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Original poster

New kitchen ideas please

19 replies

AmberExpert · 04/08/2024 21:30

Hi everyone, I've bought a house that needs a new kitchen. I'm planning on living with the old (decrepit) kitchen until I've saved some money, lived in my new house a bit and get a feel for it. It's a small kitchen, u shape and need to accommodate the usual fridge, freezer and washing machine.

I will be on a budget (absolute max 10k), and looking for any hints and tips of what to include, what to avoid.

It'll be the first (and hopefully last) time I do this so want to get it right.

I've absolutely no DIY skills so will be looking to get it all done by a kitchen company.

Thanks for any advice 😀

OP posts:
LindaDawn · 04/08/2024 21:41

That is quite a tight budget. You won’t be able to have a quartz or similar luxury worktop at that price.

Illpickthatup · 04/08/2024 21:45

Look on Facebook marketplace. People rip out nearly new kitchen all the time. Even if it's not the colour you want you can get it wrapped or resprayed. Some even come with appliances, sink, taps etc.

Seaside3 · 04/08/2024 22:42

Ikea. Interest free. Then find a decent local fitter.

Original poster
AmberExpert · 04/08/2024 23:01

Illpickthatup · 04/08/2024 21:45

Look on Facebook marketplace. People rip out nearly new kitchen all the time. Even if it's not the colour you want you can get it wrapped or resprayed. Some even come with appliances, sink, taps etc.

I'd not thought of looking on FB Market place. I've bought quite a lot of my furniture off there so I'll take a look.

OP posts:
minipie · 04/08/2024 23:03

Do you have a floorplan?

Agree with looking at used kitchens - Used Kitchen Hub and The Used Kitchen Company are good places to start. Ikea, DIY Kitchens and Benchmarx would be my pick for new off the shelf cabinets. I would get a builder in and buy the kitchen separately rather than using a kitchen company to install it.

Tips for kitchens generally:

Avoid corners if you can. In a small kitchen for example consider whether you might be better with a galley layout rather than a U shape.

Avoid fiddly door styles as they catch dust and drips more

Avoid wood surfaces as they are high maintenance. Laminate if on a budget. Or you might get lucky with reclaimed granite/quartz (dark granite is out of fashion but bombproof).

Go for drawers rather than base cabinets wherever possible as they give you far more useable space. You can get away with fewer units if you have drawers rather than cabinets.

Stainless steel sinks and taps wear best

Plenty of plug sockets

Plenty of light - get wiring installed for undercabinet lighting if you can

Original poster
AmberExpert · 04/08/2024 23:04

Seaside3 · 04/08/2024 22:42

Ikea. Interest free. Then find a decent local fitter.

I've heard good reports about ikea kitchens, I'll have a look into them.

OP posts:
Original poster
AmberExpert · 04/08/2024 23:06

LindaDawn · 04/08/2024 21:41

That is quite a tight budget. You won’t be able to have a quartz or similar luxury worktop at that price.

I'm not after a high end, high spec kitchen with quartz worktops, I know my budget won't stretch to that. My budget is my budget and I can't afford to spend anymore. I thoight a mid range, nice kitchen would be doable for 10k, well I hope so anyway!

OP posts:
Throughaletterbox · 04/08/2024 23:08

Find a good local fitter - they will be able to custom fit a used Facebook/eBay kitchen. If you spend the time you can get some great kitchens at bargain prices that way.

Original poster
AmberExpert · 04/08/2024 23:11

minipie · 04/08/2024 23:03

Do you have a floorplan?

Agree with looking at used kitchens - Used Kitchen Hub and The Used Kitchen Company are good places to start. Ikea, DIY Kitchens and Benchmarx would be my pick for new off the shelf cabinets. I would get a builder in and buy the kitchen separately rather than using a kitchen company to install it.

Tips for kitchens generally:

Avoid corners if you can. In a small kitchen for example consider whether you might be better with a galley layout rather than a U shape.

Avoid fiddly door styles as they catch dust and drips more

Avoid wood surfaces as they are high maintenance. Laminate if on a budget. Or you might get lucky with reclaimed granite/quartz (dark granite is out of fashion but bombproof).

Go for drawers rather than base cabinets wherever possible as they give you far more useable space. You can get away with fewer units if you have drawers rather than cabinets.

Stainless steel sinks and taps wear best

Plenty of plug sockets

Plenty of light - get wiring installed for undercabinet lighting if you can

Thanks so much, these are the ideas I'm after. A don't think a galley kitchen would work, as its a pretty standard square shaped kitchen diner. I wondered if drawers would be more expensive than base units. I want something functional, hard wearing that looks nice! I'm not into the latest fashion or high spec 😀

OP posts:
Original poster
AmberExpert · 04/08/2024 23:13

Throughaletterbox · 04/08/2024 23:08

Find a good local fitter - they will be able to custom fit a used Facebook/eBay kitchen. If you spend the time you can get some great kitchens at bargain prices that way.

Thanks, I'd nor thought of getting a separate fitter, I'd thought about having it done all together by a company, but will investigate this further.

OP posts:
LuckysDadsHat · 04/08/2024 23:14

Is 10k including fitting and all new appliances? If so that will be very very tight.

We had a 10k budget 2 years ago and we went all in at 10,400 but it didn't include washing machine, fridge freezer or a cheap dishwasher I got for £40 from a friend.

We used a local fitter, diy kitchens, laminate worktops, and a new oven and hob for the kitchen and sourced everything ourselves to keep costs down.

WelshMoth · 04/08/2024 23:15

minipie · 04/08/2024 23:03

Do you have a floorplan?

Agree with looking at used kitchens - Used Kitchen Hub and The Used Kitchen Company are good places to start. Ikea, DIY Kitchens and Benchmarx would be my pick for new off the shelf cabinets. I would get a builder in and buy the kitchen separately rather than using a kitchen company to install it.

Tips for kitchens generally:

Avoid corners if you can. In a small kitchen for example consider whether you might be better with a galley layout rather than a U shape.

Avoid fiddly door styles as they catch dust and drips more

Avoid wood surfaces as they are high maintenance. Laminate if on a budget. Or you might get lucky with reclaimed granite/quartz (dark granite is out of fashion but bombproof).

Go for drawers rather than base cabinets wherever possible as they give you far more useable space. You can get away with fewer units if you have drawers rather than cabinets.

Stainless steel sinks and taps wear best

Plenty of plug sockets

Plenty of light - get wiring installed for undercabinet lighting if you can

This is fantastic advice 👌

Original poster
AmberExpert · 04/08/2024 23:19

LuckysDadsHat · 04/08/2024 23:14

Is 10k including fitting and all new appliances? If so that will be very very tight.

We had a 10k budget 2 years ago and we went all in at 10,400 but it didn't include washing machine, fridge freezer or a cheap dishwasher I got for £40 from a friend.

We used a local fitter, diy kitchens, laminate worktops, and a new oven and hob for the kitchen and sourced everything ourselves to keep costs down.

Looks like I'll be saving up a bit longer than I thought 🙈

OP posts:
BasiliskStare · 04/08/2024 23:21

Definitely plain doors rather than shaker style for ease of cleaning. If you can afford drawers rather than cupboards lower levels that does help. Depending on size stainless steel is a fabulous worktop. Also an induction hob is great in a smallish kitchen as when not being used can use it for workspace.

Seaside3 · 04/08/2024 23:29

We bought our ikea kitchen for £2500, no appliances. On interest free finance, so you mat not need to wait.as.long as you think.

Copperoliverbear · 04/08/2024 23:33

It will be 10k at least without fitting if you want integrated appliances

Original poster
AmberExpert · 04/08/2024 23:36

Seaside3 · 04/08/2024 23:29

We bought our ikea kitchen for £2500, no appliances. On interest free finance, so you mat not need to wait.as.long as you think.

Thank you that gives me hope! Will definitely explore the ikea kitchen option!

OP posts:
Tweensandterribletwos · 05/08/2024 00:30

Get one of the companies that does a free measure and design to come around. Let them do the measuring and a couple of designs then ask to keep it and compare it to DIY kitchens. Then you can go back and some will price match but check quality etc. Then find a local fitter to install it. Apart from flooring I managed to get a solid wood kitchen with quartz tops and AEG appliances for around £8k from DIY kitchens, then it was another £2k ish to be fitted. Still need the floor doing but it’s perfectly usable with the old floor down for now!

ItsOnlyJustBegun · 05/08/2024 07:01

Some suggestions…

Get a kitchen refurb company in. My guys are starting work today!

Am keeping all the units and not changing the layout.

( I’d suggest you try and keep the carcasses anyway. Saves money and landfill.)

Am keeping the induction hob, integrated f/f and d/w but getting new sink, new taps, new composite worktop and new fronts, doors, side panels. It’s coming in at around £11K.

The more you fiddle around with services such as water and drainage, the more it’ll cost.

HTH

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