors to classic plain colours.

Every cabinet is made-to-order, just for you.

Cabinets are supplied fully assembled (except for the tall and corner cabinets, due to logistical constraints). Cabinet construction is 18mm (even the backs of the base units) and they come with a 10 year warranty for the cabinet, and a lifetime guarantee for the Blum drawer systems and hinges.

All cabinets are manufactured using EGGER board. EGGER only work with FSC and PEFC accredited forests which means they are managed to the highest environmental, social and economic standards. They also use recycled wood materials from Timberpak Ltd to make all their chipboard-based products, like cabinets and worktops.

EGGER laminate worktops

I encourage clients away from natural stone worktops as they are bad for the environment. Stone is quarried or mined using drills and explosives, in locations all over the world, from Brazil to India to China and even the United States. These methods of extraction cause problems like pollution and lots of noise and dust for the local community. The chunks of rock must then be transported by truck to a facility where it can be processed and fabricated. Quarrying requires a huge amount of energy from machinery and the distances the material is transported is enormous.

By contrast, the high quality laminate worktops I supply are manufactured in Northumberland by EGGER, and ordered in by ECF who stock them at their factory in Leicestershire.

Virtually indistinguishable from solid wood and stone, laminate gives you the style you’re looking for with all the performance you need. Laminate is hard-wearing, scratch-resistant, lightfast, food safe, hygienic, anti-bacterial, and stain & heat resistant.

Whilst a manmade product, laminate is as durable and long-lasting as stone if cared for. Even stone requires regular care and maintenance, so is not without upkeep.

You can choose from 16mm, 25mm and 38mm worktops, in 42 carefully chosen finishes, offering you the next generation in laminate worktops. In fact, they come with a ten-year guarantee and a prestigious FIRA Gold Award, so you can be sure their good looks will last.

Handles

Handles provide the right design element to a door, be it traditional or modern, discreet or impactful.

A wide choice of hundreds of handles and knobs allows me to create a kitchen unique to you, adding that finishing touch. Many finishes are available including polished chrome and brushed nickel, copper and pewter, brass and gold, satin black and glass.

Internal storage solutions

Internal fittings designed to optimise storage, event in the smallest of kitchens.

Efficient use of space and ease of access are vital. Swap out interior shelves for pull out storage systems. No more hunting for items hidden from sight at the back of a cupboard.

These can easily be retro fitted into an existing kitchen, with many sizes and configurations available. All made to suit UK-standard kitchen cabinet dimensions.

Choose from Hinge Systems, Lift Systems and Soft-Close Pull Out Drawer Systems from Blum and internal storage systems from Innostor Plus, ECF’s own brand. Blum and Innovator Plus are both leading companies in kitchen organisation.

Sinks and taps

Finishing touches can make all the difference when it comes to creating your dream kitchen. Sinks come in a vast array of styles including ceramic, granite, or stainless steel, and even a gold finish. Taps range from the classic to the high-tech to bring your kitchen to life.

Design and planning

I will work with you to design your kitchen and supply you with 3D perspective visuals and a floor plan showing the layout. A detailed quotation will list every item, all individually priced.

I do not have a showroom, but I will happily accompany you to ECF’s trade showroom in Leicestershire. Alternatively I have an ECF kitchen installed in my own home in Ventnor – the Holkham from ECF’s Gaddesby range – which you are welcome to come and view.

Colour samples can be loaned to you in any of the available finishes, and I can also obtain sample doors for you.

Delivery & installation

Replacement kitchen doors and drawers are easy enough to change yourself if you’re a keen DIYer. The hinge positions on your new doors can be identical to your current ones, so you simply unscrew your old doors, and attach the new ones. All cabinets come pre-assembled (except tall and corner ones, due to size), so these are easy to install yourself.

Or I can recommend a fitter, and I would oversee the installation.

Manufacturing time is between 3 and 5 weeks from placing the order to delivery on site. Project installation is dependent on the trades’ schedules.

All kitchen, bedroom and bathroom products are delivered via ECF’s own transport team and vehicles. This will be to the mainland, and I will arrange to have everything brought to the Island and delivered to your property.