Is it worth spending lots of money on a kitchen?

[amysaidno]

We're still a bit of time away from putting in a new kitchen (we need some structural work done first) but looking at kitchen designs and ideas and it would be very very easy to spend an absolute fortune on a new kitchen and I keep wondering whether it is worth it. I'm a bit more comfortable spending a bit on appliances but does it matter how much you spend on cabinets/doors etc? Is it just that they last longer? Presumably if you buy standard cabinets, you could always replace the doors to "refresh" the kitchen if it is looking worn in the future? I'd love to hear your views.

I cannot agree with "not getting inbuilt appliances". Unless you have got an AGA (or similar high quality large freestanding posh hob) or an American style fridge, built-in appliances look much better - freestanding dishwashers look cheap when standing next to nice units (and leave space for nooks and crannies for dirt to go in).

I agree - and if I was moving house I doubt I'd want to take dusty/greasy appliances anyway - well I can't now because they're built in.

Good advice about planning the relative positions of dishwasher/cupboards. A drawer next to the dw is useful as well, for chucking the cutlery straight in.

And I included one worktop-length cupboard to keep the processor and scales in as I hate too much on the worktops.

Bear in mind that if your cupboards aren't bespoke you're likely to have a dust-attracting gap above them.

Another reason to get a local carpenter imho.

Another vote for Howdens here, had our kitchen fitted from there last year and it is fab, solid wood worktop and White gloss units. Would recommend pan drawers over cupboards, we have 3 pan drawers either side of our cooker and you can fit so much more in and aren't constantly pulling stuff out to get the pan at the back of the cupboard any more.

I wouldn't spend a lot on a Magnet Kitchen their prices are a total rip off to aid their permanent sales and con people into believing they are getting a good deal - the quality isn't great either especially when you use their fitters.

This is my favourite subject at the moment as work is due to be started on mine very soon! I having the wall knocked down between the kitchen/dining room first.

I did quite a lot of research, Howdens came out really expensive I thought, 8.5K plus VAT including a few appliances. I really liked Wickes kitchens but got a deal on a designer kitchen so went for that in the end, cream gloss (will I regret that choice with the kids??)

Purple Kate, I am intrigued as to what flooring you went for as you said its easy to keep clean, that was the hardest choice for me but again due to knowing someone in the trade I have gone for tiles. What sink did you go for???

I also decided to spend more on worktops and have gone for quartz and instead of tiles I am going for glass splashbacks.

The thing I am really struggling with now is to find a reasonably priced dining table and chairs set that is modern looking and a sideboard that will fit in with the look.

I still have to buy the American FF, integrated dishwasher and I am just about to order a Rangemaster induction cooker.

Just want to get it started now! I need to do other rooms in the house but I figured the kitchen is the one I will spend the most on.

Haven't read all of thread, but my advice would be that kitchen trends come and go, so don't spend loads. Even "classic" styles date, if you think about what was "classic" in the 90's in a period property, its different to what is now, and looks dated.

Dovetail joints, ergonomic design and state of the art runners etc are all very nice, but unless you have money to burn, are unnecessary.

My SIL spent a fortune on her artisan handmade kitchen. Its unlikely she will ever update it. She doesn't care if something is dreadfully out of fashion, though. I am far shallower, sadly.

We had our kitchen ( well the whole house ) done last year, and spent around £5k. The kitchen is very contemporary, mainly Ikea carcasses, some Ikea doors, some elm doors made by local joiner ( we had the wood from the house ), worktop by local stonemason, appliances by Sainsbo's. I didn't want to spend a lot of money, as I want to be able to update it in 10-15 years time, without thinking about all the thousands I spent on it. So if its your forever house, remember this!

We got our kitchen from Homebase was pretty good value - we had a big extension done so didn't have much budget left for the kitchen. I agree with the others who've advised to source things separately. I bought my American ff and oven from the www.clearance-comet.co.uk its an auction style website and I got them a good bit cheaper than the store. I also got a great tap from www.plumbtrends.co.uk which looks really expensive but was very cheap. So it was ideal for me!

I was told that 5% of the purchase price is the absolute maximum you should ever spend on a kitchen and I have never spent that much, maybe 2.5%.
But when I do get the forever house I will be getting a www.martinmoore.com/page/78/Kitchens.htm

Check out the electrics before you even start: electricians cost a fortune and any reputable company will need to make sure you are up to current regs before anything new is done otherwise you could get a nasty shock at the end

I would avoid Rational kitchens . I have a white one and some of the door fronts have gone yellow . They obviously gave a problem with the manufacture of the white doors . If you do go for them choose the darker colours . The company wont replace the discoloured doors which is poor bearing in mind the cost of their kitchens

We just spent £10k on a new kitchen, about 5% of our home's value. It felt like the right amount and we're really pleased with it.

I put a white gloss handleless Homebase kitchen in my house 3 years ago. Cost me £3k. It looks as good as new. The caveat is that I don't have kids so less potential bashing has occurred. I went for decent appliances too. I suspect my next one will be an ex showroom German one.

Bit late, now, joe ;)