Kitchen refurbishment on a budget

[UrbanGreen]

I’m about to undertake a kitchen refurbishment. It’s ten years since I installed it and now it needs some remodelling. It was a Howdens kitchen so I suppose it makes best sense to use the same again even though Howdens insist they are trade only. I’ll need to get some trades in for some electrical and plumbing. I did try to get an extra cupboard from Howdens a while back but they never got back to me; probably because I was no longer on their books. I’m trying to get the job done with a low budget because I don’t have much money and I’m retiring next year so cannot borrow silly money. Any suggestions?

 

[RrogerD]

You don't say anything about what size it is and what budget you have in mind and what you mean by 'remodelling'. Too many variables to try and comment or make suggestions I'm afraid.

 

[UrbanGreen]

Yes sorry about that. I was wondering about getting some fresh cabinets from elsewhere to add to current set but mixing different cabinets from different suppliers seems to be a bad idea. Room is 3800 x 3600. Design is basically L shape along two walls, obviously. The budget isn’t set as yet because I want cheap as possible. Adding in some necessary electrical work and plumbing and plastering will shove up whatever I suggest as budget. If I don’t improve it before I retire then I’ll be stuck with it until I die unless my numbers come up in the lottery which I don’t do very often.

 

[foxhole]

Cabinets tend to be very similar so only fronts need matching, a colour matched paint can be used to match existing fairly well.

 

[UrbanGreen]

Cabinets tend to be very similar so only fronts need matching, a colour matched paint can be used to match existing fairly well

I'm thinking there might variations between the hinge setups.

I'm currently browsing second-hand kitchen online. It might be the way to go for me. I'm going to see if Howdens will supply me with the cupboards I require but they weren't very helpful last time I tried to make enquiries

 

[UrbanGreen]

Some current set up photos. Some aspects of the kitchen never really worked. The cooker hood packed up a week before Christmas that’s why it’s missing. Drawers to the right of the oven have been particularly annoying because you cannot open the dishwasher and the drawers at the same time. The oven is also a problem and increasingly so as age creeps up. These are the reasons for the remodel. We now require an eye level oven that has flat oven trays unlike the current one. Either the drawers or the dishwasher is going to be moved. In addition the washing machine and tumble dryer (not shown) are going to be removed from the kitchen so more cupboards needed to fill the gap. A cupboard for covering the boiler is also required (boiler is up the wall above the green oven glove). We would also like taller wall cupboards because there’s always something that needs to be stored away. We were considering a built in fridge freezer but where would the fridge magnets go?

Other works include removing the wall tiles. We hate them. The floor tiles have to go too. Hated them for years. The ceiling needs attention. It’s artex over paper. I hope it’s free from asbestos. I’d like to take a bit of wall out too. What’s my budget? Goodness knows!

So from the irreplaceable fridge onwards, a tall oven housing unit is required, then the irritating drawers then cupboards up to the corner then round the corner. Cupboard, sink base unit needs to be replaced because it was not my best work due to time constraints. I took at week off work to fit my kitchen.

 

[foxhole]

I'm thinking there might variations between the hinge setups.

I'm currently browsing second-hand kitchen online. It might be the way to go for me. I'm going to see if Howdens will supply me with the cupboards I require but they weren't very helpful last time I tried to make enquiries

Easily remedied.

 

[foxhole]

Two tower units at 600 would give you a place for integral F/F and tall storage with built in oven at whatever height you want .
That takes the room previously used by WM and the DW so you can reconfigure the kitchen to use all the current cupboards .

 

[UrbanGreen]

Two tower units at 600 would give you a place for integral F/F and tall storage with built in oven at whatever height you want .
That takes the room previously used by WM and the DW so you can reconfigure the kitchen to use all the current cupboards .

I’m probably just going for one. Two was tempting but losing too much worktop. Worktop to be replaced too. The missus has hated that from day one.

 

[foxhole]

I’m probably just going for one. Two was tempting but losing too much worktop. Worktop to be replaced too. The missus has hated that from day one.

Two would increase worktop available as microwave, air fryer could be installed in tower along with oven.

 

[UrbanGreen]

Two would increase worktop available as microwave, air fryer could be installed in tower along with oven.

Very good point. I hadn’t thought of that.