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Original poster

Top tips for surviving putting in a new kitchen?

31 replies

PaleBlueChiffon · 10/03/2019 12:42

DH emptied all of the cupboards yesterday and the fear has hit. We've put 2 DC in the one room temporarily and are using the spare room as storage (plus microwave and kettle). It sounds organised but dear god

Joiner is coming tomorrow to rip out the existing kitchen.

How can I get through the next two weeks?!

OP posts:

WhereDoesThisToiletGo · 10/03/2019 12:43

Can you move the fridge into the spare room?

Pasta with jar /fresh sauce every night.

mogtheexcellent · 10/03/2019 12:44

Have you put the full wine rack in the bedroom?

Original poster

PaleBlueChiffon · 10/03/2019 12:46

Have you put the full wine rack in the bedroom?

Holy crap, no-- Santa is not bringing me a newborn

OP posts:

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Home improvement

Byrytrain · 10/03/2019 12:47

We lived off microrice and vegetables or microwave soup/ready meals for tea and bagged salad/sandwiches for lunch as we both work from home, it wasn't too bad, but the microwave got given away at the end of it as I was so over it!

Orangedaisy · 10/03/2019 12:50

No kitchen here either for 2 weeks. We’re half way. Tips so far:

Eat in at the local chippy. Cheap and easy.
clubcard vouchers for pizza express
Tesco frozen cous cous pouches
Ask a friendly school mum to be on standby to emergency wash any uniform that’s muddy/bolognese covered (if you don’t have a washer/enough uniform to last the week.
Do not underestimate the dust that will be generated. Box/seal/cover everything you possibly can. Every book/plate/happyland toy/hairbrush etc we own has a fine layer of dust.
Expect your builder to patronise you, suck teeth and it cost more and take longer than planned.

ItsNiceItsDifferentItsUnusual · 10/03/2019 12:54

Make sure you've got a bowl for washing up next to the kettle etc. Basically a table with washing yo bowl, kettle, cutlery, plates etc. Having one dedicated space makes you feel so much more in control.

2rachtint · 10/03/2019 12:58

We had to do this for almost 4 months last year, it was not fun but worth it! Microwaveable rice, ready meals (batch cooked in advance so freezer was full), disposable plates, jug of water full for drinks.
We had lots of bbqs and used camping stove but it was sunny most of when we went through it.

Also lots of wine!

rose69 · 10/03/2019 12:59

Yes, don't use Wren Kitchens!

mrsed1987 · 10/03/2019 12:59

I must says its awful. We lived in the lounge for 8 weeks having kitchen and extension done. Lots of microwave meal and crap basically

Orangedaisy · 10/03/2019 13:11

We also have a big flat plastic box with the dish drainer in it-means we can wash up and leave to air dry. Less painful than having to dry up or leave it in the bath! Lots of anti bac wipes to clean up.

Original poster

PaleBlueChiffon · 10/03/2019 14:47

Great ideas, thank you.

Phew- not using Wren, sounds nightmarish!

I'll confess to have been very lazy and bought a tonne of paper plates and plastic cutlery, we're just binning it rather than trying to wash loads. We've the freezer stocked too.

I'm just going to repeat 'it'll all be worth it' over and over...

OP posts:

Original poster

PaleBlueChiffon · 10/03/2019 14:48

Do not underestimate the dust that will be generated. Box/seal/cover everything you possibly can. Every book/plate/happyland toy/hairbrush etc we own has a fine layer of dust.

How did your carpets fare?

OP posts:

Foxyloxy1plus1 · 10/03/2019 15:29

Can you get hold of some of that stuff that developers use to protect carpets? Obviously not today, but maybe tomorrow. Ask a local carpet company.

Seal of rooms that you can during the day. But be prepared for it to be dusty and the dust does keep on coming for a while.

MitziK · 10/03/2019 15:36

Honestly? Move out.

It's horrible, dusty, dirty, noisy, cluttered and any sort of work leaves me twitching visibly.

I can handle the idea of going to stay somewhere and coming back to it all being finished, all snagging done, all neat and clean. But not being there during the process.

Dodie66 · 10/03/2019 15:37

We managed for 6 months. Hubby was doing it part time so it took a while. We got the sink and plumbing done as quick as possible, cooked witha microwave and kettle in the dining room fo a while till the cooker was connected, it wasn’t too bad and now I have a lovely oak kitchen for a fraction of the price

MitziK · 10/03/2019 15:39

Slightly less dramatically, you'll be craving fresh food. A couple of mini induction hobs on a table and a dedicated food prep area will be a lifesaver. It's the working around stuff that shouldn't be in your way that is the hardest, especially if you've only eaten crap for a week, so feel like it, too.

Orangedaisy · 10/03/2019 15:41

Carpets are ok, we have a dirty hoover and a dyson so use them in that order. Can’t use carpet protector as it sticks on when the underfloor heating is on. Have old tablecloths and rugs under cooking station and eating station. Dustsheets have been to laundrette over this weekend so we start fresh on dust tomorrow (DD has asthma). Can’t move out.

mummyhaschangedhername · 10/03/2019 15:43

Oh dear! We just ordered a kitchen and doing it ourselves, knocking wall down into living room/dining room to make it open plan.i kind of thought a week, now realise I've been very naive. Husband is a tradesman but not a builder but we have done this sort of thing before but can't remember the time scale.

Good luck OP. It will be worth it.

birdsdestiny · 10/03/2019 15:44

Dont ever use B & Q either. Over 14 years ago now and I am still cross with them

EssentialHummus · 10/03/2019 15:46

We did it for two months in the third trimester... Ikea sells a little hot plate/electric hob for £25ish. See if any local supermarket has a hot food counter - they’ll have chicken pieces and pizzas, add a few tomatoes and some microwave rice and you’re sorted. Instant porridge for breakfast.

DeadBod · 10/03/2019 15:53

We used carpet protector on the stairs (like giant celloptape) as dust gets walked everywhere.
I cleaned and mopped every single night to try and limit the spread of any dust.
A slow cooker was my friend. I even cooked a Sunday dinner in there - planted a joint of meat on top of loads of chopped veg and let it do it's magic.
I set up a workstation on a small table with microwave, kettle, toaster.
I was lucky that the washing machine stayed connected until the absolute last minute so I was only without it for a day or so.
Good luck.

Original poster

PaleBlueChiffon · 10/03/2019 16:01

OOooh a slow cooker! I've always wanted one.

The only place we could move to would be MIL's, and no although she very kindly is going to do the washing for us, and I think we'll probably end up eating with her too.

OP posts:

BruceAndNosh · 10/03/2019 16:06

I think i could work round not having proper cooking facilities but it's the laundry that I would dread

MitziK · 10/03/2019 16:06

A mini induction hob is better because it's a right bugger waiting for an electric one to heat up and cool down afterwards.

Slow cookers are great, we do roast chicken in one most weeks - but - the crocks are incredibly heavy. You might end up having to lug it into the washing up area.

gubbsywubbsy · 10/03/2019 16:11

Pot noodles ! 😂... last time did it we used the bbq and had salad and pasta.. sometimes chip shop food or microwave meals . We are about to start a big extension in a difference house so will have to do it all again soon 😩

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