New Kitchen Or Just New Doors?

pimento

I'm buying a fairly new house (six years old) and the vendors obviously opted for the vanilla kitchen when they bought it. Beige, no integrated appliances, no soft closing doors, basic grey plinth, boring wooden style worktops.. not my taste at all.

We'll be doing something to change it but I'm wondering whether changing just the doors and worktops is cost effective of whether it wouldn't cost too much more just to change the lot.

Has anybody here just changed the doors? How expensive was it? Did it look OK when it was finished?

This kitchen is a bog standard l shaped, Barratt homes type.

MarcTJTD

Unless money is a massive issue I'd say go for a full kitchen; buying decent doors separately isn't that much cheaper than buying full units and with the latter you know you're not going to have any problems with compatibility / sizes.

If you're looking for minimal expenditure, you can make a kitchen look decent by just replacing worktops and doors as long as you get a good colour match (or contrasting colour) to the existing panels/trims. If you have to replace all the panelling and trims, then you're probably best off just looking at a full kitchen replacement.

MovingForwards

You didn't buy the house for the kitchen and it clearly didn't put you off as you own the house.

Couple of options:

1. Get fablon and cover the doors.

2. Paint the doors using appropriate paint.

3. Replace the doors and handles.

4. Save up and buy a new kitchen in a few years after settling in.

Remember, you don't live in the kitchen merely cook, make a brew and do the washing.

ratrace

MovingForwards wrote: »

Remember, you don't live in the kitchen merely cook, make a brew and do the washing.

Completely agree, but you have to hand it to kitchen companys they have done a great job in convincing people to spend thousands of pounds for wooded boxes because "the kitchen is the hub of the house" dont get me wrong im against having something in life, but when i see friends and family getting into debt for things they dont really need i find that sad really

pimento

Thanks all.

We will have the money for a new kitchen but if I can save enough for a long haul flight somewhere by moneysaving I will. There'll be no debt involved.

I'm at the stage now where this is likely to be my last house so I'm having what I want (within reason).

pimento

MarcTJTD wrote: »

Unless money is a massive issue I'd say go for a full kitchen; buying decent doors separately isn't that much cheaper than buying full units and with the latter you know you're not going to have any problems with compatibility / sizes.

If you're looking for minimal expenditure, you can make a kitchen look decent by just replacing worktops and doors as long as you get a good colour match (or contrasting colour) to the existing panels/trims. If you have to replace all the panelling and trims, then you're probably best off just looking at a full kitchen replacement.

This sounds like the plan. I'm thinking to have an inexpensive kitchen and a more expensive worktop - perhaps the quartz worktop I didn't have last time.
We'll have to buy all the appliances anyway as there currently are none except a gas hob and a single oven.

We're having a second viewing on Monday to see about the possibility of moving the washing machine into the under stairs cupboard (see my earlier thread) so I'll have a closer look at the panels and trims.

Food for thought, thank you

noah1234

If you are happy with the layout of the kitchen, like the locations of the cabinets, appliances etc, and the cabinets in good condition, I would say just change the doors and worktops, will cost considerably lower and will be less hassle and mess.

I was in that position before and as soon as I started breaking the old dirty looking cabinets I regretted it because I realised that they were absolutely fine and super strong, just needed a good clean. I also think they were bespoke cabinets.

ratrace

noah1234 wrote: »

If you are happy with the layout of the kitchen, like the locations of the cabinets, appliances etc, and the cabinets in good condition, I would say just change the doors and worktops, will cost considerably lower and will be less hassle and mess.


I was in that position before and as soon as I started breaking the old dirty looking cabinets I regretted it because I realised that they were absolutely fine and super strong, just needed a good clean. I also think they were bespoke cabinets.

Agree, my kitchen is 15 years old and is looking tired but a lick of paint and some new handles really has a massive impact

a family member have just sold his old complete kitchen on fleebay for £250 and replaced it with a £9,000 one because it was not on trend, it still had lots of life left. But the new kitchen has added 9k debt which was not needed

like the old saying goes "if you gunna play you got to pay"