Talk to me abut your kitchens

[BaskervilleBakerStreet]

We are planning our first big kitchen renovation and feel completely overwhelmed by all of the contradictory information being thrown about.

We like the look and feel of solid wood but hear it's soft and prone to warping....so then we look at various laminates and veneers but hear that they can peel and sag (I also have a bit of a thing about laminates and see them, probably very unfairly, as a very "naff" product of the nineties....) but they look stylish and I hear that the inner MDF/chipboard makes them more stable than solid wood.

Basically this is a big investment for us and what I want is a beautiful kitchen that will still look good in 15-20 years' time provided it's well taken care of. Attention to detail, solid engineering and carefully considered interiors (not cheap white carcasses) are very important to me but all I read online are horror stories of doors sagging, laminate peeling, wood chipping and cracking etc...!

Please tell me about your kitchens! Why did you choose them? Roughly how much did you spend? How are they faring after however many years of use? Is there anything about your kitchen that you actually dislike and wouldn't do again?

Feeling a huge amount of pressure to make the right decision.

Place marking

Mine is 22 years old, birch doors, still in mint condition, appliances a little weary, but functioning fine.
Cupboards were from Ikea!
Appliances I bought separately because I wanted better makes than Ikea had on offer.
Has also survived a move as was originally installed in a rented flat (Europe, this is normal).
Just in the process of thinking about a new kitchen, but probably won't do anything about it until something major "dies".
Original fitting was by a contractor recommended by Ikea, who was really good and took much more time than Ikea told us because he liked the kitchen and wanted to do an excellent job (wish I could find tradesmen like that now).

I moved into a house with a solid wood kitchen. It's now 15 years old and still really solid and looks good. My dm's which was done around the same time has had some of the laminated drawers warp slightly, it still looks good though.

We have currently got an old laminate kitchen which is looking super tired and peeling. Not sure how long it’s been in the house as it was here when we bought it. We are planning a renovation and little extension with a new kitchen. Our architect said that most kitchens are just mdf and are all made out of the same stuff (unless you go for high end finishes, marble, bespoke carpentry etc) and to use a builder merchant rather than one of the big kitchen companies. He also said that Ikea kitchens have slightly different dimensions to what we would consider standard, so they can be a pain because you will never be able to buy parts which fit.

Just about to say probably granny style ones that cover my bum and go over my belly but I prefer comfort over fashion these days, and then I realised you'd said kitchens not knickers 🤣

I have looked at so many kitchens, I'm thoroughly fed up of it!

My issue is much the same as yours, I just want to get it right!

I wanted wood, but I also wanted slab doors - painted, not laminated/foil wrapped etc. Just wooden bloody doors. They don't seem to exist.

One of my issues is that I cannot find a local tradesman who is interested in making/fitting bespoke cabinets- they just want to install Howdens/benchmark etc.

I have been to DIY kitchens showroom twice now, I'm not 100% with them, but I think they're probably the best if what I can find. (In a 'normal' price range. This kitchen doesn't warrant a £60k German kitchen with Italian tiles).

DIY cabinets seem much better quality than benchmark, wicks, Howdens,magnet etc

I need to find a fitter though and after having really rough time with the bathroom fitter I'm struggling to trust one. (Don't know anyone local who has had a good one)

People say 'new kitchen - hiw exciting! But it's not it's just a bloody nightmare).

I have a wood kitchen installed 12 years ago, it’s made of tulipwood and oak veneer. We painted some units and stained/varnished others.

It’s all good as new structurally. The stained units need the doors redone as the stained finish is marked around the sink and dishwashers. I could do this myself if I CBA.

However it’s had VERY hard use - young kids now careless teenagers, large family, home most of the time and we cook a lot.

I love the style and the layout and wouldn’t change a thing. It’s very easy to work in.

Oh I forgot to say my cabinet came ready assemble, wrapped in quilts like furniture. The main labour cost was the painter not the joiner.

In my opinion you get what you pay for. So if you want lasting quality you need to go all the way. We didn't do a fully bespoke one but bought from a shop specialised in a French kitchen company who is high end price with the quality to match.

We have bespoke build-in dining room and living room furniture, the carpenter also does kitchen units but we wanted one company doing everything as we needed a total overhaul with electricity, walls, ceiling, underfloor heating and it was easier going with a company who has their own fitters.

Again, it is a small family owned company, not a big chain, and in my opinion that makes a difference.