Kitchen on a budget..

Lee77uk

Hi, we have recently purchased our first house. The kitchen is old but functional. We’d either like to update it, by putting in a new worktop (solid wood) paint the cupboards, replace the door handles, partially tile the walls and put down some new flooring.

Or alternatively fit a new kitchen with all new white goods.

It’s a rather small square kitchen, 9’10 x 8’11.

Our budget for a new kitchen would be around £4000, including labour but not the white goods.

So I guess my question is, what makes most sense?.

We live on the south coast, near Eastbourne.

peter12345678910

I am in the same situation, Tring to save money. My cupboard was glossy and everyone said I should replace it. Thought I would try to clean it and it looks like new now. Though I am no builder but I took down all the white small old tiles. Though the window sill tiles were very difficult to remove, just needed a bigger hammar. It is a small kitchen with space built in the walls for storage. This small storage needed a repaint and other work.

You can save money by working on what you can work on.

MissMollyJ

I have brought two eBay kitchens in the past and fitted myself. Kitchens that I generally purchased for around 10% of the value. Do your research and measurements and ensure you buy what you need would be my advice.

phill99

I run a company fitting kitchens and bathrooms. Fitting expensive solid wood worktops on an old kitchen is being penny wise and pound foolish. If the carcasses are old, they will soon start to fail and you will end up having to start again.


My advice would be to save some more money and do the whole thing properly when funds allow.

FreeBear

Solid wood worktop - Have you lived with one before ?
It will need constant attention and regular maintenance, and you'll find it all too easy to stain & mark.

Your kitchen is quite a bit smaller than mine, but I managed to replace for around £2000 including oven & hob.

Lee77uk

Where did you get your kitchen please? Did you fit it yourself? Thanks

FreeBear

Lee77uk wrote: »

Where did you get your kitchen please? Did you fit it yourself?

A variety of sources, and yes, I fitted it myself.

cranford

You have a choice, either get somebody round to do a design for you and give you a price or see if you can plan and price up the kitchen that you want. I have fitted my own kitchens over the last 30 or so years but the gas, electricity points and basically the plumbing has remained unchanged. Thats were a lot of cash would go if you or your kitchen fitter need to get in tradesmen. I have also done the tiling and flooring but again if you need to get in trades thats more expense.

I last used https://www.diy-kitchens.com who supply kitchen units already assembled and you can price up from their web site.
see https://planner.diy-kitchens.com/ for a planner to help you. Dont forget as well as the cabinets and work tops you may need plinths, pelmets, cornices and probably some fillers and corner posts.
I think if you can come up with a price for supply only you can double it for somebody to come and fit it.

eamon

You could probably save many hundreds of £'s by just changing the doors & drawer fronts and changing the worktops. I also agree with FreeBear re the solid wood, nice to look at but a pain to look after.
But before you do anything give your base units a through inspection especially under the sink and check for signs of rot. That will inform your decision, tart up or eventual replacement.

vansboy

Ikea units are designed for diy fitting.


Download their 3D kitchen planner and have a go at designing it a few ways and see how it looks.


The system prices it for you too (but not the fitting costs although the store will price that if you cant do it yourself or cant find a fitter)


VB

sooty&sweep

Hi
Save up a bit more & buy a new kitchen.
Jen