What should a kitchen cost

[TorringtonDean]

I’ve been getting quotes to replace my kitchen. The existing one is 30plus years old and needs to go. But quotes are so variable - from £10k before lockdown to £43k this week from a local supplier. The £43k quote was no different from a £12k Howdens quote. I feel angry and a bit humiliated by the very high quote. It felt like being ripped off by a conman in a bazaar - for example no choice over tiles, just very expensive ones included in the quote which were not even to my liking. My true budget is around £20k. I want to treat myself and get something nice but not to pay over the odds. I have savings. There is no way on earth I would pay over £40k for a pretty ordinary horseshoe shaped kitchen - no island etc. Who is paying that money? I don’t live in an expensive area, average salaries here are not high, I am baffled. Are interest rates so low people just whack it on the mortgage?

@BeautifulandWilfulandDead

Another vote for DIY kitchens here! Units £6.5k. 3k for Corian worktops and Iroko on the island. 1k for massive Belfast sink and tap. Total cost for fitting, new wood floor, plumbing, electrics, a new dining table and bar stools, just over £20k.

Which diykitchen did you go for?

We paid £8k for a tiny kitchen from B and Q 15 years ago. The Cooke and Lewis range.

The problem seems to be getting a fitter who will just install DIY Kitchens. They all want to supply the units because that’s where they make a huge profit. I am rapidly moving towards keeping the old kitchen another decade. I have the money in the bank but I don’t want to be fleeced.

@TorringtonDean I've never had an issue with kitchen fitters just fitter rather than supply and fit for clients projects.
I would say at the moment they are extremely busy as demand is massive so they can pick and choose jobs.
If you can hold off for 6-12 months and plan everything in advance you may find things have calmed down a bit, prices may settle down too.
There are also supply issues forecast to last probably for the next 6-12mths across construction (inc fittings such as kitchens) so it's not necessarily the best time to be doing projects.

@TentTalk Linwood in Alabaster and Cobham Blue. We love it!

Just realised my post was a bit unclear. The total cost for everything including the kitchen, fitting and all the extra bits was just over £20k.

£20k seems good for everything in the kitchen. I wouldn’t mind that if I got what I wanted. What I don’t like is various companies coming in, telling me to get various products or options I don’t want or like, then quoting silly amounts. For example, saying I shouldn’t get a Belfast sink when it’s one of my must-haves. I will shell out the money when I think it’s the right kitchen at the right price.

DIY kitchens have a planning tool, it's really straightforward to use. The whole experience was great and I highly recommend them.

Has anyone tried a kitchen refacing firm? I’m just wondering if that would be easier.

Our large kitchen plus utility area had a big revamp in 2007. Over the years the vinyl wrap failed on some doors/side panels. We replaced a few. Finally we decided to replace all the doors, panels, kickboards etc in 2019. The carcasses were sound, the granite surfaces were satisfactory (minor damages/chips, nothing we couldn't live with) and the layout couldn't be bettered.

We tried 2 companies to quote just for new doors/panels. IIRC they were franchises (or similar) of national firms (think Everest or Anglia for double glazing for comparison). As time had moved on we had no actual reference point for up to date costs. The quotes were £6K - £8K. I also hadn't dug out the old paperwork to remind me what we paid in 2007. My immediate reaction was that it felt excessive.

I found a local firm (the original firm had ceased trading after the owner retired) and we ended up paying around £4K including fitting. We also reused our handles and that kept costs down too. So I think around £3500 for the actual product. I remember the fitter saying it would be a similar price if we had had new carcasses too. It even jogged my memory that £7000 may have been close to what we paid back in 2007 excluding appliances/worktops/fitting.

I think the moral of that tale is try to stay local, shop around, get recommendations (cross fingers, say your prayers). Bless you my child

What I would recommend OP is to spend some time using the Ikea or DIY kitchens online planner and working out the exact layout you want. You sound like you have a pretty good idea already.

Then save it (screenshot if necessary), send it to various kitchen companies and ask them to quote for that layout, for cabinets and doors only. That way you are comparing like with like, rather than quotes for different layouts or with different handles/tiles/worktop/appliances they have stuck in to the quote.

I agree that you will find it easier and probably cheaper if you can hold off 12 months. Building trade is crazy at the moment, everyone is doing stuff to their house after lockdown, and supplies are really limited too.

Also, if you have a design you are happy with and a components list, DIY kitchens will price it up with their equivalents.

£30k including all appliances and everything integrated like fridge, freezer, 2 ovens down draft induction hob and huge island 2.5 x 1.2.m and worktops and quooker cube which has fizzy water, cold water and boiling
This was Schmidt, we looked at Howdens too which was around £20k but quality was no where near as good in my opinion. Im a very keen cook so kitchen really important to me. Could have chopped £5k off that by not having the quooker and Bora hob and 2 ovens