Second hand kitchen

[Thingsthatgo]

Hopefully we shall be moving within the next few weeks, and we have been offered a beautiful and very expensive secondhand kitchen, for free. We will be on a tight budget for a while, so it would be fantastic if we can make it work, but I can’t get my head around how it would work. I imagine we need need new worktop to make it fit in the new space. Maybe I need to find out if they still make the same kitchen, in case we need to buy some bits?
Has anyone used a second hand kitchen before? Any help or advise would be gratefully received!

You will almost certainly need a new worktop, but it's an excellent way to save money if it is in good condition (and some older kitchens are amazing quality, I am refitting one now rather than buying a new one, again with new worktops, handles etc. to update).

Break down the kitchen (in plan form, not literally!) into it's parts with accurate measurements and then start playing with how you could fit it into your space.

It's certainly worth a try seeing if it is still in production, but it probably won't be so don't be disheartened.

Is it solid wood? Or a wood you will/could paint? That makes everything a great deal easier as a good joiner could always make matching pieces even in a cheaper material.

Take advantage of free planning tools online so you can upload your kitchen measurements and play around with the existing cupboards.

@sosotired1 can I please ask where you bought your second hand kitchen? If it was online, how do you ensure it is good quality?

We had an ex- display kitchen

I re-configured it all quite easily but made sure the work tops were my starting point. Units are generally standard sized and as long as you don't have absolute fixed ideas then it can work well.

We did that before moving last time. Re jigged the cabinets and put on a new worktop. Was quite sad to leave it.

The cabinets will all come apart to individual units and can be refitted in a different order. You might have difficulty with trims and ends but actually using new ones might update the look. Is it a fairly generic kitchen you can get matching parts for - white, grey, oak? If they know the original shop and range that will help.
You can also get some cabinets cut down or converted to pull outs.You can get creative with new units, use glass doors, open shelves or other features if you can’t exactly match.

Thank you. I think i shall give it a go! Would you suggest using stickers or something so I know what should go together when I am rebuilding, or will be it obvious because the cupboards are one size and the door units another size?

It is worth having but it eont be perfect. We bought an ex displ
y kitchen once. It never really worked so I wouldn't recommend it but if you're getting it free then it's worth it.