New Kitchen

[Ihateslugs]

I am in the process of planning a new kitchen and am starting to get anxious about the preparation I will need to do. I live alone and have mobility problems due to arthritis so will struggle to empty cupboards etc.

Its quite a large kitchen and I’m going to end up with a lot of boxes, bags and equipment to store elsewhere. My garage is not joined to the house and tends to be a bit neglected / dirty so I’d need to clean it before using if for some storage - it will also be very difficult for me to carry things out to the garage. So I guess most things will have to stay in the house. The garage will be needed to store the new appliances ready to be installed.

I have a small dining area off my lounge which I’m planning to use as a food prep area when the kitchen is unusable, my fridge will go in there and basic equipment ( microwave, toaster, kettle, couple of plates, bowls etc, cutlery and a few other things) then everything else will have to go in my spare bedroom. I live in a bungalow so the bedroom is downstairs but once stuff has been moved in, it will be pretty much inaccessible due to the amount!

Does anyone have any tips to help me get through this? My questions are

how long will I be without a working kitchen?
what kinds of equipment will I need in my dining area when I don’t have a kitchen?
how do I pack things away when I only have a couple of boxes?

I’m going to buy paper plates as the only place to wash up will be the small bathroom sink, I don’t have a bath and cannot kneel down to use shower hose. I’m also thinking of eating out for lunch then have cold food in the evening to avoid cooking altogether as hopefully it won’t be for too long.

I know I am overthinking things but walking is so painful that I’m really anxious about the physical work I’ll need to do, I’m almost at the point of cancelling the whole project!

Any advice?

We were a week without something useable. It wasn't finished but the sink and oven were the first things they fitted. We were fine with just a toaster/kettle/microwave, but it was during the massive heat wave last year so everyone was fine with sandwiches 🤣. I would have used the slow cooker if it had been colder weather.
We also mostly managed with just putting everything on/around our dining table. We didn't really pack things away, just cleaned them as we were putting them back into the new kitchen, as things you don't use often get a bit dusty anyway.

We are just going into week 4 of not useable and should be finished then. But we have microwave, toaster, sandwich toaster and we could have used BBQ. Being hot has helped as can eat ploughman's and salads and toasted sandwiches plus takeaways. We have fridge upstairs, kettle, plates etc.

Yes whole thing will need clearing. It can be useful to see if anything to chuck out first. We put things in cardboard boxes. And it's gone in dining room and upstairs.

Is it just the kitchen being replaced, no building work, replumbing, electrics etc? Then it should be 2 weeks max to replace it - it took my builders a day to remove the old kitchen, and even though my new kitchen will be large it will take them a week to put it in, then a bit more for the quartz worktops (but only a day or so), and two days for the flooring.
Most stuff from the kitchen went in boxes (ask on your local FB) or in bags for life

I would pay for a local handy man to help. Sort and carry. You might want to chuck things out too. It’s time for a clear out. You should allow around a week. Wash up in bathroom or use disposable plates. Cook in the microwave and use pre prepared meals. Won’t hurt for a few days.

Use paper plates, ready meals and take outs as much as possible for a couple of weeks.

Builders always want a kettle so you’ll find they will keep a socket going! Just cut right down on food prep and storage of fresh food.

Hi Op, we had our new kitchen fitted 2 years ago now but it was part of a much bigger project so I'm not sure my timescales were relevant. If it's just taking out old and fitting the kitchen then probably2 - 3 weeks I would estimate, if you're moving plumbing or having to upgrade electrics as well it could be longer but tips I'd give are:

1. declutter as much as you can before hand - as you've got time you could start with one cupboard at a time. I can't tell you how many old takeaway container tubs I threw away (I replaced them with some cheap Tesco tupperware so now I don't have any temptation to hoard them)
2. Pack whatever is left in boxes, you can buy them from amazon now and have them delivered. Pack a bit at a time as well, aim to only have the essentials one week ahead.
3. As well as disposable plates you can buy disposable cutlery, you can buy bamboo ones if you're concerned about the environment
4. If you're having quartz or some types of worktops you need the full kitchen to be installed before they template for it, this can add extra time but you can ask for temporary worktops to be fitted so you can at least start using your kitchen.
5. If you can afford it outsource as much as you can to others. Cleaning companies will do one off cleans and you can get packing and unpacking services from removal companies.
6. When you get despondent do something on your Pinterest board or browse Instagram to keep in mind the finished result. It may feel endless but you'll get there.

Good luck

We are just washing up upstairs with washing up bowl and washing up liquid but that might be hard for you with arthritis so disposable may be better. Sockets have been on about 99% of time, water similar so those have been fine.

Thanks for all your suggestions, I certainly will start to pack things up as soon as I get a start date - still waiting for one company to get plans to me before I can decide on who to use.

I had a major declutter last year but I’m sure there will still be a few things I can get rid of, I will start doing that straight away.

I had not thought of using Bags for Life, really good idea, got quite a few in the car.

I already have a cleaner fortnightly so I might ask her for an extra visit to help me pack, she is really helpful and aware of my difficulties.

What a good idea to use a removal company to pack up, they could provide the boxes as well. I’ve used them when moving house so I know how quick they are. I think I’ll get a quote in advance. I also have a handyman that I’ve used several times, so he might be free, again I’d not thought of asking him. I was planning to use him for the decorating afterwards anyway.

I know I can cope without a kitchen for a week or so as I actually like eating cold, snacky food and there are plenty of take always near me. I think my main anxiety is around packing and moving boxes into the spare room.

The kitchen company will project manage all the work, m employing the fitters, electricians, plasterers as necessary so I don’t have to worry about that.

I just need to stop worrying and think about how amazing my kitchen is going to look when finished!

Do you have any neighbours with teens? My son is 17 and would happily move boxes, pack and unpack when the kitchen is complete for a token cost. He'd also pop round in between if you wanted stuff moved as the kitchen is being completed.

It's hard to say how long it will take as we don't know your kitchen size, if you're changing any plumbing or electrics etc

Another good suggestion, I do have a 17 yr old nephew who lives fairly close, I’m sure he could do with some extra cash!