Kitchen: nicer units, smaller kitchen OR cheaper units, bigger kitchen

[LD929]

My wife and I are in a dilemma: should we go with nicer units (Neptune) with a smaller kitchen, or should we go with cheaper units (benchmarx: oxford range) with a bigger kitchen. We are thinking both about our use and potential resale value. Our budget is big, but not huge (£17.5k all in (incl. fitting)). Any thoughts?

[DonkeysDoRideBroomsticks]

Nice dilemma to have! Tbh I don't know but whatever units you go for, I would definitely consider things like the worktop, tiling, lighting, flooring and taps. They're the details people often notice more than units.

A friend of mine had a new kitchen put in, the biggest asset in her eyes? the velux or whatever make it was extra window for which they sought planning permission, for added light in the breakfast area.

[SASASI]

Bigger kitchen. And spend money on taps, work top etc.
Cupboard doors can then be replaced down the line when spare cash is available

[bilbodog]

definately to for the bigger kitchen. There are so many ways you could furnish the kitchen cheaper than fully fitted. I used a company called un-fitted kitchens who do a lot of free-standing furniture but there are lots of cheaper companies out there if you look. M & S and Ikea do some good basic un-fitted units which you could mix and match and I have used some antique pine cupboards in my kitchen as well. Depends on what look you want but a large dresser in either kitchen or dining area works well for storing crockery and cutlery and can be taken with you if you move. In the case of kitchens - size definately matters, the bigger the better!!!

[arna]

Bigger kitchen - you can never have enough storage! I would definitely be looking at prioritising the worktops, sinks, taps and built in appliances. Do not economise on the worktops. Buy laminate over wood if you can't stretch to quartz, granite or corian. Apologies to those who like/own wooden worktops - it just screams out to me that you ran out of money and common sense! Even wooden kitchen carcasses would soak in cooking oils - any serious/practical minded cook would think twice about installing them however 'nice' they looked. Btw, I had a similar budget and used ikea kitchen units.

[arna]

Love my pan drawers - have as many as possible!

[Sidge]

Bigger kitchen every time for me.

Basic units - as long as well fitted - are fine IMO. I'd rather have better sink, taps, appliances, tiling and worktops.

[mandy214]

Bigger kitchen every time. In my (humble) view, the quality of a kitchen carcasses does not vary massively between many of the companies, certainly not as far as the average house purchaser goes. Its the fitting which is crucial and the finishing touches. We've just put a new kitchen in, and if you read any of the kitchen advice on here, or various kitchen blogs from designers / property developers, they all say the same thing.

So I'd choose cheaper carcasses and have more of them.

[itsnothingoriginal]

We went for cheaper units (shaker but older style hence massively reduced at local independent kitchen retailer) and prioritised good quality taps, glass splashbacks and lighting. Really pleased we did it this way and also meant we could get better appliances too!