In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
[quote=Nielo;115150]Is there an IKEA in Malta?[/quote]
No there is not, why are you asking?
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Perhaps you think Italy and Malta are similar as far as house restorations are concerned? Or perhaps you haven't found a Malta Forum where you can get assistance? But Iancremona you may be better off looking at the Grand Designs website? (It's an English TV programme full of good ideas)
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Nielo, have you noticed that your dog is EXACTLY like mine? [url=http://hi5.com/friend/photos/displayPhotoUser.do?photoId=232971794&ownerId=2105109&albumId=8264255]hi5 - Ian's Photos[/url]
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
[quote=Noble;115152]Perhaps you think Italy and Malta are similar as far as house restorations are concerned? Or perhaps you haven't found a Malta Forum where you can get assistance? But Iancremona you may be better off looking at the Grand Designs website? (It's an English TV programme full of good ideas)[/quote]
Thanks for your help - I will
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
I am sorry, I was misdirected by this post : [url]http://www.italymag.co.uk/forums/building-renovation/11840-maintenance-interior-exposed-stone-walls.html[/url]
I did not mean to go out of context, I thought someone might give tips on building renovation since Maltese architecture has a lot to do with Italian architecture
all the best
Ian
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
That looks like a lovely house - complimenti!
I wouldn't be afraid of white in the kitchen - if you want it to be blindingly white just use some halogen lighting, or, perhaps if you don't want the room to scream 'kitchen' at you when you walk in the front door maybe do the kitchen in a cream colour, and keep the lighting level low except when you are working in it. I can't see any virtue in using grey at all.
It might be nice to keep the kitchen as far as possible off the walls - maybe a u-shaped freestanding centred kitchen if you have the space, without high level cupboards.
As for the dusty walls, in Italy you buy stuff called pulvistop - it is a very dilute version of pva adhesive. It doesn't change the colour or finish of the stone, but I'm not sure how wise it would be if the walls are at all damp.
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
[quote=IanCremona;115146].....I would like a minimalistic design and love white! the problem is that the lighting is yellow.......[/quote]
Ian, why is the lighting yellow? Does the kitchen not have it's own light source? If not, then I guess that your decision to have a white kitchen is compromised from the start :)
If the kitchen does have its own light source, then I guess it's a little more containable & Charles' suggestion of halogens is as good as I can come up with.
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
[quote=IanCremona;115153]Nielo, have you noticed that your dog is EXACTLY like mine? [url=http://hi5.com/friend/photos/displayPhotoUser.do?photoId=232971794&ownerId=2105109&albumId=8264255]hi5 - Ian's Photos[/url][/quote]
Well similar; what breed is yours?
As for the kitchen I asked about IKEA to establish the fact early on so that you did not get a whole load of posts advising you to try IKEA.
My suggestion would be to have some cupboards custom built in a light wood and then either paint or stain them with duck egg blue. This colour will look good in all lighting conditions and in yellow light will give you a range of subtle shades of green.
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Hi Ian, I think that the stone has a golden colour and also the tiles seem to be beige. I would keep away from grey, unless you want to go for stainless steel throughout and make it look like a very minimalist commercial kitchen. Otherwise, I would go for wood and you could have the cupboards stained in a very light colour or, to create some contrast, go for a dark walnut stain which would also look very good with the golden colouring and the beams. It is all a matter of personal taste.
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Ian,
You might try a Google Image search on trulli or trulli kitchens. Your interior shares similar aspects of trulli buildings, i.e. pale stone, curving walls. I would also stay away from gray and second Gala's ideas of light colored or pastel cupboards or a dark stain for contrast.
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Hi Ian
I am afraid your tal fenech will be barking up the wrong tree. Stone in Sicily is very hard and doesnt have the problem like in Malta. Get the stabiliser solution and paint it on . I did the facia of my maltese town house and it lasts 5 years. Recomend ultra modern kitchen for your house - nice cherry colour looks well with honey stone
Caz
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
You may want to get a few of these magazines. They may give you some ideas
[url=http://www.dibaio.com/sommari/99IA-CUCINAINMURATURA-24-som.htm]L'arredamento in cucina - La cucina in muratura N°24 - Sommario - Di Baio Editore - www.dibaio.com[/url]
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Great site!!!
I am about to make a cucina anglo in my little Modica home.... not much room.
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Welcome Ian.....
Sprat
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
There is a firm in Malta who takea truck to IKEA in Germany, buy at German prices and take it all back to malta at a cost of 10% on top of the list price - if you want an IKEA kitchen it might be worth checking them out - but I cant remember their name.
Wood in Malta is a fraction of the price of the same stuff in Sicily. You could have hand made wooden units made for the kitchen very cheaply - but a light wood would only add to the 'yellowness' Have you thought about a kitchen in muratura using a modern style of tile, and mixing 'classic' and modern.
Is there an IKEA in Malta?