Buying a used designer kitchen

[DaphneDeloresMoorhead]

Has anyone used any of the kitchen recycling companies such as Used Kitchen Exchange ? We are looking to purchase a recycled kitchen (not ex display) for our kitchen refurb and I've earmarked a few that would work for us. I'd be interested to hear how it worked for you and whether you were happy and would recommend doing the same.

I'm looking at an Alno with Gaggenau/miele appliances, a quooker tap and more units than we need for £6.5k

I was considering it (we were offered a used Smallbones kitchen for a ridiculously cheap price) but then realised the refitting / painting / finishing of it in our house to make it work for us would end up costing us more than a new bespoke kitchen (admittedly not with Smallbones!) so definitely do doublecheck quotes with local kitchen designers / fitters.

But I do think there is some value in getting used quartz / stone worktops if you have a local fitter. You can usually buy a lot more than you need and then turn the excess into coasters / chopping boards / shelves.

I probably should have also mentioned that DH. Is ace with DIY so we won't be paying for installation other than maybe a couple of days by his best mate who is a carpenter.

@Ozanj if you don't mind my asking where can you buy reclaimed worktops?

Quartz or granite worktops can be very difficult to move without breaking (speaking from bitter experience)

I'd think carefully about it. Will it definitely work for your space? Will you end up spending more patching up bits and painting? It will be a lot more stressful than having a bespoke kitchen fitted for you.
But if it works then great. I would make sure the carcass is in very good shape. Doors/worktops can be changed fairly easily again if needs be, ripping out and replacing the entire carcass on the other hand is more difficult and costly.

This is one of the kitchens we are considering to give you an idea of the quality and condition
www.usedkitchenexchange.co.uk/shop/used-kitchen/approved-used-kitchen-bulthaup-german-gaggenau-miele-appliances-london/

I hope it works for you and environmentally think it’s a great idea. So many people take out perfectly good kitchens because they don’t like the style or colour, or have done an extension etc. It’s so wasteful

We used this site, they don't guarantee the granite will come out in one piece, but ours was fine.
We had to do a few tweaks here and there but I got the exact kitchen I wanted at a fraction of the cost and it's good for the environment.

It's lovely!

[quote londonmummy1966]@Ozanj if you don't mind my asking where can you buy reclaimed worktops?[/quote]
Often from the same places you get new ones. They usually take old stone worktops with them because they can be powdered and mixed with resin to make new ones / cut up to make different products. Our stone worktop provider have a whole yard full of them.

If you’re looking online try English Salvage. It’s a bit hit and miss but the hits are often perfect lol.

OP, there's an account on Instagram called @interiorantidote and she's just had a used Devol kitchen installed from Used Kitchen Exchange - it is absolutely dreamy and she paid £4k for it! She has a rundown in her highlights (just checked and the highlight is called UKE).

I really wanted to do the same thing when we redid our kitchen but I think you need a really good joiner to make it work and we didn't know of one.