What makes a kitchen look expensive?

[Thegrandoldelf]

I'm just curious as to what particular details people think make a kitchen look expensive? We've just ordered a new matt handleless kitchen and I keep wondering if there's anything I should be making sure is incorporated into the detail to get the most 'bang for our buck' so to speak.

Bear in mind that if you are planning to sell, form over function will devalue. Butler sinks - instant backache. Islands - space wasters. Hard to clean worktops - rip them out. Expensive to replace integrated appliances - run away.

Granite work surfaces, range cooker, American fridge freezer

I agree with most of the points but a stainless steel dishwasher and stainless steel wide fridge feeezer look fab and much better than integrated. But thats only my opinion.

But granite or stone/quartz composite, wood or tiled flooring etc all look great.

Good lighting and unusual/well thought out ceiling lights not just 3 globes above an island type affair.

I think too many people spend a fortune on their kitchen then forget the plugs and radiators, so a radiator that matches the room and non cheap white plugs are things i notice. Plugs could be stainless steel or nickel or white if on a white wall but if white then go for flat ones, they are more stylish.

Hate the trend for flooring laid on the diagonal and i think it cheapens the space as it jars the lines that the eye notices.

Many kitchens can look expensive simply with good fitting, a good declutter and great lighting.

My own personal tip is dont get a black granite floor, looks great and expensive but nightmare to keep clean as shows every speck and is so high shine, never again.

Quartz/granite/corian worktops

I'm anti wooden worktops - they just scream cheap kitchen to me plus it's a definite style over substance choice - I'd actually prefer laminate as the budget option over wooden worktops. If you actually cook, they will suffer a great deal of wear & tear so it makes sense to prioritise your spending on the worktops and your appliances i.e the equipment that you'll use the most. Black watermarks over time is so unsightly!

Seriously, why would you spend thousands on the kitchen units and then try to save money by spending hundreds on the appliances and worktops? Imho, it should be the other way round. A great number of designers and architects choose Ikea units/carcasses as the basis for their own kitchens for this reason.

Boiling water tap.
Domino hobs.
Strong extractor fan

No washing machine. If it absolutely must be in the kitchen then your best bet is to hide it. Putting washer/dryers in kitchens instantly puts your property in a lower bracket that you cant break out of even if the rest of the house is amazing.

Don't have anything 'glossy'. It will never ever look clean again, the expensive sheen in show rooms is an illusion.

Fancy taps and anything that can be passed off as a pantry always impresses people.

The devil is in the detail. Good fitting and finish. Clean lines, good lighting and the minimum out on the worktops for me. And I hate to say it - but spotlessly clean.

Totally agree with Melons kitchens will never look high end if there is a washing machine on display it definitely does put your house in a lower bracket.

I think lighting is very important. I didn’t realise until recently but I have been noticing lights in the last few weeks and they ale a massive difference.

Under mount sinks are v passé I think. Flush mount or over mount (so old it’s classic). Don’t get me started on butler sinks.

A good quality, well lit splashback that covers the entire section between worktop and cabinet is also a must. Only covering the bit above the job is like ironing the cuffs, collar and front of your shirt!

A Shelia maid. Double butlers. Handmade cabinets. Bespoke tiles or at least from somewhere like Welbeck. An Aga.

@MiaowTheCat don't worry, we have no plans to install a salt cupboard

I think that creating a kitchen to 'look expensive' is a bit of a daft aim. Like a Quooker Tap, it doesn't only look expensive, it is bloody expensive! Focus more on making the kitchen work how you want and look how you want. Just because something looks expensive doesn't mean it looks nice. Money and taste don't always go together!

Agree with Melons about appliances being on show.. Makes a high end kitchen look cheap in my opinion. I would like to mention though about "integrated" appliances. I have a truly "integrated" dishwasher, in so much as i open the cupboard the door of the dishwasher comes with it and is stuck to the cupboard. However, my washing machine and tumble dryer (because I had nowhere else to put them) had to go in the kitchen. I bought "integrated" appliances for my new kitchen as instructed by the kitchen company and gave away my perfectly reasonable 3 year old appliances.. I should never have bothered, the integrated machines were simply behind a cupboard door. So, I open the door and obviously because the 2 machines have front drums that you put clothes in they can't be integrated in the same respect as the dishwasher can (am I making sense?). So they are literally free standing but behind a bog standard door. I could have kept my old machines. If this is possible - is this at least a compromise for some, just to place a door in front of machines so it looks like you have a run of cupboards but in fact they hide machines behind them.

We have a corner larder like this - only in white gloss. All clutter from the work surfaces goes in here including the toaster. No kettle as we have a quooker.