Rescuing a VERY cruddy kitchen on a budget?

Doozergirl

Queen_Geraldine wrote: »

Poppycat - thank you!

Habbakuk - that is a good idea about getting new door/drawer fronts.

Would just replacing the superficial elements be my best bet then, do you think, i.e. new doors and maybe a new worktop? I think I might be being to precious about this kitchen. When we were looking round I opened the cupboard under the sink and it was empty except for a huge knife :eek: I'm now convinced that it was a concealed murder weapon and don't fancy any of the kitchen much!!!

Replacing elements of that is not a good idea. A carcass can cost £50 (especially the IT kitchen cherry modern ones, so what are you really saving?) and that kitchen in there was never an amazing kitchen to start with. You'd be lucky to find the correct size of doors to fit the carcasses, everyone makes them ever so slightly different sizes, the quality of those carcasses won't hold new doors; they'll drop and fall off like the existing and the design is already dreadful. What exactly would you choose to save?

Throwing good money after bad, IMO.

Habbakuk

I used to live in Upper Norwood but it's going back 20 years ago. Is Selhurst Pk Stadium in South Norwood?

Doozergirl

Habbakuk wrote: »

I used to live in Upper Norwood but it's going back 20 years ago. Is Selhurst Pk Stadium in South Norwood?

Yes. Up the hill a bit. Don't leave the house and try to drive on a match day!

Habbakuk

Not too bad an area. Easy to get to Croydon or Bromley and even central London. But of course, things may have deteriorated in 20 years or so.

Queen_Geraldine

It's nice you both know the area South Norwood isn't the best - we are renting in Crystal Palace/Upper Norwood at the mo but there is no way we can afford to buy here as it has gone very Yummy Mummy! We had to make a choice between tiny ex-council flat in nice area, run-down house in run-down but safe area or bigger, slightly better house in really scary area so we went for the middle option. House prices have gone crazy while we have been house-hunting, but I think it is now or never for getting on the property ladder and the mortgage payments will still be less than renting the equivalent. Hey ho!

shop-to-drop

I would give it a really thorough clean. Buy some kitchen paint and cupboard paint and paint everything possible. I'd then get saving to try to replace as soon as possible. Whether bit by bit or a full refurb. Once you know it is clean and temporary I'm sure you will be able to live with it. If you aim for shabby chic style the tattiness will look somewhat charming rather than tacky.

trailingspouse

Well, I've seen worse, and owned some of them.

If it was mine I would deep clean it (neat Fairy Liquid and very hot water shifts a multitude), then save up like billy-o for a new one in the fulness of time.

I think it would be false economy to pull it all out and then put in cheap units/free standing items unless that's actually the look you are going for. You'd only have to do it again later.

Having said that, we did exactly that with one kitchen. It really was beyond help, and we were strapped for cash, so we got a cheap 1000mm cupboard from Ikea to put the sink in, a cheap worktop, and begged/borrowed went to auctions/junk shops for a variety of drawers, cupboards, a dresser and a table. It was an old cottage out in the middle of nowhere, so the look worked. And we still have the dresser and the table, 8 houses later (the dresser is in the laundry room and the cat lives on the table in the boot room). How times have changed!!!

Queen_Geraldine

Doozergirl wrote: »

Can I ask if you've budgeted for other work? Those are very old school radiators and by the rest of the house Im guessing you will need a quick upgrade to the boiler and the electrics. No one ever seems to account for blown plaster but its very likely in that age of house that it will all need replastering.

I think the radiators are ok, and the house has been let to tenants so I assume the boiler has been kept serviced - we haven't got to the stage of seeing the certificates etc yet. I guess we've got about £10,000 to spend overall, and obviously if we need to get the house re-wired or anything like that it will have to take priority. I have no expectations of making the house perfect for several years to come, but hopefully we can manage safe and habitable quite quickly!

Ok, so I'm expecting possible re-wiring, painting (DIY), new carpets / lino throughout. Anything else I need to budget for? Think the roof is ok, thank god!

Doozergirl

Have you had the survey yet? Comprehensive?

You need to have checks run on the gas and electrics as a bare minimum. You don't need to guess at what needs doing. . The radiators aren't efficient - you can have double convectors that will pump out more heat without putting more strain on the boiler.

I had a boyfriend for a few years that owned that type of house down off Woodside Green. A bit bigger than yours, I think it started as a three bed but became two when the bathroom went in. I loved it.

Queen_Geraldine

Shop-to-drop, Trailingspouse - THANK YOU!! You are making me feel like I can sort this out. So I suppose stage one is clean everything up and assess what is solid and what really has to go.

Trailingspouse, I love the sound of your cottage kitchen. I do think something like that could work here as the house is Victorian and quite cottagey.

All your ideas are great, keep it coming!!! Thanks everyone :T