Browse Forums Renovation + Home Improvement 1 May 17, 2015 11:27 pm Hi all, Long time lurker but now I need help! We have bought a 70's house that needs (mainly) cosmetic work but the kitchen is not working with out lifestyle. As you can see by the floorplan the kitchen looks on to an internal wall and is quite dark, even during the day. My first thought is to replace the current skylight with a velux fixed skylight but i'm not sure if this is the best option. We are planning to knock the arch down at the entrance to the kitchen, but other than that are open to ANY suggestions you may have. Thank you! http://i1148.photobucket.com/albums/o57 ... ffyix4.png Re: Help with our 70's kitchen 2May 18, 2015 10:49 am If you don't want to spend a lot of money relocating the kitchen then get the biggest skylight or roof window you can. You'd be amazed at how much light thy can suck into a room. Something like the 876 x 876mm although you'd have to have a good look at your roof framing seeing as you have the main ridge and two hips in close proximity to the centre of the room. Which way is North on your plan ? Stewie Re: Help with our 70's kitchen 3May 18, 2015 11:50 am Hi Stewie, thanks for your reply! North is directly towards the bottom of the plans. Sorry they are of such bad quality, but its the best we have. I'll put a link below to a few internal photos if that helps. Does the main ridge and the two hips complicate things? I'm guessing you mean it might be difficult to cut through certain roof joists as it could weaken the structure? In the photos you will see there is an existing skylight, but it's not exactly centred (probably because of the limitations of the roof frame now that you mention it) But it's one of those horrible diffuse skylights and not a velux type. http://s1148.photobucket.com/user/danopaedia/library/ Thanks for your help Re: Help with our 70's kitchen 4May 18, 2015 12:17 pm Yeah, those diffuse skylights are next to useless in my opinion. If you say North is to the bottom of those plans then that is the ideal orientation to put a skylight. It will let in a lot of light ( and heat during summer) but it will also leak heat during winter. The better Velux one would be the double glazed option. A bit more but well worth it. You wouldn't position it high enough that it would interfere with either the hip or ridge rafters or their flashings but common rafters can be cut and trimmed appropriately without any drama. All you would end up with is a sloping shaft which look pretty sexy if they are done right. A bit like this. http://www.finehomebuilding.com/design/ ... shaft.aspx Painted white and insulated it will throw a lot of light. The Velux and other glass roof windows are a lot better than the acrylic dome skylight which are prone to cracking and damage in hailstorms. Stewie Re: Help with our 70's kitchen 5May 18, 2015 9:40 pm Thanks Stewie, I think you're right, a skylight would make a massive difference and I'm not particularly deterred by the sloping, more light in that room is reason enough. I've called around a few skylight places today and have had quotes ranging from $1000-$2500, so I guess now the fun begins - thanks again Re: Help with our 70's kitchen 6Jun 19, 2015 11:36 am I'm not sure where you're located, but I hear Modern ( http://www.moderngroup.com.au/ ) offer some kind of roof restoration nonsense. Perhaps they can install a skylight for you and restore your roof with some heat resistant paint. Not sure the direction you're wanting to take, but worth a phone call I guess. When people ask what I do, I say "the very best I can." Re: Help with our 70's kitchen 7Jul 04, 2015 7:20 pm Hello, I've had a look at your floor plans, it seems you've got a load bearing wall blocking your kitchen to the living/alfresco area and therefore, the natural light. A skylight is definitely a good option. Adding in a 'mirrored glass kitchen splashback' will reflect natural light from outside into your kitchen area. I live in a unit that's just a few months old and I've got mirrored splashback as its around the corner from natural light and it works perfectly along with some bright halogen light globes. If you don't like the mirror idea you could always install a coloured glass splash back in the kitchen and then get some LED strips along the bottom of the top shelf cabinetry shining onto the coloured splashback which also looks great. Moving the kitchen completely is very costly, I would consider adding skylight, mirrored splashback and some new bright light fittings inside. I hope this helps. Tammy You never have a fridge against wall as you’ve drawn. The doors can’t open past 90 degrees and it’s difficult and maybe impossible to remove drawers 2 15586 of course there are legal avenues. You've already mentioned it. Sue them. I find it odd that lawyers wouldnt be willing to take on the case, given CCT evidence and… 1 23758 |