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Original poster

Kitchen refurb - matching utility or cheaper version ok

27 replies

TheBelmont · 12/02/2023 11:41

Kitchen designer has suggested a cheaper range in a similar-ish style and colour for the utility versus the higher end main kitchen. It definitely doesn’t look as nice but saves about 3-4K.

I know it’s individual preference but anyone gone cheaper version for utility and regretted it? Does it bug you every time you open the door?

my preference would be to have them match (with the exception of laminate in utility v quartz in kitchen) but that’s quite a cost saving so not to be sniffed at…

any thoughts?

OP posts:
Orangeis · 12/02/2023 11:44

I went for cheaper. As I the only one who seems to use the washing machine it doesn't really bother me, I seemed berserk to have solid wood units etc. I did continue the floor through though.

justmindinmybiz · 12/02/2023 11:47

I went for in frame for kitchen and a similar non in frame version for utility which was cheaper. However, I decided to stick with the same Quartz countertops as the kitchen and that's really elevated my utility. I also have a large farmhouse ceramic sink and it looks lovely. You can go cheaper but still make it look good. Everyone always compliments my utility.

Rosemarypots · 12/02/2023 12:53

I went for cheaper units in the utility. As a previous poster said, it's only me that really goes in there. However, I still went for quartz worktop (the company doing the quartz in the kitchen supplied and fitted a cheap white off cut for the utility). And I bought nice unit handles that were the same brand / price point as the kitchen ones. I'm happy with the approach we took.

Ariela · 12/02/2023 13:40

My friend re-used the old unit carcases from her old kitchen, added doors from the new range, and had the same flooring, handles and worktop in her utility. Saved thousands.

SnarkyBag · 12/02/2023 13:43

Will be going for cheaper in the utility to be honest I’ve found kitchen units don’t lend themselves to practical utility storage so will looking at building in something more bespoke with cheaper materials. We adapted IKEA pax units in our old house and they worked well so may do the same again in new house.

BruceAndNosh · 12/02/2023 14:22

I originally was going to redo utility at same time as kitchen but end the end the utility got sacrificed on the budget altar.
Old utility had only storage around the sink so we moved 4 upper cabinets from old kitchen into utility and I'm happy with it.

If I were you I'd save the £3k or spend it on the kitchen.
I spent the "utility money" on a Frame TV and never regretted it.

Original poster
TheBelmont · 12/02/2023 15:05

@justmindinmybiz @Rosemarypots I’m intrigued about quartz in utility! My assumption was I’d just be using the worktop there for folding clothes out of the washing machine / drier so laminate would do just as well. Is there any other practical purpose/ benefit of quartz v laminate in utility or is it more that it looks better?

OP posts:
good96 · 12/02/2023 17:20

It all depends how you want the finish to be - for me - I had the same units in the kitchen and utility when I had my kitchen refitted 10 years ago - only because I wanted it matching. There’s no right or wrong way to go about it - just down to personal preference.

Rosemarypots · 12/02/2023 17:31

@TheBelmont we only got the quartz in the utility because the worktop company gave us such a good deal. It was £400 for about 2.5 metres to be supplied and fitted, with sink and tap cut outs. We spent so much with them on the worktops for the kitchen that they were happy to help us with the utility. Always worth asking!

LegodOut · 12/02/2023 17:37

Like a previous poster we have in-frame for the kitchen, and standard shaker doors for the utility. Both in exactly the same painted colour. We also have a different worktop - full stave oak in kitchen and strip oak in the utility. Oh, and different handles - pewter in the kitchen and leather pulls in the utility. We made a conscious decision to have a more modest (utilitarian?!) look for the utility. So they co-ordinate, but are different.

Crazymadchickenlady · 12/02/2023 17:40

I went for the cheaper units in the utility and pantry with laminate worktops (silestone in the kitchen). I went for the same flooring throughout and I think it looks great and saved loads. I also went for the Samsung frame tv which also looks great!

unicornsandchocolate · 12/02/2023 17:43

We have cheaper units in the utility. I went for a different colour too so they contrast. We kept the quartz in the utility too as we had enough left over from the kitchen. There is a join in a central place, but I don't mind that.

Wagt · 12/02/2023 17:43

I went for cheaper and very happy I did. But I deliberately created a very different style in the utility. Main kitchen is mostly colourful cottagey wooden vibe. Utility is white walls white worktops everything white lol.

Visitors won’t go in there so all that matters is if you like it or not.

TheLastDreamOfTheOak · 12/02/2023 17:49

We went for cheaper. It looks fine and as it's only used for washing clothes we couldn't see the point in spending loads.

unicornsandchocolate · 12/02/2023 17:50

I'm sure not everyone will feel the same as me, but I would notice a laminate vs quartz worktop difference more than cupboard difference.

averythinline · 13/02/2023 10:39

went cheaper units in utility but same worktop/floor/handles..
but my worktop ended up being laminate anyway as ean out of budget for quartz.... could replace it now but happy with the laminate practicality!

CasperGutman · 13/02/2023 11:18

We went for different (cheaper) units in the utility, plus cheap laminate worktops rather than the Dekton in the kitchen. We also went for tiles in there whereas the kitchen/diner has bamboo.

There seemed no particular advantage in getting the same stuff - the utility is a separate room behind a door a few metres from the kitchen, and not positioned where you would see it even when the door is open. The utility is also quite small and corridor-like - not somewhere to spend time admiring the decor. The finishes in there are in keeping with this: solid, functional, durable and attractive enough to walk past, but no unnecessary expense incurred.

RachelSq · 13/02/2023 11:23

When we built our utility out of our previous kitchen (worktops, units, doors, sink) it didn’t bother me at all them not matching.

When we moved and redid both kitchen an utility I got a cheaper version of the kitchen in the utility and hated it, I wished I’d just paid more for the consistency even though what we’d chosen was adequate and much cheaper.

In current house I’ve just paid and got the same as in the kitchen (although it’s a small utility with limited doors and a small work surface). It’s so much better and makes me a little bit less miserable when I’m doing laundry!

NotMyFIrstTIme · 13/02/2023 12:27

We've just had our new kitchen fitted including Dekton worktops and the only reason we also have a Dekton worktop in the utility area (which you can't see into from the kitchen and is just wide enough for washing machine & dryer side by side) is because there was enough left over from the slabs they needed to use for the kitchen. Otherwise, I'd have happily settled for a white laminate.

boredbored15 · 13/02/2023 12:30

We used old carcasses and happened to have a door spare through b & q overordering. We did have worktop left but was ever so slightly too short so ended up buying an off it. It's only got our washing machine and microwave in so doesn't really matter

BarrelOfOtters · 13/02/2023 13:52

Ours was an afterthought, so used old cupboards from old kitchen and cheapy laminate on the grounds that the layout isn't quite right, and at some point we are going to re do it. Which I'd like to do as the downstairs loo is off it so people other than us do see it....

Want to put a window in and box in the boiler properly and put in proper cupboards that will work in the space....

minipie · 13/02/2023 14:53

As per PP I have much cheaper units in the utility (totally different rather than a cheaper lookalike) but expensive worktop and tap. Makes a big difference. Would definitely do it that way round than have matching cabinets but a cheaper worktop.

Whatevergetsyouthroughthenight · 13/02/2023 15:04

It depends on where your utility is in relation to your kitchen and whether the door gets left open all the time and can be seen from the kitchen or not. My utility is not straight off my kitchen and has a completely different design feel and colour scheme to the kitchen.

Squirrelonwheels · 13/02/2023 16:58

We went for same units but laminate instead of quartz and I wish we’d just gone for quartz (easy to say with hindsight and now the savings aren’t quite as depleted but it definitely looks and feels a lot poorer quality. On the plus side I love the quartz in the kitchen!

Mamette · 13/02/2023 17:03

We have different units in the utility but then our utility opens off a back hallway and not off the kitchen.

If it was connected to/ visible from the kitchen I would like them to be the same including the worktops.

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