Tuesday 23 March 2021

Researching and Ideas

 


I had a genius idea yesterday ... if I do say so myself 😀

I knew in my head what I wanted so I trawled Google Images and then Pinterest, until I found this image and then saved it.


Looking at this still from the estate agents virtual tour of my new annexe, you can see on the righthand side there was originally a radiator cover under the cupboard when we viewed the annexe, now it is gone but I knew I wanted it re-instating.  

As I mentioned in my YouTube tour of the flat on yesterday's post my idea is to add a drop down table of some sort in the kitchen.  I really like to be able to sit down and eat my breakfast at the table, I'm never as fussed by other meals as I tend to eat lunch at my desk while I read through coursework or having a break and skimming through Facebook, and I prefer to eat my tea on the sofa answering Bradley's questions on The Chase, but it's nice to have a leisurely breakfast with lots of coffee and a chapter or two of my latest book ... and you really need a table for that.

Top photo again so you don't have to scroll up.

Now imagine this with the cupboards at either side of the radiator cover a little bit wider and therefore the shelves too.  The cupboards used for a couple of my larger pots and dishes and the shelves full of cookbooks and in the middle  instead of a television ... a drop down table leaf.  When it's closed to give the kitchen/hallway more space it has one of my favourite pictures on view and when it's open is the perfect little table for two people to sit at or me to spread out my reading material and mugs and bowls.

It could of course also have some narrow shelves behind that could hold salt, pepper and anything else that I wanted to keep ready for table use to save me jumping up and down, that would be neatly hidden from sight when the table was folded up.

I'm finding things like this and making a sort of mood board to show the kitchen fitters when we meet with them on Friday morning and have a chat about re-doing both kitchens.  If they can manufacture something like this to tie in with my new kitchen units it would be brilliant.

What do you think?


Sue xx




33 comments:

  1. Genius. Estate agents pics are so misleading, if you look back at the photos of my daughters house it looks like it should be in the pages of an Ikea catalogue, with every trick in the book to make it look bigger than it is. Luckily she has vision and has made it work, and feel bigger than it is, like you.

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  2. That's a great idea. Multi purpose is good in my world. It could even be paint matched to the new kitchen.

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    1. Yes that would be the plan, with the large flat area, the pelmet, the table being in natural wood.

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  3. Gorgeous is what I think!

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  4. That sounds like a plan to me. X

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  5. Brilliant and pretty too.

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  6. Yes genius, Sue - would make excellent use of the limited space.

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  7. The internet is never lacking in ideas. I'm glad you got some inspiration from YouTube. Forge ahead! ~Andrea xoxo

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  8. Squeeeee! . . . you're blogging again and I did not realise 😁, much to catch up with.

    Great idea for your narrow kitchen - two questions for you to throw into the design mix. How wil you support the table top once it folds down? So as not to disrupt the lovely look you can achieve with this unit, would it be possible to incorporate pull-out bars like you used to see on old bureau?

    Question 2 - what will you do for chairs? In my first flat which was no bigger than your new home I had two Ikea chairs which folded flat and hung on hooks behind the front door.

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    1. Either a pull out runner system the same as I have in my bureau or perhaps swing out arms.

      I will either be using my Nana's chairs or antique wooden stools, both of which would be left out on either side of the unit when the table is folded up.

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  9. Love it! But do measure carefully, so there is adequate room to get past the flap when it is down

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    1. Yes, I thought of that 😄. Imagine having the table fully laid out and then someone knocks on the front door 🤣🤣

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  10. Hello Sue! I'm way behind, I'm sorry. I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed your tour of the new place and am sending best wishes to Alan for a speedy recovery.
    That's a brilliant idea for attractive storage! xxx

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  11. I your idea! The fold down table is perfect and adding all that extra storage will be very helpful in a kitchen I'm sure!

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  12. Many years ago when I needed a slim cupboard with shelves and doors for a nook in a kitchen, I ordered an upper cabinet. One that would normally go on top of lower cabinets (because they are not as wide) and added a kick-plate to the bottom. Just needed a small piece for the countertop to match the rest of the counters. Was cheaper than a custom build. You might find a combination of upper cabinets to work for your design. Best of luck.

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  13. What a beautiful looking set up for your drop down table idea, it will look stunning. When you remove the little black board cupboard it could go inside the entrance where you have the mop leaning, as it looks to have shoe storage sections under the little cork board.
    If you decide to have upper cupboards, consider having glass doors, as uppers make a space feel really small. When I took mine out (didn't need extra storage) it felt like that wall had moved out about 2 feet 😊. You could take them out first and see what you think , after living in the van you will know what storage you really need.
    Have fun researching what you like,such an exciting process.

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    1. The space where the mop is is where my Welsh Bread and Cheese cupboard will be going. This will be my larder and add a lovely wooden warmth to the space. Opposite it will be my antique coat hooks and wooden bench beneath.

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  14. What a great ides.

    God bless.

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  15. Maybe make the table top slide out from under the tv shelf and add more shelves where tv is.
    That way you could make the table top the size you want. I don't know about the nearest wall to the camera there , but a fold down table top could work there.
    Chairs could be hung on the side of the cabinet. Folding chairs.

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    1. It would be a tiny table if it slid out, the unit will only a have a depth of about 12" at the most, if it drops down I can have at least double that.

      There are no other walls in the kitchen, it's just a corridor between the front door and living room.

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    2. I looked at your video and what I saw in the still shot was the refrigerator, not a wall. :)

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  16. Very clever! We live in a camper (caravan for you) when we are at the retirement property because we haven't built the house yet. There is a art to living comfortably in small spaces. I believe that you are going to excel at it.

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    1. I should be fine, I lived in the caravan for two years and loved it, although I hated the wasted space of the spare room there.

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  17. I think this is a great idea Sue and I am sure the kitchen fitters would agree. You are very talented at making the absolute most out of small spaces and you have some great ideas.

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  18. Good plan! Others have said most things that might help. I'd just add that now my chair for use at the table I'm using now has to have a well cushioned seat!

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    1. Oh yes a cushion is a necessity on my Nana's chairs ... both for comfort and to raise me high enough to reach my bureau table!!

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  19. Best of luck with all this. Phew! Just reading about it all is wearing me out!

    Sounds like it'll be great when it's all fixed up, though.

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