To think my 40+ year old kitchen is adequate?

[FarrowAndBallsUp]

My 35 year old kitchen is very elderly compared to friends' ones. I worry a bit about what people think when they see it when the norm seems to be (correct me if I'm wrong) to have a new kitchen every 10-15 years.

The doors all hang very slightly squint.
It was originally fitted but as some units have failed over the years they've been replaced, so there are three different patterns of fronts.

The linoleum is ancient, doesn't quite fit (from having been lifted periodically through the years when underfloor pipes have burst), and has some stains that don't scrub out.
The sockets have been added to over the years so are different styles, heights.
The wallpaper was replaced in the 80's and has an attractive teapot pattern.
It's a positive spider metropolis.
Some units were removed to make space for white goods and some of the panels are just plain unpainted chipboard.

But it's serviceable, and the appliances are all fairly new.

The rest of the house is reasonably modern, tidy, clean and reasonably aesthetically pleasing.

AIBU to let it limp along?

You could spruce yours up a bit without redoing it all. New floor, fix or replace doors, sand and paint the walls.

To be completely honest with you I bet underneath all the charming imperfections it is rank. I bet that floor is (not envy) being totally upfront with you. Unless you're skint I would think about replacing it- hygiene is an issue there as well as it just well looking a bit crap.

The stained flooring, visible chipboard and thirty odd year old wallpaper sound bloody awful to be honest, and God knows I'm no hi-gloss, all new designer kitchen aficionado.

It's not nonsense. Most people I know replace there's every 5-10 years on average. And I'm not rich but I am "young" and our age group is more of a throwaway society than a mend and make do society!

I don’t think kitchens (or bathrooms) need to replaced every decade or so of they’re holding up nicely, but yours sounds like it crossed that line quite a while ago. You said some units are plain chipboard, so it’s not like we’re talking about quality craftsmanship here. A 35 year old kitchen that was beautifully built with expensive materials is one thing, but imo chipboard and linoleum really do need to be replaced pretty regularly.

If you can afford it, I’d update it.

We recently had our 15 year old kitchen replaced. There was nothing actually wrong with it except it no longer fit our purposes because while it looked nice there was hardly any storage and wasn't making the most of the space we had. We managed to sell it on to someone else who will get some life out of it. Our new kitchen is wood with shaker style doors so it wont date but it is painted a dark colour which might (except I love it and dont really care if it does) but which we can repaint should we get bored. It is my dream kitchen which included everything I wanted and wont be replace until its falling apart which should be a very very long time away. It was a huge upheaval for a few months to get wiring, plumbing, painting, kitchen cupboards but its been worth it.

Getting a new kitchen doesn't mean its shoddy quality or going to fall apart if you buy quality instead of cheap chipboard. My dad has his own kitchen manufacturing company and he is only having his own kitchen replaced after 20 years. The previous one was painted a few times to update it but they are remodelling the house so decided to get a new kitchen also. Again they sold their old kitchen which actually has nothing wrong with it and many years of life in it. Its ok to change something thats technically functional for something you like more, it doesn't mean you have to skip what you have now, I bet someone would be grateful to get a bargain of a kitchen if you decide to have a change

I'm at a loss as to why you assume a new kitchen will "fall to bits" after 10+ years!!
If you get a decent reputable company to fit your kitchen or get an ikea one it will certainly not fall apart after ten years and as for fashions changing just get a classic style that doesn't date. Besides why are you concerned about a new kitchen dating when you are already working with a 35 year old one?

lilifer because the 35 year old one hasn't just cost me £20k

Pressed enter too soon. I would bet those who are updating their kitchens every few years are replacing cheap ikea/cash and carry style kitchens which can be gotten for a few thousand pounds and not 10/15k plus kitchens which are handmade from good quality wood which would last longer. Obviously not everyone does but there are a lot of people buying cheap and will continue to buy cheap every few years with the changing "fashion" in kitchens

I worry a bit about what people think

It's never a good idea to live your life according to other people's priorities. Work out your own priorities, and those of the people you love and go from there.

Its really not about the kitchen, its your life, you only get one of those.

Have to laugh at people saying that kitchens don't get changed more than every 10-15 years because theirs is 30 years old, well I'm sorry but it is true and most of the ones that are taken out are still in good condition people just want something different.
I have to laugh even more at the poster who though 10 to 15 grand gets you a good quality wooden one, sorry but that will get you a standard kitchen these days with a few fancy storage devices

Are YOU happy with it? If yes, then as you were.

If no, what would you change? Can you afford to change it?

Our kitchen is falling apart and would give some people nightmares. It embarrasses me. However, it is fairly low on a long list of housing priorities so we put up with it.

When we are eventually in a position to get it redone, it will be a higher end B&Q type jobby. So I suspect it will need replacing again in 10 years. If I spent a years wage, I'd expect it to last much, much longer.

If it bothers you and the carcasses are solid just replace the doors and handles, paint the wallpaper (ceiling first) and replace the floor. It'll freshen it up.

If you're not bothered then don't.

but one where the cupboards and doors fit and aren't falling apart/rotten/attracting spiders, mice and more seems like a no brainer. OP hasn't said anything about doors not fitting, falling apart, rotting or attracting mice.

OP I think I would replace the floor because it makes life a lot easier if you have an easy to sweep floor.But if everything else is reasonably easy to keep clean, I see no need to replace it.

Does the kitchen work for you?

If so, meh. Who cares!

35 year old? It'll be back in fashion then!

(also, kudos for you for saving the planet instead of chucking a perfectly usable kitchen into landfill)

jump8ngjunipersbatman I don't like it, I just don't (yet) hate it sufficiently to spend the 20k (that I'd need to borrow) to replace it with even a basic b&q type kitchen (will need rewired, plastered etc)

I'd probably replace the floor and cupboard fronts, but it's a personal thing. If it works for you and your family, don't give it any mind.

It does sound a bit dire TBH

The average kitchen is replaced much more often than 10 to 15 years

That can't be true??

Op if you like it why change it?

^Have to laugh at people saying that kitchens don't get changed more than every 10-15 years because theirs is 30 years old, well I'm sorry but it is true and most of the ones that are taken out are still in good condition people just want something different.
I have to laugh even more at the poster who though 10 to 15 grand gets you a good quality wooden one, sorry but that will get you a standard kitchen these days with a few fancy storage devices^

I have to laugh at people who think a kitchen should cost 15+ grand and that most people can afford to toss that away every 5 years.

MereDintofPandiculation

You're right it doesn't have mice and it's not rotten (chipboard carcasses c 1980 are remarkably robust!) but there are big gaps behind the drawer units which make them a haven for spiders, and drawers need taken out and cleaned regularly to stop dust accumulating but that's been a design flaw rather than age.

I don’t know anyone that replaces their kitchen every 10-15 years except for my parenrs’ neighbours who are related to someone who run a kitchen company. They do it for the sake of fashion and the discount they get.

I don’t know any young people who replace either. Young people don’t have the money these days for such things as just the cost of housing is so expensive. PWhere are all these kitchen throwers away?

ours has got to be 25 years plus was here when we moved in and dont know when previous owners had it done

its very 80s but loads of worktop cupboards and apart from inbult fridge/freezer not working is all still going

Sounds like you're fine with it as it is and certainly not bothered enough to get into a debt over.

There are some things you could change IF you wanted to eg if it's standard size cupboards then getting new matching doors isn't too expensive. New wallpaper and flooring can be done quite cheaply too. It isn't wasted money if it makes you feel less embarrassed.

BUT! People visit to see you. They don't come to visit your kitchen. As someone above said worrying about what other people think stops you living your life.

One thing though - you say the electrics need sorting, they are safe though?