how often to you renew your kitchen?

As little as possible - I hate the disruption, and if it works I see no point in changing it.

Just “old ageing” the main bathroom - ripping out the bath and installing a walk in shower, plus higher loo and sink.

Did the same with the kitchen a couple of years ago - eye level everything.

But hopefully that will be that.

I’ve moved around a fair bit and have had 6 new kitchens. Moving again later this year; it may well be to another fixer-upper, so maybe one more to come.

I have to admit, I quite enjoy the whole process (we fit them ourselves) and love having a kitchen that works exactly how I want it to.

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.

Perhaps you’ll feel differently in a few weeks / months, Franbern? Like having a baby - “Never again”, then you do!

On my final day (of two weeks), of having my kitchen completely re-done. Finished article is glorious - and will be wonderful, both to look at and to work in.

However, has felt an extremely long two weeks. All run to time, and only me - and able to keep essential kitchen equipment in my dining area of the my large Living room. BUT.......the constant dust, people in and out and general upheaval and got me down. Really cannot understand why on earth anyone would want this done more than once in their life-time.

I had to have a new kitchen in current house when I moved in 7 years ago. The work was done as part and parcel of putting on a sunroof extension to the rear of my property. The total cost of all of this was around £26000. My kitchen units cane from Howden and cost around £4000. They are cream gloss with some rounded corner units etc. Nice washed oak effect worktops. Appliances- oven and hob, dishwasher and washer dryer (integrated) were purchased separately. I love my space. I would say it might be 10 years or so - if I am still around - that I might want my 'last' update ha! But never say never. I enjoy what I have. You come into my living room with its recessed multicultural stove. Then on into the kitchen and through into sunroom with dining table and sofa. Easily enough for my needs.

I’ve had one new kitchen designed by DH who died 18 months later. I moved on after 5 years. The others all came with the property and were totally adequate. I dream of one more self designed kitchen before I pop my clogs ?

Wow. How much spare cash would these people have? I had a new kitchen when we extended 9 years ago. Still feel pleased when I put the kettle on first thing in the morning. It will be here as long as I am ?

paddyanne - how I envy you doing a 48 hour turn-a-round for a new kitchen. I have been told to allow two working weeks for mine. Mind you that will involve some changes in plumbing (moving the sink), changes to electricity (new place for oven, and lots of new points), taking down wall-to-ceiling tiling, plastering - as well as all the new units, etc.

Yes, it will be an upheaval. Think it must be worst if there is a family involved - but it is just ME. So, my Dining Table will be opened out, covered and will have my microwave, kettle, egg boiler, toaster, single electric hob, etc on there.

Having my new fridge/freezer delivered and put into that dining area before the work starts - so will have my food store available. Water and sink will be available in my en-suite (bedroom is next to my Living Room). Will take my weekly washing to nearby daughter during that time. Deliberately arranged for mid-May, so that I can go out a lot each day.

In terms of upheaval - it was actually far worse when I had new flooring laid in my Living Room/Diner and my hallway. Had to totally camp out in my bedroom during that time.

As someone has said, we all make our own choices as to how to spend our money. I do not go on holidays - no wish to do so, do not smoke, nor have a car, - my home is my hobby. I am not going into debt - using savings for this work. Once it is finished, I know it will give me an enormous sense of achievement (it is my own design), and I will spend a lot of time admiring it. AND...I know that when the time comes (sooner or later), when my kids have to sell my flat, it will make it all the more marketable.

I've had the same kitchen for 30 years . We fitted it ourselves after living with previous owners kitchen. Got to admit every few years we redecorate and maybe change window dressings and general colour scheme. But the bones of the kitchen is usable so why change it ?

My son's MiL moved into her house new in 1965. The kitchen has never been updated, just given a coat of paint now and again.

We moved into a new build 44 years ago and it's on its third kitchen. The second lot of kitchen units are still fine, but we did replace the work tops when it became the utility room.

Never, I've absolutely no need to. Ours may well be the oldest on here, as it was built by the owner (a carpenter) well before we moved in in 1981. It's simple, solid as a rock, and suits us just fine. We've had work surfaces replaced - the rest has been cosmetic. It's surprising how many people have complimented us on our "new kitchen" after one of our homespun refurbishments - a coat of paint and a few new knobs.

We do have some built in seating and the leather's suffered from the grandsons' shoe buckles scraping along it. We're deciding whether to have it recovered with leather or fabric. It's the sort of job I imagine I could learn to do myself with the help of a YouTube tutorial. Or maybe not.

Good reason for considering replacing aged appliances is that the modern ones are much more energy efficient.

When I moved here at end of 2019 I purchased new washing machine, and tumble dryer (heat pump), and slim line dishwasher. So, will keep these. The small under-the-counter freezer I purchased then will be re-sold.

I am pretty sure that none of the cupboard units that I have now could be re-used. However they do have nice, quite modern handles. As I empty each cupboard, I intend to remove those handles and will either take them to a Charity shop of offer on freecycle. My kitchen at my house, I had some lovely small door handles, that matched the worktop. I obtained 24 of these handles from the local freecycle and kept them put aside for several years until I had all the cupboard and drawer sprayed.

Only had one new kitchen in over 40 years when we moved to our present house. The existing one was quite literally falling apart and as we were extending and would have a larger kitchen area it seemed the best option. In our previous homes we simply repaired, repainted and updated what was there.

The price that kitchens are now I can't imagine how people can afford to replace them every few years.

We only replace appliances when they are really beyond repair. My washing machine is about 20 years old and the tumble dryer about 16, no problems with either of them (she says crossing her fingers!).

Never - why would I if it is functional?

I had a friend (a vicar) who renewed theirs several times, including replacing an AGA because it was not the right colour to go with new kitchen. Totally bonkers.

We used to, paddyanne

DH (with me as labourer!) has refitted three kitchens, bathrooms, fitted out our utility. We rewired one house and he project-managed a large extension.
Alas, we've realised we're rather past it now

Calli My OH and I do all the work ourselves,we enjoy it,cabinets emptied and taken out on day one ,new cabinets in on day two and if we feel up to working late into the night it can be completed that same day.
We even knocked the wall down ourselves on a whim ,talked about it at dinner one Sunday night ,it was down before bedtime .

Not me! I haven't got me knickers in a knot

It's just astonishing that people put up with all that upheaval so often. Not to mention the dust.

I'd love a new kitchen but can't face all that.

I dont know why folk get their knickers in a knot about total strangers changing kitchens or bathrooms or anything else regularly .I dont moan about people spending huge amounts on cruises or other holidays that they get pleasure from.
I /we haven't had a holiday for nearly 14 years ,our choice .Family issues, health and childcare etc came first for us .I spend a lot of time in my kitchen more than most people ,Is it not reasonable for me to want a nice area to spend maybe 4 or 5 hours a day ?
It doesn't harm you ,the "old" kitchens ,furniture etc gets a new home and no harm is done to either the planet or the public purse unlike cruises/flights new cars . I like change ,my money my choice ,because you are happy to live with something for decades doesn't mean the rest of us have to .
I'll be changing my kitchen again this year ,that'll be 5 in 32 years ,the old one already has a home to go to .

If the kitchen works no need to reaplace it.

Once in 44 years and that was due to having the kitchen extended out into an odd, narrow conservatory (where the previous owner kept his canoe).
Otherwise we have just primped kitchens up when needed with replacement sink tops, worktops and better lighting.

Bijou think that is a rather a sweeping generalisation about young people living on takeaways.

I am sure some do, as do some middle aged people and quite a few older people. Many in this last age group have things like Wilshire meals delivered to them.

I have found no relevant research showing that takeaways are more used by age, or by type of kitchen people have.

All my children (okay they would definitely come under 'middle aged), both male and female cook from scratch. A takeaway is, and has always, been something for some sort of special occasion, never on any sort of regular basis.

All their children have been taught to cook (also from scratch), one of my g.sons actually runs a cooking club at his University.

An attractive to be in, well laid out kitchen - with plenty of space, and easy to use and clean machines, does encourage cooking.

Most of my kitchen has the original wooden units installed when the bungalow was built in 1968. Thankfully no high wall cupboard s as already being short I have shrunk in old age. I last decorated it fifteen years ago.
All these posh new kitchens don’t make the owners better cooks and I feel that younger people have new kitchens but live on takeaways.
In the 1960s and 70s I had large kitchen with all free standing cupboards and gave cooking demonstrations to WI members .

Mumski we used Granite Transformations to replace a wooden worktop five years ago. We chose black with minute sparkly bits , which still looks as good as new and is easy to keep clean.