New kitchen? What would you do?

CuriousGriffin

I don't know if we should bite the bullet and get a new kitchen! We bought the flat 2 years ago and the kitchen was livable unlike all the other rooms so we left it. We will be here for at least another 3 years. We aren't bringing much money in as we are both on PhD stipends but we have a chunk saved as a big holiday in 2020 was cancelled. I have no idea how much it would all cost - we would need to do it all as the floor tiles are chipped and the worktops are scratched. What would you do? Leave it or change it? How much would you budget for it? Any recommendations for budget but good quality kitchen suppliers? If we do it, we would love to go for a navy blue style but maybe a more neutral colour would be better to help the flat sell when we move on?

All advice very much appreciated, and thank you in advance

twopenny

First realise that whatever you choose whoever buys the flat will probably rip it out so choose for you.
Love those windows! A real treasure. 
If it's only 3yrs I'd work on styling. Good quality window dressing, maybe the floor if it's obviously bad, new sink.
Bearing in mind it's money gone of an amount that would pay for a first class trip to the Maldives and the memories of that will be with you always and the kitchen gone in 3yrs.

FreeBear

Do you like the layout - i.e. Location of the cooker/hob in relation to the sink along with the drawer/cupboard space ?

If so, some new door & drawer fronts along with a floor & worktop would freshen up the space.

Personally, I'd loose the wall units between the windows - They will block out sunlight and can be a royal pain to get to if you are short. Will also make the space appear a bit bigger.

Jeepers_Creepers

Hi Louise.

That layout looks pretty optimum for the room, and the units themselves seem to be in good order - are they? If so, I'd avoid the multi-£k cost of replacing it.

Sounds as tho' the worktops could do with replacing since they are scratched, so perhaps focus on just that - along with a new sink in 'granite' resin? If you go for something seamless like Maia - looks exactly like a solid worktop - then it'll transform the kitchen.

First thing, tho', spend a good few nights on Pinterest looking at kitchens and colours, and stop when you go 'gasp'. Your units fronts are completely open to being repainted in any colour you like, or a next-up-the-level/cost improvement would be to replace just the fronts. A careful choice of floor covering (eg LVT tiles) - which I would hope could be adhered straight over your existing tiles (unless they have moved, are loose, or stuff) - would add to that transformation, as well as being nicer to stand on.

A splashback can be added, but is not essential. But usually a contrasting column going up behind the extractor looks good.

Would you be able to do any of this yourself?

And, what would you like your kitchen to look like?

MovingForwards

I would leave it if money was tight and I knew I would be moving in a few years.

Jeepers_Creepers

MF is probably right.

Are the chips in the worktop bad? Look for repair kits.

I think the single most transformative thing to do would be the floor. Give the choice of finish some serious thought.

Rosa_Damascena

MovingForwards said:

I would leave it if money was tight and I knew I would be moving in a few years.

I'd focus on the biggest eyesore and that is the misaligned cabinet under the draining board - a reasonably straightforward fix with a screwdriver and some know-how.

It you want to refresh it give it a thorough clean and painting may be an option although whether you wish to invest the time when you are studying that hard is the question I'd ask - you'd be better off exercising. Personally I would leave it as a kitchen with potential, the money you have saved will easily get eaten up in the costs of moving. A couple of strategically placed mats on the floor - think JML Magic Carpet - will be good enough to conceal the worst of the scuffs.

GDB2222

It looks good in the pictures. Perhaps just a bit of fettling would do?

Realigning the door is a two minute job. Worktop scratches can be filled and polished. Or ignored in our house, I am ashamed to say. Even replacing the worktop is a much smaller job than replacing the whole kitchen.

Replacing the floor tiles is a really messy job, unfortunately. 

Whatever you do won’t be reflected in a price increase when you come to sell in a few years. So, it’s a lot of money to spend, and disruption to put up with, for just a few years use of a new kitchen. 

CuriousGriffin

Thanks all for the advice so far. These pics were taken from the original listing so the wonky cupboard door is actually gone now and the washing machine is open facing. The pics also don't show the things that I'm not sure yet how to fix myself but I'm now leaning towards trying to fix it and freshen it up ourselves. Is fixing up or replacing trim like this easy enough? 

SootySweep1

Hi
Why are you considering changing the kitchen ? Is anything falling to bits ? Or do you hate it ?
The scratched work surfaces & chipped tiles are cosmetic and can probably be dealt with without replacing the entire kitchen.
There is a big trend around painting kitchens, a popular paint is frenchic. If you google it some of the transformations are amazing & for not much cash.
Personally unless there is a significant reason I'd save the cash to rebook that holiday or deposit towards your forever home.
Jen

theoretica

I agree with others - a few hours with some fillers and touch up and an appropriate floor mat would be much cheaper.  How happy would a new kitchen actually make you?