Gransnet forums

House and home

how often to you renew your kitchen?

(129 Posts)
Dylis Sun 10-Apr-22 08:58:05

I have had the same kitchen for 20 years, its okay and does the job. My friend has a new kitchen every 5 or so years.
How often do you change yours?

JadeOlivia Mon 11-Apr-22 12:31:58

I would say about once every 20 years ...would be an interesting question re sofas and carpets too ..

cc Mon 11-Apr-22 12:23:28

They began fitting my new kitchen today! I would normally put in a kitchen shortly after moving in and not replace it before we move out. I'm 70 and doubt that I will ever replace today's kitchen.
In one house I did have a second kitchen after 15 years, but only because we had an extension and changed the layout significantly.
I think it's important to choose a colour that won't date, and I probably spend more than the average, including quartz worktops.

homefarm Mon 11-Apr-22 12:22:12

I've had my kitchen for 43 years - Yes I would like a new one but can't afford it and now I don't think I could stand the disruption.

mokryna Mon 11-Apr-22 12:19:12

Moved in 33 years ago and I chose reasonable quality kitchen. I don’t feel like spending money on the same, it is a small and clean and I have taken care not to damage the carcasses. I have up-dated the handles, changed the work top, tiles and of course replaced the white goods when they broke. I think if you are a follower of fashion you feel obliged to change every few years especially when to watch the TV programs. The advertising while these programs are on show what companies what us to buy.

nipsmum Mon 11-Apr-22 12:18:12

As often as the local authority is prepared to pay for it. I will cope with the inconvenience. At the moment it's about every 23 years I think. No doubt COVID has extended that schedule.

Grantanow Mon 11-Apr-22 12:17:41

We have replaced the kitchen in two houses we lived in because they were in a poor state but it's a waste of money to keep replacing kitchens. More money than sense.

Callistemon21 Mon 11-Apr-22 12:11:03

rowyn

Moved here in 1993 and have the same kitchen as when I moved in.
That reminds me - maybe I should clean the oven?!!

???

jaybee66 Mon 11-Apr-22 12:10:11

We have had ours for 27 years and it looks as if it will last forever.

Janetashbolt Mon 11-Apr-22 12:09:20

live in a council house, got special permission to upgrade kitchen and bathroom when I moved in, 10 years ago. They inspected and photographed afterwards for their records. Won't do either again whilst a tenant.

4allweknow Mon 11-Apr-22 12:08:17

I've lived in ancient and prewar properties never renewed kitchens. New builds since the 70s and replaced 3 kitchens. I found "modern" kitchens are so flimsy with the thin laminate finish on doors and drawers that they don't stand up to wear and tear and cleaning. I don't
like units that have different coloured insides from the door fronts. None of the kitchens were damaged, only worn. I replaced my kitchen last year with real wood units as they can be restored when worn. No tiles on walls only glass. Every 5 years, no way.

rowyn Mon 11-Apr-22 12:00:56

Moved here in 1993 and have the same kitchen as when I moved in.
That reminds me - maybe I should clean the oven?!!

Hellogirl1 Sun 10-Apr-22 17:22:25

We moved here almost 37 years ago. The existing kitchen was 7 years old at the time, but was just a mix of several different, but similar, units. We could never afford to change it, but I came into some (a bit of) money 5 years ago and had a brand new kitchen. It will have to last me out though, no chance of another!

GoldenLady Sun 10-Apr-22 16:53:57

When I bought my condo about 7 years ago, the kitchen was clean and everything worked, but all the appliances were bottom-of-the-line, old fashioned, like something out of the past. The range top had coils. The refrigerator didn't make ice, and no water available through the door. The dishwasher worked, but made a horrendous noise.

I replaced all three, and can't imagine making any more changes unless something stops working beyond repair. I've never heard of "renewing" a kitchen, like it was a library book.

But I did recently get a new ceiling light fixture, which I like a lot better than the old fluorescent light that was up there, looking like something out of the 80's.

karmalady Sun 10-Apr-22 16:40:22

Mine will do, it fits the space as best it could, luckily I have enough room in the centre for a large freestanding butchers trolley with 2 shelves and a steel worktop. Those shelves are invaluabe, I need a cooks kitchen, it would have been ok for a ready meals person. I don`t have enough worktop space but am using space in the utility and there are also shelves in the boiler cupboard. Once upon a time I had the singing dancing kitchen of my dreams, arranged it all when my husband was still alive, I carried on with the plan. Then in 3 years decided I needed to move. I would not have moved if I had not been widowed. I learnt a lesson, so am making myself content with what I have, what the builder put in. It is fine

Yammy Sun 10-Apr-22 16:25:47

12 tears ago when we moved into this house. There were doors hanging off and drawers missing so had to really. After paying an arm and a leg for the last kitchen in my last house I vowed never again.
This one is from a big superstore, plain old cream but works well with the low ceilings and beams. We did inherit an AGA which we had to work around and got an electric cooker for summer but kept the tiled floor.
Just about to have the wall painted an even lighter cream instead of the pale sage I chose. Through necessity, it has got badly marked and makes the rooms dingy.
After that it will stay as it is an odd paint job to make it clean

FoghornLeghorn Sun 10-Apr-22 16:23:28

Every five years is absolutely ridiculous. When I moved in here the house was four years old. I kept the original kitchen until two years ago when I had it renewed. The old one was serviceable but looking dated as by then it was over twenty years old. I have no intention of replacing my new one any time soon.

welshchrissy Sun 10-Apr-22 16:09:49

My kitchen after 18 years was looking tired so instead of a new one I had the worktops , doors and plinths etc replaced. They have done a fantastic job took 3days and didn’t even need to empty the cupboards . All for about a third of the price. Highly recommended

kittylester Sun 10-Apr-22 15:37:44

Ours is 17 years old and ripe for a change. We have a range cooker, which I love, but I can see it won't be very practical in the future and there are cupboards which would be much better as deep drawers.

When we moved here we had 5 children, DH worked, we had dogs cats. Now, it is mostly just DH and I plus 3 cats. But, we have huge influxes every now and again. Makes planning a kitchen very difficult.

Dylis Sun 10-Apr-22 15:35:45

Just wasted and hour looking at free standing kitchens online. I will have to have a long hard think. Not sure I can do without my built in double oven. I don't think my back will hold out with too much bending!

BlueBelle Sun 10-Apr-22 15:19:46

Well mines about 32 years old and no plans to change it It’s still looking fine no repairs needed all drawers and cupboards still in place as they were so why would I ?

Audi10 Sun 10-Apr-22 15:18:05

Wow, every 5 years! That’s mad! Ours is 10 years old and looking great will not be changing

paddyann54 Sun 10-Apr-22 15:01:30

4 in 32 years here ,would have been changed during the pandemic but it was too much of a hassle.My OH builds them himself so its not too expensive .The last two have been Ikea and I really liked them.Kitchen had a wall knocked down last time and a door blocked off the time before.I like to change things regularly ,I dont have expensive holidays or designer clothes so my money my choice.Dont ask how many sofas we've had in our married life...you'd be really shocked at that .
Nothing wasted by the way all rehomed free to people who need them and even fitted for them ,same with furniture .Last week a table and chairs went to a young man in a part furnished flat ,he was very grateful .

Callistemon21 Sun 10-Apr-22 14:40:22

JackyB

A fitted kitchen is never really that, so sometimes free-standing would be better. There are areas behind the fitted units, not to mention under them, which are quite awful and make you wonder why you bother to wipe the fronts and tops at all - all those germs and spiders lurking out of sight!

Then there is the problem of the fridge drip tray which was recently discussed - inaccessible in a fitted kitchen.

That reminded me of when a hamster got behind the fitted units - there was a vent in the plinth and he climbed through. We could hear him gnawing away at the back of the unit.
He did emerge eventually, none the worse for his adventure.

MissAdventure Sun 10-Apr-22 14:40:03

I've always fancied a free standing kitchen.
A complete, clean, accessible room, with no hidey holes, no bits that are impossible to get at, and then lovely pine moveable cupboards i.

M0nica Sun 10-Apr-22 14:38:12

Just renewed our kitchen after 25 years. Surfaces on the pvious one were bubbling, paint chipping off and hinges failing. We were also extending the kitchen and the new kitchen is configured differently requiring different size cupboards.

We are house improvers, so in three of the houses we have owned the previous kitchens were falling apart or completely inadequate, or the kitchen space was being completely configured. We have owned two new houses, and wile we bought extra units for the kitchens, we didn't replace them.

Replacing a kitchen every five years is a criminal waste of scarce resources. I do hope the superceded kitchens are either sold on or passed on to someone else and not just dumped at the tip.