Kitchen dilemma. Will I won’t I ?

I'm sure you could find a new piece with deep drawers which could slot in instead of an existing unit? Or you could take out unit at the end of a run and replace it with new drawers so that the size didn't matter so much. So many companies sell these units now. Replacing the worktop is relatively simple too, if it needs doing.
A local carpenter could do these jobs for you at relatively little cost compared with a whole kitchen refit.
I'm not sure what your doors are like, but I agree with others that a coat of paint in a colour you like could make it all look better - and would make any new drawers tie in with the rest. Even glossy plastic doors can be painted if you use the correct undercoat.
You don't need your kitchen to look like something out of Homes and Gardens!

Norah

Doodledog

Also, I'm another who loves your cupboards, Norah!

Thank you.

You believe you have carved bits which are difficult to keep clean -- move in with us, help oil cabinets/cupboards here!

Have you considered having your carved bits filled with paint accepting wood putty, sanded, painted? GD had that accomplished, you'd never know they weren't always solid (not carved wood) and white.

Thanks, but no thanks - I avoid housework where possible, and never ever seek it out .

There would be no point in getting the cupboards 'filled in' as I also have configuration issues, and don't see the point in making cosmetic changes until they are sorted out.

I'm 84 and wish I'd replaced my units 10 years ago and would say - Go for it! but don't go all expensive over the units.
There are plenty of economic kitchens available such as B&Q which are perfectly acceptable and will 'see you out' - whoever moves into your house after your time will replace the kitchen anyway.
I read that the first thing new house owners do is rip out the kitchen and bathroom and replace them.

We had our doors and worktops replaced by a great company with great workmen. A fraction the price of a complete refurb!

If you’re happy with your kitchen then don’t bother changing it.

Doodledog

Also, I'm another who loves your cupboards, Norah!

Thank you.

You believe you have carved bits which are difficult to keep clean -- move in with us, help oil cabinets/cupboards here!

Have you considered having your carved bits filled with paint accepting wood putty, sanded, painted? GD had that accomplished, you'd never know they weren't always solid (not carved wood) and white.

Even if you vizualise selling your home at some future date, a new kitchen will not make it easier to sell, or the expensive of it be recouped in the price you get for the house.

You sound as if you would rather have the money safely in the bank than use it on a new kitchen.

If I am right about this, there is no point in spending your money on something you would rather not do and having the enormous upheaval installing a new kitchen is into the bargain.

If it bothers you that the kitchen looks a little well-used, repainting the cabinet doors might be enough to make it look nice again, and cannot possibly cost the same as a new kitchen. If your children are so eager to see a new kitchen, ask them to come and help paint the walls and woodwork.

You say your savings are going down so why not look into keeping the units and just replacing the doors? Must be a lot cheaper and would still stop it looking 'tired'. Personally I would be wary of reducing savings by half but then I'm a worrier.

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202309/medium-91164-20230415-183822.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202309/medium-20403-20230415-183822.jpg

If you are thinking of new worktops which are an upheaval to take out and any ttiles above breaking. I used sticky back plastic for mine at a cost of £40 and everyone remarked how realistic my workbench looked.

Go with the flow
NO NO NO!

Who would you be doing it for?? How many people go into the kitchen? Do you really care what other people think??
Maybe a bit of cosmetic work - but forget the surgery!!

Also, I'm another who loves your cupboards, Norah!

BTW - my "new" kitchen (13 units) was £3,500 and £1,600 to fit. It was pre-pandemic but not a lot...

I kept all the electricity and pipes nearly in the same place to keep costs down as we were having walls removed and lots of plastering and tiles etc, new downstairs WC etc.
It looks terrific and is no longer someone else's choice. Obviously not such high quality as previously had oak and this isn't.

Missiseff

What are you saving for?

I can't speak for the OP, but many people like to have money set aside for a 'rainy day', or as an 'emergency fund', rather than saving 'for' something in particular.

That's the point of the thread, really - how far to reduce that buffer in favour of getting something that will improve life in the here and now.

Much depends on the amounts in question, of course. Spending half of a buffer of a million pounds would still leave you with more than adequate savings, but if you are starting with £5k and reducing that to £2.5k then it's a different question.

I confess I was surprised Callistemon21 but the couple who collected were pretty excited!

What are you saving for?

Could you simply paint the cabinet doors and change the handles? Did it with ours and looks great. Could also change the works tops and sink if you want to later. I'd be very concerned using half my savings. No one know what is round the corner and you might regret using so much.

Oh, sounds like ours NotSpaghetti!

Callistemon21

If paddyann's old kitchens are passed on and recycled then fair enough.

No-one would want our old, solid wood kitchen so it would probably go into a skip and landfill ☹

Our solid wood kitchen was snapped up on freecycle. It was listed for maybe 3 days.

It had the horrible curved detailing someone else doesn't like (upthread). The kitchen was 40 years old.

If I were to tell my husband that I am going to spend £15k to £30k on a new kitchen, he will have the shock of his life and I will have to call the ambulance to take him to the hospital!

Luckily our 20+ year kitchen units in light beech colour don’t look too bad to me but the kitchen walls desperately need a new coat of paint.

I try not to touch our existing savings but try to save every month and when I saved enough then spend it on the house.

Instead of having a new kitchen, maybe just change the doors, worktop and hob?

But then my son is a kitchen fitter
Oh, how did you manage that!! Wonderful planning 😁

DS's friend is too but booked up for months.

As far as I can see, the longer I live the more time I spend indoors and that makes my surroundings more important to me. I'm with paddyann here, do what ever makes you feel comfortable. This figure of 30k a kitchen is a bit extreme, some people may spend that much but some of us have much smaller budgets. I spent 5K 23 years ago on my present kitchen, fitted all carcasses etc myself and it was lovely but it is now totally impratical. High shelves that I can no longer reach and cupboards that I can't get to the back of. So I have a budget of 10k now to completely change it. But then my son is a kitchen fitter and my OH does plumbing and electrical work. So I'm confident it will be achieved and worth doing.

Norah travel Brittany Ferries to Normandy. All their ferries have scrubbers that not only reduce sulphur emissions but also removing 70% of particulate matter, which is also harmful to health. The EU has funded Brittany Ferries and 5 other ferry companies ot do the same, so you no longer need worry about travelling by ferry. Not to mention the new LNG powered ferries they are building and starting to bring in service.

To be fair paddyann you didn’t explain any of that in your first post: you just said that you changed your kitchen every few years.

I like change Fleur not a change of country or continent not a "holiday house" like many on here do just a change of colour and textures and furniture kitchens and bathrooms included.Its not a crime .my sister and neices like my clothes which are also not kept long ,I have tenants who all like a change of kitchen or furniture,they in turn will pass on their existing ones to family or friends .Nothing is wasted ,never has been .You didn't answer my question ,do you, have you flown or cruised in the past 15 years? Do you have new cars ? I have done none of those things ,I buy organic from the local farm shop ,my milk is delivered from a farm I see from my window We recycle our waste ,have solar panels and heat pump appliances .Please dont concern yourself with my green credentials I'm doing just fine

It was called Keeping Up With The Joneses 😃