Freestanding kitchen

[Lorrymum]

I am considering replacing my kitchen but shocked at the prices quoted for units, fitting etc. Seems a lot of money for MDF and plastic.
The idea of a free fitting kitchen with wooden dressers and cupboards intrigue me. Just wondered if anyone has gone down this route.

I like the look of freestanding especially in a period building and I did consider it. However the practicalities put me off.

I wouldn’t want anything without plinths for example due to the amount of crap that would collect under the units. Also wouldn’t want gaps between different sections of worksurface, for the same reason, gunk will just collect in between.

Plus I like modern tech like soft close drawers, integrated dishwasher and pull out bin etc, which you tend not to get in traditional wooden units.

Who have you been looking at for kitchens? DIY Kitchens I found good value for the quality, though I haven’t checked their prices recently.

I used to hate plinths, but now that we don't have them, I miss them.

Our fancy wooden kitchen (in a rental) without them is a spider magnet, the cobwebs are unreal, and no broom or hoover attachment known to mankind is designed to go underneath them.

I get what you are saying.
I had forgotten about the practicalities of where to put kettle, toaster, coffee machine without a run of worktops. Most of the kitchens I have looked at online are huge spaces. Mine would just about fit a dresser and a few cupboards. Not really practical.

We have a built in kitchen that we’ve bulked out with freestanding bits - pantry cupboard, butcher’s block. Would that be an option?

I have beautiful butcher's block I bought in the sales. I would love a pantry cupboard but I think it would be a bit of a squeeze. Also not sure how I would house my oven. I don't think I could go back to a bending down to a freestanding oven.

I'd be concerned with the dirt getting underneath and between free standing units. And if you do ever sell, I do think it would be off putting to buyers.

Like @ThoseClementineShoes we added a lovely (second hand, Smallbone of Devizes) butchers block and Victorian larder cupboard - both ebay finds - to our HMKOC kitchen which makes it more characterful.

Years ago when we had a very small, odd-shaped kitchen with large larder leading off it, we bought a custom made oak butler's sink unit, a 6' vintage dresser and an Edwardian marble-topped washstand which we used as a good prep space. It looked very 'interesting' (the only other item in the room was a 60cm freestanding oven as our f/freezer was in the larder and our other white goods were in the adjoining conservatory), but mainly for the reasons already stated above it was woefully impractical. I wouldn't want that setup again.

*food prep