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?

I can’t imagine the hell that would be maintaining that 80s trend

ermm no it's no different to Maintain then our modern kitchen we had in our last house.

its practical its not broken so why replace it?

My grandma uses her 1950s kitchen and it’s still functional and suits her house.
So does my in-laws unfitted cottage kitchen with the rickety drawers and dark cabinets.
I don’t intend to change my kitchen just because it’s gone out of fashion. So much waste going on... just for the bloody looks.

My nan had her kitchen done last year (from horrible 70s kitchen) including rewiring, plastering (that actually cost more than the rewiring) and tiling for about 4k. I'll try to find a pic to put on so you can get an idea of amount of cupboards etc

Here you go, it's a galley kitchen.

Beauty why are old kitchens and bathrooms unclean? Do people only clean new kitchens and bathrooms?

It might be worth getting the electrics checked just to be sure everything is okay, and if the wrong size/shape lino is a trip hazard I would replace it, but otherwise I would just carry on. As long as it is clean and safe, there’s no problem.

My kitchen had no units at all and was in a horrible state, so i currently have a bodge-up of old Billy bookshelves, old tables, sideboards, a tallboy, and a painted concrete floor (and appliances, obviously). It is really practical and easy to work in. I find visitors either ‘get’ it or they don’t. Don’t worry about what your friends think!

That looks really lovely shadow I'm envious!

Mine is about 12'x22' and I fear the plastering cost!

@Imissgmichael, maybe because beauty read the OP’s post “The linoleum is ancient....and has some stains that don't scrub out.”

What on earth do you think stains that don’t scrub out are, “wrinkles”?

There are companies who replace the doors and worktops if the carcases are OK . I like the tiles- the builders could not get their heads round small plain tiles in 4 colurs in a random pattern- luckily the tiler got it and was excited by the idea!
I am thinking of doing something with mine- but the 20 year old maple shaker doors are still fine and I can't see how the layout can be improved . ( looked at some of the design tools) . I might change if I could fit in an Aga though.....
I am thinking of replacing the worktops, sink and the hob which are knackered and leaving the rest. Might replace the flooring as well.

I’ve repainted an old kitchen and replaced the work surfaces- it looked like a new one (totally fooled the bloke that surveyed the house -when we bought it he said the kitchen was old, he also surveyed it when we sold it and said it was in good condition and modern!).

I know a couple of friends that have had new (and ridiculously expensive) kitchens more than twice in the last decade. But most people I know would live with what they have quite happily and don’t have the money to waste.

you need to update it a bit

paiint the chip board and if you really want to push the boat out, new lino

I had a new kitchen (it was 22 years since we have moved in and it wasn't that new then) when a cupboard door fell off onto my head and wouldn't screw back.

So the answer for me was a new kitchen is needed when the old one is dangerous!

My neighbours had a kitchen that was battered. They opted for new doors, new worktops, took out an old cupboard and had a new tall unit put in. New flooring and it was transformed.

we put a new kitchen in when we moved in. some of it was original 60s but tired, worn and dammaged. (though the 60s stuff was best condition and the 80s monstrosities worse.

the sinkk unit was beginning to rot, there was a larder that needed removing, tiles were falling off the wall in one place, and the layout was really annoying.

new kitchen has been in for about 13 years now. will stay til we move out I suspect. I can see people replacing as it is no longer fashionable, and starting to show it;s age with the odd mark. (hence why some people would probably replace, and new owners would definitely want to replace)

What on earth do you think stains that don’t scrub out are

Things like lily pollen, no amount of scrubbing is lifting it.

mosaic I love it!

Beauty you didn’t direct the post to anyone in particular.

We replaced our kitchen three years ago, it was 22 years old.

Looking at homes in France is an eye opener. Very basic kitchens out of which they produce amazing meals. There is some sort of cultural pressure in the UK to have designer kitchens, but if it is functional & not dangerous, why change? It is, bar none, the most expensive room to up date.
Shabby chic, maybe?

I'm a little bemused by folks telling the op her kitchen was built to last and new ones are crap, when she's stated it's all different illfitting fronts Becayse of failures, plain chip board, stained and lifting linoleum and old vinyl wallpaper.
😮

Op. If you can't afford to replace it and you're clearly not replacing it any time soon, then start doing bits slowly. Replace the Lino, redecorate, start looking at new fronts and new worktops. There is lots of ways to improve a kitchen, but it's one thing to have an old kitchen and another thing entirely to have an old mismatched stained crap one.

@lmissgmichael maybe because beauty read the OP’s post “The linoleum is ancient....and has some stains that don't scrub out.”

What on earth do you think stains that don’t scrub out are, “wrinkles”?

Oh please. If there’s a permanent stain on your unit, work surface or floor that doesn’t scrub out after a lot of elbow grease, bleach, bicarb and Cif, then of course it’s not “unclean” - it’s likely just a permanent mark that’s ingrained into the mdf, wood, linoleum or whatever and will be in no way unhygienic. I find it bizarre that anyone would think otherwise tbh.

Those cabinets are similar to mine ShadowWeaver. I hate all the high gloss or coloured kitchens as they will date and I have no intention of replacing them in 10 years!

We replaced our kitchen 2 years ago for about £5k. DH fitted it himself which saved money. We had a double glazed window replaced at the same time for £450 which was a lot cheaper than I thought it would be. The hardest part was designing the kitchen. B&Q wouldn't do it as their computer couldn't put the cupboards in the right places because of the shape of the kitchen!

I upgraded my 20yr old kitchen two years ago with new worktops (fb selling page £20), new handles and new flooring. Cost less than 200 quid.

It's being replaced in January as we want a wall knocking down. The kitchen (16 units, 7 integrated appliances) will cost 6700, and the removal of the old, knocking down the wall, refitting new and decorating will be 3450, so under 11k for the whole thing.

And I have no intention of doing it again after that.

As long as you’re not selling, it’s fine. If you sell you’ll have to reflect in the price the fact most people will look at it and think they need to rip the kitchen out.

It sounds charming and a little mad!

It's unique I guess UnderMajorDomoMinor