I hate my kitchen but it cost a lot of £££

[RightMoveAlong]

Namechanged.

I had a new kitchen fitted around 18 years ago and it cost over £20K in total. New boiler at the same time (in kitchen), built in fridge, granite worktops, solid light-wood kitchen installed by an upmarket company.

I was never happy with the worktops (glittery black) but DP wanted them and I gave in.

It's so dark. The room faces north so I need the lights on all day as the window is small. The black worktops don't help.

It's very dated now because everyone is going for white or pastel painted units.

I don't know what to do , if anything.

We may move at some point and I guess buyers would know it was a quality kitchen even if not their taste and rip it out.

I can't bring myself to re-new it even though the money is there, as it seems such a waste. The property is worth around £650-£700K.

Would it be possible to sell it 2nd hand or get something for parts of it?

It's 18 years - not months.

The utility room which is off it is the same, so same units and granite.

The only built in appliance is the fridge freezer. The dishwasher is a Miele and free standing.

Bigger windows and skylights- not possible. Kitchen is at front of house so nowhere to extend and can't change building.

It's in great condition- nothing wrong with it at all. No chips on granite, no dents, everything works. It was designed and fitted by John Lewis ( company not the one in Hungerford.)
It's solid, light maple.

I begrudge painting it simply because I think it's impossible to paint drawers etc to look professional but maybe I'm wrong there.

We've been here 25 years and although we aren't actively looking to move yet we are keeping an eye out for anything on the market in the area.

I will definitely look into changing the worktops . I've no tiling. The walls have upstands behind the granite worktops and then the walls are painted white.

OP, I'm sorry, I don't understand this dilemma. You've had 18 YEARS use of this kitchen. If you don't like it, change or replace it. It's not like you've changed your mind 18 months later which I can see would be a problem. A person who was born on the day you installed that kitchen is an adult now. This really is not a problem. Your kitchen IS dated because it's 18 years old!

It cost a lot of £££ - 18 years ago! Slightly misleading thread title I think

Just change it. You've had many many years use of it.

Please post a pic?

@LegoCardSwapper

OP, I'm sorry, I don't understand this dilemma. You've had 18 YEARS use of this kitchen. If you don't like it, change or replace it. It's not like you've changed your mind 18 months later which I can see would be a problem. A person who was born on the day you installed that kitchen is an adult now. This really is not a problem. Your kitchen IS dated because it's 18 years old!

The dilemma is that whether you are talking about 2021 or 18 years ago, £20K (without flooring etc) is a lot to spend on a kitchen.

Maybe other posters are more wealthy @LegoCardSwapper

I deplore waste and part of me can't actually come to terms with binning a perfectly good kitchen, which is in excellent condition, which we took out a (now paid for) loan, just because there is a fashion for other styles.

It was a mistake to go for dark granite and if we do swap it, I will have to work very hard on DH to make him agree.

Professional kitchen painters would do an immaculate job on the units and the dark worktops may look better with say off white eggshell finish. Also look at how you can improve lighting, LED strip or bulbs make a big difference.

We have just renewed our kitchen like u it was dated and dark we spent a lot as well but 20 years we had a new one ! I think it’s done us well ! X

If you can afford it have the units painted, change the handles and change the worktop and upstands. It's 18 years old, of course it would date! Why would you put up with it if you don't have to?

Have you looked at specialist painters?
traditionalpainter.com/. I should think it's just the sort of good quality kitchen that would come up well. We have a dark worktop with cashmere colour units, not my choice but they make a good contrast and the room would still be dark without them.

If you are on Facebook, check out the Frenchic paint fan page. Some of the kitchen transformations are amazing.

I deplore waste and part of me can't actually come to terms with binning a perfectly good kitchen, which is in excellent condition, which we took out a (now paid for) loan, just because there is a fashion for other styles

But it’s not just because thete is a fashion for other styles. No one is telling you to replace your kitchen. You don’t like it and want rid. It’s your own personal taste that’s the issue here, coupled with the fact you can’t justify it and your husband will never agree.

You’re posting like you’re being forced. Irrelevant of how much it cost at the time, it’s still a dated kitchen, as you’d expect nearly two decades later. It’s also a dated kitchen you dislike. You don’t need to change it. It’s yout kitchen, you’re the one who needs to live with it.

You might hate waste, but you've also "wasted" 18 years hating a key room in your home. A new kitchen might give you 18 years of joy, but that's up to you.

Hmm tricky. I think if you are considering moving its not worth doing much except maybe change the counter tops if you really can't stand it.

Just replace the doors. Doors are dirt cheap compared to worktops and cabinets, and they’re really quick and easy to swap. Much better than trying to paint them because I agree you never get a good finish.

@LegoCardSwapper

OP, I'm sorry, I don't understand this dilemma. You've had 18 YEARS use of this kitchen. If you don't like it, change or replace it. It's not like you've changed your mind 18 months later which I can see would be a problem. A person who was born on the day you installed that kitchen is an adult now. This really is not a problem. Your kitchen IS dated because it's 18 years old!

Totally agree, if you don’t like it change it or revamp it, you say you hate waste, how many cars and holidays have you had in 18 years? I bet you don’t resent what you paid for them. People always expect to get their ‘money back’ on any thing they do in their home, in my opinion the value is in the pleasure a beautiful kitchen that gives you each day, I can’t imagine sitting in a kitchen I absolutely hate because I deplore waste! That’s a waste in itself, being miserable in your own home, can’t get my head around this attitude particularly after 18 years.

You're the one who hates it, no-one else is telling you to bin it 😂

Of course it is dated...it is nearly 2 decades old! If the carcasses are good, perhaps new doors and worktop?

Otherwise, just a new worktop and a professional paintjob will help.

Well, problem is sort of solved!

I said to DH that I wanted to think the unthinkable about the kitchen to which he said 'replace it?'

I said no, but definitely swap the black worktops for a much lighter granite (whiteish) and he's all up for it having taken on board how much I hate it.

If that works, fine and if not I will look into having it painted.

Thanks for all the ideas!

how many cars and holidays have you had in 18 years?

1 car.

Last one was 15 when I sold it, 8 years ago. Current one is 10.

I am loathe to get rid of working things

@NotMeNoNo

Have you looked at specialist painters? traditionalpainter.com/. I should think it's just the sort of good quality kitchen that would come up well. We have a dark worktop with cashmere colour units, not my choice but they make a good contrast and the room would still be dark without them.

That's gorgeous!

I'm in the process of changing my worktop (18 years old) and painting the bottom units and it makes all the difference. No need to rip out a serviceable kitchen especially if you plan to move sometime.

Replace the doors, drawer fronts and worktops.

And £20k for a kitchen is a lot now, it was a fortune 18 years ago. I bought my first house then, for £85k!

Sometimes the shape and detailing on doors looks dated. I’ve seen these kitchens painted and they still look naff.

I would bite the bullet and say it’s run it’s course. If the units still please you, change the work top but it’s never going to look 2021. Fashions change snd you just don’t see much pale wood now.

Change the worktops only. Maybe not the very best granite/quartz. Wood might be in fashion again by the time you sell the house!

If you are thinking of selling in the next year or two, I'd get a valuation and honest appraisal from a good local estate agent. Ask if professionally repainting and replacing worktops will add value; if a modern kitchen will more than pay for itself vis a vis sale price, etc. If the kitchen is 20 years old potential purchasers will inevitably be looking for replacement to be reflected in the price.

I loved black sparkly granite worktops 20 years ago

Get a professional in to spray paint the units, change the handles if necessary. If shaker style you could consider getting a joiner in to remove the frontings first if it won’t damage the structure of the door fronts.

Continue with plan to change the work tops.

Slap some different paint on the walls.

Job done.

If you hate it there’s nothing wrong with changing it after this much time. You need to stop focusing on the £20k and think about how that works out over the 18 years you’ve had it (£3 a day, by the way) - it’s not that much.