I'm a little bit kitchen obsessed, I think the notion that the ultra modern kitchen equals no cooking and takeaways is somewhat of a myth which possibly emanates from all the showcasing of certain rich and famous people and their high end untouched minimally used kitchens. The people I know who have on trend kitchens all enjoy cooking. We moved recently and when I saw the kitchen, that sold the house to me, very modern big counter island unit facing on to bi fold doors that open on to the garden, loads of light therefore, almost too much on a sunny day. I use that counter for lots of food preparation plus perching there one end on a bar stool doing other stuff. As well as cooking from scratch I do loads more in this room because it's big enough to accommodate a sofa and agree if you like being in your kitchen you want somewhere nice to spend that time.
In my last house we had the kitchen ripped out and a new one fitted, it took a couple of weeks I think? a helluva palaver, templates made for silestone work tops. It's often the workmanship in the ripping out all of the old, plastering, plumbing, electrics that make it all so costly and hugely disruptive.
Labour Brings in excellent Renter's Rights - long overdue.
