Kitchen cupboards - cheap

[AcornAutumn]

I apologise if this is a dumb question but I've never had any work done in my home really.

I am looking for a couple of extra small cupboards to be put in my kitchen. It's a cheap and cheerful kitchen - tiny flat. It's about 20 years old I think so I have no way of knowing who fitted the kitchen but I reckon it's just a cheap MFI job.

Would it be the task of a joiner, carpenter etc to make and fit a couple of extra cupboards?

they seem to be covered in a white plasticky thing and be wood or MDF under that cover.

At the moment it's just bare wall with a glass shelf, which is no use at all. Two extra cupboards there would be really useful in terms of space. I'm wondering who I should approach for this kind of work.

thank you.

have you thought of looking on ebay quite a few ex displays and people taking out newish kitchens

Thank you, i will do that

I have been looking at Ikea and if I could get an exact fit - small - that would be an option and cheaper to just get someone to fit it. But I would be worried about getting measurements etc right.

what measurements do you need?

standard wall cabinets are usually about 300mm deep and either 700mm or 900mm tall (sometimes about 300mm) and in widths of 300, 400, 450, 500, 600, 800, 900 and 1000mm

A good joiner will help. Ours has gained us so much extra storage space as I asked him to extend the depth of the wall units/top box above our fridge freezer and oven stack. From the front the cupboards look the same but inside they hold so much more.

@PigletJohn

what measurements do you need?

standard wall cabinets are usually about 300mm deep and either 700mm or 900mm tall (sometimes about 300mm) and in widths of 300, 400, 450, 500, 600, 800, 900 and 1000mm

thank you

Depth is about 300mm

Ideally the height would be 400mm, thats the max space

If you can imagine a small top shelf cabinet, - which i have x2 - I am hoping to fit two more underneath them.

I have no idea what price to expect from a joiner.

A photo may help us to give you ideas?

Photo attached

There are two along the wall and I would like to put two in the wall space underneath.

Thanks so much for all the advice

Photo attempt 2

It's not straightforward getting things that match. You may be better served by getting shelving put up across the whole space. White veneer will do.
I have a set of high units like that, ending in a fuller height unit. I want to put shelves across the whole width, DH doesn't.
You can put matching containers on them, or use them for crockery.

Might be easier to replace with two taller cupboards then you're not worrying too much about them matching?

@SwedishEdith

Might be easier to replace with two taller cupboards then you're not worrying too much about them matching?

Ikea do lots

www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/knoxhult-wall-cabinet-with-doors-high-gloss-white-10326809/

@SwedishEdith

Might be easier to replace with two taller cupboards then you're not worrying too much about them matching?

Yes, but they'd still need to match the rest of the kitchen.

What i was hoping was that this white plastic covering would be pretty standard.

But yes, I see your point, I have to pay for labour anyway etc.

I don't want open shelving. It would be for food storage. It's a very small open plan kitchen and lounge and it is to get more stuff hidden away.

SwedishEdith yes, thats a good shout, get taller ones from Ikea and remove the smaller ones.

There's a couple of lights under the current cupboards, I would have to remove those which may be a pain, I don't know.

It looks like a standard gloss finish but whites can be subtly different - annoyingly. Other option would be a contrasting/complementary colour in same finish but depends if it would work in your layout.

@SwedishEdith

It looks like a standard gloss finish but whites can be subtly different - annoyingly. Other option would be a contrasting/complementary colour in same finish but depends if it would work in your layout.

I would have to go to Ikea for the first time in my life and check!

I did wonder if a joiner would have access to trade supplies to get the right match.

your doors appear to be slab, with a high-gloss finish.

If they are a pre-made laminated board, it will be possible to match, because there are only a few factories in Europe. Look at the edges. Is the edging a separate strip, glued on; or is it a paint or vinyl wrap, which would be moulded round the edge? Vinyl wrap can be recognisd because it peels off above hot or steamy things such as toasters, oven, hobs, kettles (frequently encountered in kitchens)

If it is laminate you can get samples from the board manufacturer (probably free) or a unit-maker or retailer (probably not). You can get flat slab doors cut and edged to order in any colour that suits your whim.

If you add 400mm to the height of the current cabs, is the height you need about 700mm?

I agree it will be easier and cheaper to fit standard-sized wall cabinets.

Thank you Piglet

I am pretty sure it is vinyl. Some of it is coming off near the kettle and needs to be glued back on, so to speak.

Now I will have to think how to figure out the spotlight removal...

A few years ago we had the doors on all cabinets replaced. I previously had a shaker style which collected dust, fat and always looked filthy. The plastic was also curling near the oven. The replacement doors had a better plastic coating, and we replaced all the handles. 5yrs on, they still look new, no curling of plastic and very easy to clean. It was also much cheaper to just replace the doors, than the whole cabinet. Everything thought we'd had a new kitchen installed!

If you could find 2, smaller shells, (ebay, freecycle, ex-display) you could always get all the doors changed so it all matches.

here are some examples. some suppliers will sell you a sample, or a small drawer-front.

I am not keen on vinyl-wrap as it is not durable. The hard laminates are similar to the finish used on worltops, and much more durable. many are made of board by Egger, who will send you free samples if you find something on their website. There are companies who will make and edge shelves and doors of these boards, to your order, using precision machinery. Example. The one I use seems to be furloughed (or closed). Once you know the names of the board patterns, you will spot them being used by lots of retailers and installers. You can also get cabinets made to order to your dimensions Example. though the delivery charge is high for small orders.

Being so hard, you need a competent person to drill it for your knobs and handles. A carpenter can do this.

examples of laminates

Egger send them to me free if I go direct.

Thank you Piglet, that's brilliant! You're a gem.