How long would you live with a kitchen like this?

As a council tenant I am allowed a minimum of 1 meter of work space, which is exactly what I have. I have a combi microwave on over half so no oven, the rest has a coffee machine and toaster. I use my ceramic hob as my counter top. Been like that for 12 years

Took us approx 12 months living like that. At one point there was no floor, just beams to balance on. Didn't have an air fryer either, just a microwave and one of those tiny mini-ovens from B&M. It was horrific. But my husband worked full time and didn't it when he could. It was just a hard-work sort of year.

i would connect up outside hose to a tap and sink as an outdoor wash and prep area for the next few months

2 weeks. Set up a makeshift kitchen in the lounge. Pretty much as you describe. Minus the heating issue as rads were fitted prior to old kitchen coming out. Prepped a lot of freezer meals. Dc was 1 & did it over the summer so ate outside a lot. Not really a problem. Washing up in the bathroom/garden not ideal but only temporary. Took another year to lay the floor but otherwise all up & running within a fortnight. Did not fit it ourselves. I hope you don't have to do it for long as it isn't fun.

I lived like this for nearly a year before due to renovation. Ended up really doing damage to my stomach. All food was practically processed next to no fibre had 3 kids so they were feed fresh fruit and veg but couldn’t be bothered to do it for myself/ no energy.
Still suffering now occasionally, try getting fresh fruit and fibre to avoid destroying your stomach. No, it’s perfectly fine to want it all completed because your mental health will thank you.

We did our kitchen a few years ago.
We knocked through into the dining room so it was a big job but the whole thing took a few weeks.
We lived without an oven or any cabinets for about 3-4 weeks. Cooking wise we managed with air fryer, george grill and microwave, it was manageable but I wouldn't want to do it for a longer period.
The storage was the bigger issue as we had everything stacked on ikea units in the living room at one point!

People do renovations with babies, but probably also have a lot of help from family/live in a caravan whilst work is carried out/ split up before the house is finished

Ive done this a lot.Its really hard but worth it in long run.
2 years

people on tv? yea its an hour show but renovation takes 2 years they obviously dont show the crap they go through

tell him youre paying someone to help and thats that

How big is the kitchen? We did ours before Christmas, took down a wall, took the old kitchen out, laid a new floor and put a new one in. We worked every evening and weekends to get it finished, I certainly couldn't live with a never ending project.

I'd be fine long-term with that. Wouldn't need the air-fryer either. But I hate cooking and can live very simply.

My ex put a kitchen in his house. He was a self employed joiner so great he was capable. Just wish he had got someone to do the plumbing. He kept getting the wrong part. So took a few days off work until it was done. Did my head in.

It doesn’t matter that people on TV cope with living in a tip. You are struggling to cope with it and he is being selfish expecting you to suck it up. Your DH doesn’t care enough about you or his child to finish the kitchen quickly. Why on earth isn’t he spending as much time as possible with the baby instead of doing DIY? He is missing out on seeing his child grow up and leaving you as the default parent. It’s completely unacceptable.

In your situation, I would be telling DH that you look for immediate help from professional tradesmen or you will be moving out with the baby.

We did it for about three months whilst our extension/kitchen was being done. Didn't have a sink either, had to wash up in the bath. Two kids but aged 10ish, so it must be harder with a baby OP.

I did think we'd have more takeaways but it's surprising what you can make with a couple of hob rings and a microwave. We didn't have an air fryer at the time, had a slow cooker though.

Yeah but 10 friggin months woman !!

get some perspective

you have the money, you want the kitchen, you want to spend time together - invest now in getting that done

his ego will have to survive, and perhaps he will have to, you know, participate in family life?

You are a saint.

I'd have unilaterally hired builders and bought a kitchen in month 7 of the pregnancy.

You cannot go through winter with no heating and a baby.

I'm amazed you dont have pnd or similar given you have no breaks or support and are living in a building site.
This is going to ruin your mat leave.

We had heating and kitchen done on my first mat leave it was 3 weeks stsrt to finish but we found bad surprises and did flooring.

Take action. Now. today.

It’s really time to call in help. When it gets to the point dh can’t spend any time with child or as family. You will all regret it, when your exhausted from baby 7 days a week with no help, and kitchen is finished but child is now 2 years and doesn’t realise dh is their dad as he’s barely helped.

sorry bit confused whhat has dh been doing tis whole time

@Pinkstuffs

i can't answer that really as I've been living with my sub standard kitchen for years now.

But my situation is different to yours.

in your situation I'd be telling your DH that this weekend he makes your kitchen more functional (work tops at least) or you'll be calling tradespeople next eeek. Tell him they don't have to be pretty, just functional.

then have a discussion about the priority of DIY, What's he doing that's more important than the kitchen?

Discuss if he can't get on with other areas, but you get trades in to do the kitchen? Etc etc

most important is that you talk about it xx

Realise it’s challenging. But if I could afford to buy a family home, I’d happily live in a makeshift kitchen for years, just to escape the mercy of landlords.

Could you not get a cooker and camping table on Gumtree?

It wouldn’t be pleasant, but I think with organisation and a routine of appropriate recipes, I could probably handle it for 6-8 months.

A bit different, but we have lived in a three bedroom terrace with only the below for 1 year:

-a small garden table + two garden chairs (dining room)
-a bed (bedroom)
-a desk and office chair (office)

There is a built in wardrobe in the bedroom and a built in cupboard in the dining room. Plus kitchen and bathroom. I’m also 6 months pregnant. The reason was we got married, then pregnant and have been very busy. My husband and I had an argument where he said we should get someone in to paint. I said I could do it. I finally realised he was right.

So my response is: I do think get someone in asap to finish, asap. It’s effecting your life a lot and you need time to rest, relax and enjoy with your baby and husband. Make sure you find someone good and use checkatrader. I hope it’s finished soon!! xx

Why on earth has it taken your DH 10 months and the kitchen is still not finished? You need to call in a professional as DH is obviously not up to the job.

I went 4 weeks with no kitchen and 2 small children. It was hell. There is no way I would put up with 10 months. Can you move to your parents/other family to get a break from this shit?

And as for your DH not spending any time with you or his baby, that really is a whole other problem.

My kitchen doesn’t have any heating…

can you not use a folding table for a workspace?

what’s the plan - 10 months is a loooong time if you don’t have a rough end date.