The Pinnacle@Duxton, Singapore

[Nizmo]

hihi,

My kitchen cabinet has been done up with solid top installed.
However, i find the cabinet wooden texture ugly/ unmodern.
do any of the fellow residents know
how to change the color of the kitchen cabinet?

can i use the wall paper from home-fix to paste up?..
thanks..

[2100]

Nope, DIY is not an option unless you are an expert.
You need to change the doors, do a google and some explains that you can do laminated glass and mount it. But costs are just as high.

Actually IMO, only real/natural veneers (the nice type) are nice if you are a "woodie". The laminates copying wood grains I have come across IMO not really that nice. It is not an easy job in the first place anyway, there is no chance of capturing the 3D depth of a natural veneer.
A bit of wood laminate is ok, the issue is when IDs/contractors anyhow use and spec a whole big portion, it quickly becomes unnatural for the discerning consumers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bird%27s_eye_figure
Patek Philippe local displays always use such a pattern

I guess it also depends, some people cannot differentiate between a real violin's sound and a synthesized violin sound.

It is absolutely not easy to do up a house with wood and make sure it is practical, looks natural and beautiful.

Maybe can ask carpenter to re-laminate the doors.

[Nizmo]

[leo_wen_sg]

[Nizmo]

thanks icic..

yea we were told to select.. but there was no 3d design available so it's hard for us to visualise how it will look like....

[Fia]

eh? I thought the 3D designs are a must for all ID firms? Even though my ID didn't have the computer version, they at least did some hand drawings to help to visualize the look.

Do push for the 3D drawing, as a customer, you need to know what you signed up for.

[Nizmo]

yes i did push for them...
told him i wanted to see the design....
both for the wall feature and the wardrobe....

Before i know it.... they have been installed.
wardrobe turn out to be ok... just that there is a configuration flaws.. which he agree to rectify..

But the kitchen and wall feature.. to me it's an eye sore....

His workmanship is good!..
just that the designs are not modern... and no 3D or preview before fabrications...

[Fia]

wah... dangerous. I would recommend u to visit your unit everyday after work to rectify issues/problems as and when u see it.

my hubby did that, sometimes even twice a day to monitor the progress. it helps to keep everything on track.

[Nizmo]

[saggydog]

[Shawnie]

changing the laminates can be done but it will prob cost u alot cost they need to take out the laminate & cut new piece into shape & glue it up quite alot of work. one piece of laminates of my tv console cracked during transportation & the carpentry guy took around 3 hrs to fix up the piece quite time consuming cos they need to cut to the exact size.

for ur case u need to pay for the worksmanship & the extra laminate cost.

[Nizmo]

thanks everyone for your advice..
here is my old looking cabinet



if possible i am thinking ways to make is look modern a bit...

[bootyfunny]

u may wish to consider to add some greenary with tropical theme

[leo_wen_sg]

i think the best way to savage this is by changing the top cabinet with gloss white or modern laminates and leave the bottom alone...the effect will be better i think... . Just my 2 cents.

Btw nice hob..what brand is that?

[hakuwe]

Just change the top cabinet door to white glass with alu trimming. This will make it a more tropical modern feel. or print some graphic design in sticker form and stick over the doors. You can get it from PRINTEDGE. a bit ex though.

[Nizmo]

bootyfunny, leo_wen_sg and hakuwe
thanks a lot for your ideas..=)


To leo_wen_sg, it's techno

[SafetyCar]

Hey... Actually that Looks New. The colour makes it not so Up to Date right ? But I guess it should be pretty new ... Wasted.

[Nizmo]

[dXter]

Nothing modern utensils and accessories cannot fixed. I'll put a retro kettle there or something.
_________________
http://www.liquidgeneration.com/quiz/images//Card_Fett.jpg
http://www.msu.edu/~whitero2/capn/sw20.jpg

[2100]

Hey bro, it looks ok what. If you are getting a good price for it then its ok. Say, $70 pfr for the cabs minus the solid surface.

Usually for IDs using laminates the prices go $110 pfr and up. And you see that little corner with the wires/gas pipe covered? My ID actually charged "double", ie left to right charge all the way to the corner. The right hand side of the cab from front to back also charge all the way to the corner. So the same goes for the granite used.

But at least after ironing out all the issues, I must say I am pretty ok with the quality (I wonder if acrylic has different types, shdn't be, but luckily my cabs still not scratched yet even with so many times of wiping, was told this type not easy to scratch unless you use a scouring Scotchbrite pad or you hit a knife with it...we used a key also not scratched at all) . I checked out another ID and they never charged the corner, but $$$ is stupidly crazy nearly 8k for 24ft run and mind you they use laminates, but using everything Blum but then solid surface nia. (mine's 34 ft acrylic-panel surfaced cabs + black galaxy 16 ft using normal type soft close for all doors, 6.5k nia).

So also depends lah....

Seriously I Don't know if other laminates can help, you need to go for solid colour laminates already (modern contemporary, clean lines), i guess your cabs/drawer and doors orientation for horizontal and vertical ones also make a difference. You may well change them to other laminates with pattern and still not like it. I seen somebody use the usual circular rings type which I used for my study, biang it is totally OUT for the kitchen when mixed with solid surface. Same goes for the flowery neoclassical type of flower motifs. (those types would be ok for say bomb shelter, wardrobe)

[SDK]

Hi Nizmo, your cabinet looks fine and can see the workmanship are not bad too.

I wish to suggest the following for your consideration:
1) Add white flossed glass or stainless steel back splash to the cabinet wall, either one will change the overall outlook.
2) Check with your ID of adding sticker or decals to the cabinet to enhance it (Not sure whether possible, anyone please advise?)
3) Add in panelling to the cabinet's surface with a different lamintae colours. This can change the outlook which look flat. ( I came across one reno blog in here, I think it is called Fia' home, she used panelling method for its living room cabinet).

Hope my suggestion helps, anyone please contribute to assist.

Cheers!

[Nizmo]

[Fia]

Hey, instead of changing, see some examples of nice light colored wood kitchens:











Hope it inspires you.

[artfuldaze]

Hmm Im not professional ID..but IMHO the wood colour is ok..its just that its too uniformed (top and bottom) which makes ur kitchen looks bulky. I think got to still spend some money (but should be less than $1K) to improve the look. Adding some stainless steel accents and/or glass will help to make the look more contemporary/modern. My opinions are:

1. Keep the bottom part as it is. It looks contemporary with the white counter top and wooden bottom cabs.

2. Break up the uniformed or heavy look of the top with eg change the 2 doors at the top cab above the cooker hob to glass doors (either black or white.) I think the Glass doors will help break the heavy look but still pretty subtle.

3. or...u can put glass backing (black will be nice to complement that wood colour that u have)..that will give some modernism to the look. this might be the costliest (I spent abt $700 to do it for my kitchen)

4. or...buy some nice stainless steel door/drawer handles to give some modern accents to the cabs...again breakin the 'heavy block' look of the cabs.

Hope my suggestions help to give some idea. Most impt i think its worth it to spend a lil more to rectify (without the need to completely change everything..more costly) and ur happy coz its a HOME afterall..u need to be happy to come home to it.

Cheers!
ArtD
Some examples of how handles/glass doors can help break the monotony of wood.


Here is another example how adding black/white glass doors (don't hve to do the whole top..just 2 will be good i think) to help accentuate the modern look..again the use of stainless steel handles to bring out the contemporary feel.





Good luck!

[SafetyCar]

Very Sayang. Looks Nice.
Then again if it doesn't blend into your overall house theme plus you feel lousy looking at it everyday... Change!
Undertstand from my COntractor that it can be done.
Good Luck to you .

[quote="Nizmo"]