Consumer champion, Which?, has surveyed 1,000 home owners to find out what they would do differently after having a new kitchen fitted in their homes.
The kitchen is at the heart of the home and there is unlikely to be a day when you don’t have a reason to use it. In the modern home, it’s not just where we cook and eat, but often also where we socialise. For all these reasons, getting the right layout, units, appliances and furniture is important, so when you plan a new kitchen you should think about how you use it and allow a realistic budget that can deliver what you need.
Whether you’re buying a new house or upgrading or modernising your existing home, you can design your kitchen yourself but, to avoid the many pitfalls, it’s worth asking a kitchen designer to help you. The service is usually free of charge in kitchen showrooms.
So, what did the survey reveal from the home owners’ experience of having a new kitchen fitted?
Hannah’s kitchen cost £15,000 in 2021, plus installation and flooring. She extended the back of her house and linked the original kitchen and dining room to form a large open plan area. It took two months for her modern Shaker kitchen including island cabinets to be completed. She advised:
- Have several designs made – and tweaked – before coming to a final decision.
- Check the quotation carefully to ensure you have budgeted for all items. A detailed quotation, checked carefully, will avoid any unplanned costs and is a fixed price once accepted. Always add a 10% contingency cost to your budget to cover unexpected items.
- Think carefully about whether you really need any add-on items (such as organisers and cabinet pull outs) as these can be expensive and really bump up the cost.
James paid £27,000 for an open plan kitchen in 2023, to replace older units and as part of an extension. It took six months to complete the build, including two months to install the kitchen. He bought the units from a major kitchen retailer but did not use their kitchen fitter to carry out the work. His advice:
- Builders are not always familiar with all the parts and cabinets and may require extra fittings to complete the installation. Any damage to the units during installation may not be covered by a guarantee.
- It can be cheaper to purchase appliances or worktops separately, although it can make it more difficult to liaise with a kitchen fitter and have all elements available at the right time. Tiling, plumbing and electrical work can delay installation, so arrange delivery for when you are actually ready to install them, as any warranty will begin from the date of delivery.
- Remember that you will have to live with your design choices for ten years so don’t be too trendy or radical!
Tony installed his galley kitchen in 2002 himself, using units that cost £2,000 from a builders’ merchant. He is still happy with his kitchen, but advises:
- Appliances will eventually need to be changed. Some appliances, such as washing machines or ovens, are available in standard sizes, but built-in appliances can be difficult to replace and are often more expensive to buy.
- Boilers now come in smaller sizes, so you may find a replacement leaves a gap around units and tiles. Keep some spare tiles, just in case.
An updated kitchen can add value to your home and can be a valuable tool when it comes to selling your house. If done well, a new kitchen could add as much as 10% to the value of your property.