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 haven't read the whole thread yet but need to jump in and say we got a gorgeous new kitchen for 5k from DIY kitchens. We had to do all the work ourselves but it looks fab and we're delighted. Ikea worktops, new range cooker and sink and taps online.

Re your kitchen if you like it then a good clean and spruce up could be all it needs, with new vinyl flooring. That can be done quite cheaply. If you really do want a new kitchen you can do it yourself and save ££££. And regardless of the price of the units the end result is all in the fitting - a badly fitted expensive kitchen will look much worse than a well fitted cheap kitchen - that could look high end with enough attention to detail.

I have a friend who lives in a huge rambling house and her kitchen hasn't been redone ever. They still have the servants' bells and a Victorian dumbwaiter. They do have running water, although the pump outside also works. I love it.

Well it doesn't sound very nice but if you're nit bothered what does it matter what anyone else thinks?

This

Am I the only person who has absolutely no interest in kitchens? I have no idea why I even looked at this thread.....

Looking at homes in France is an eye opener. Very basic kitchens out of which they produce amazing meals.

Exactly this.

I think you're being too all-or-nothing perfectionist here, OP. It sounds like you don't actually like your kitchen. Realistically you can't afford to replace it completely, and it may be a very long time until you do. Meanwhile you aren't going to bother doing a couple of very cheap and easy things which could make a big difference. You think there is no point doing anything if you can't do it all properly.

Put down some new lino and splash some paint around. It will cheer you up.

It depends if “adequate” is good enough for you. I got my kitchen units, sink & taps for under £2k from Magnet Trade, it came made up and we positioned it and got a joiner in for 1 day to do the worktops and doors. All in with tiling, electrician, plastering and white goods it came in at under £5k and that was 5 years ago and it still looks brand new.

I want to see the teapot wallpaper- please op?

What brands do people consider ‘good solid kitchen’?

I don’t mind paying for the above, but I don’t want to be paying for ‘the name’.

When I had my house valued as part of probate, the agent said bathrooms and kitchens have a 10-year life. He didn't mean you have to keep replacing/updating, and I interpreted it as only make improvements that please you and don't bank on it improving the house value.

Thank you all for the advice, it's been great source of perspective!

I'll replace the wallpaper which will cheer it up I'm sure - I think you're right saracen.

I probably won't just swap cupboard doors/work surface as I'm a bit worried about the work surface actually playing a structural role in holding everything together after 40 years, but I'm tempted to try cupboard paint on the doors.

I'll get the floor priced, there's about 15m2 so I'm guessing about £300 plus fitting, which wouldn't be world-ending.

I opted to keep the older kitchen units in mine, as they were in good condition and I like the wooden doors. I'm not that keen on the shiny kitchen look, especially in my old house. I like the country kitchen vibe, even though it's unfashionable. I would like new surfaces sometime.
If you wanted an inexpensive update, looking on EBay, there are numerous used complete kitchens for sale, which look quite modern and clean.

If it’s adequate for you, it’s adequate 🙂.

..although maybe some new lino.

The average kitchen is replaced much more often than 10 to 15 years , at least twice as often
Only by people with more money than sense plus an enjoyment of living in upheaval every 5 years!

Like bananas I'm interested in the teapot wallpaper Vinyl wallpaper with repeat teapots? Classic!
Tell you what,OP. Should you replace it, consider at least cutting a portion to back onto a piece of board, and hang it as a picture....

Tbh it sounds awful, but if it doesn’t bother you there’s no need to replace it!

I can't imagine wanting to replace a kitchen more often than every 20-30 years. Mine is ten years old and I still absolutely love it. To be honest, I'm hoping it will last 40 years and I'll never need to replace it! This whole constant updating and redoing your house is a relatively recent trend, fuelled by TV makeover shows and the companies who sell kitchens/bathrooms etc. Your house doesn't need to be trendy, it needs to be homely, whatever that means for you.

OP, I think it sounds like a good idea to paint and do the floor. And stop worrying what anyone else thinks about it. They don't have to live with it.

Hmm:

ILs lived in the house that time forgot because of the upheaval and then a fire was condemned and the electrics were condemned and the boiler. Absolutely no need to have let it get like that and be decrepit and not adaptable when the work was essential.

Flat 1: kitchen was £4,500, bathroom £1,500. Got 25% above valuations for other flats. 4.5 years later.

House 1. Kitchen £10k, bathrooms £4k. Sold fast and above market in 1993 (doldrums).

House 2. (Renovated by builders on purchase kitchen was shaker style, big pine table)

House 3. Doer upper investment bought 2013 (built 97) tired and badly planned downstairs. Took back off house, extended by 15 feet across back and turned kitchen/diner, conservatory and patio into kitchen, dining and family area - open plan. Turned it in 2 years for a gross increase of 70% more than we paid.

Living in house 3, on advice of agent renovated house 2. After 20 years of robust family life it was dated and knackered. Again involved removing back of house.

Bought house 4 and over last 3 years have renovated, extended and rebuilt bits. We are not leaving. I am not disclosing what the kitchen cost.

What I will say however is that I have never had a property on the market for more than one week. If I hadn't been selling wouldn't have replaced kitchens which were sound
The following sell houses in this order imo:

Location
Doorstep appeal
Aspect
Spotlessness - windows must shimmer
Kitchen and bathrooms which must gleam whatever their style
Maximise room sizes with smaller than usual furniture if necessary.
Neutral, with colour in cushions/throws/pictures
Mirrors to reflect light
High energy 100w bulbs

PS: Cost of kitchens/bathrooms/fittings must be commensurate with value of house.

We have lived here over 20 years and I know our kitchen was over 10 years old when we moved in (they left the receipts). However we have replaced the sink/taps, flooring, worktops, tiles and paint - so it is mainly the cupboards/drawers that are over 30 years old. I do think it is looking very dated now (particularly the tiles and worktops) but I am still tempted to keep the cupboards/drawers and just replace the rest again.

Doing some mental maths I realise that my kitchen has been in for at least 30 years. I have no plans to change it as it all still works OK, but previous occupants did put in a tiled floor so no lino issues for us. I think floor & walls will make a huge difference to how yours looks and shouldn't cost too much.

I have to remember to use that, OP. Oh, that unsightly, shite-like brownish stain on my floor? That’s pollen of course, you silly darling, you.

Our kitchen is almost 19 years old. Last year we replaced the sink, worktops and tiles and the improvement was massive. There's no way we're replacing it as we're planning to move and estate agents say buyers like to choose their own kitchen, they're highly personal.

Oh no purpleelk I'd be worried if poo was the colour of lily-pollen stained lino, it's a very lurid orange colour!

Old furniture is a culprit too I think, some marks have been where furniture (with metal bits under the feet) used to sit, the rust stains won't come out

My kitchen (and bathroom) are awful, kitchen is badly fitted and 30 something years old. It's cluttered, storage space is low and the layout is generally crap.

No spare cash, so I live with it. It is adequate and not dangerous.