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A new kitchen
Don’t let the state of the kitchen or bathroom, or the general
standard of decoration, put you off buying a home. For only a few
thousand pounds and with a bit of imagination you could transform
an average property into a stylish home – and add to its value.
In this issue we look at the cost of fitting a new kitchen
H Nowadays
a kitchen is more than just a place to store food and cook. For
many people kitchens form the hub of the home and have replaced
the dining room as the place to eat. For that reason they need to
look good as well as be functional. Even if you live in a small
flat it will pay to install a new kitchen – in its recent
DIY survey Woolwich gives a kitchen 7/10 when it comes to adding
value to your home.
If you install a new kitchen you should get your money back when
you sell as long as you don’t go mad. A top-of-the-range Bulthaup
kitchen, for example, could set you back at least £35,000,
but you don’t need to spend anywhere near that to get a stylish
kitchen. A property expert from the Woolwich says: “Pick the
best kitchen you can afford, while keeping the outlay in proportion
to your home’s value – installing something out of Homes
and Gardens in a standard semi or terrace is a waste of money.”
Modestly priced kitchens can be found on the high street. MFI, for
example, stocks a range of Schreiber and Hygena kitchens in a variety
of styles. Magnet Kitchen has four shaker ranges, 12 urban living
ranges and 17 period living ranges. On its website it gives a price
comparison by using a standard L-shaped layout. Its cheapest kitchen
is the Oslo Maple for £5272.40 and its most expensive the
Bakersfield Hand-Painted at £11,292.60. DIY stores such as
B&Q, Homebase and Wickes stock a wide range too. If you want
to go for free-standing units try IKEA or Habitat. IKEA’s
Varde kitchen has a range of free-standing floor and wall units.
For example, a large counter storage unit is £499, a cabinet
for a built-in oven and hob £210 and a glass-door wall cabinet
£115.
Most suppliers offer a full range of units, worktops, taps, cookers
and in-cupboard storage as well as appliances such as washing machines
and dishwashers. A range of in-cupboard storage is available to
help you organise your kitchen effectively. Carousels can help you
make the most of corner cupboards, and all cupboards and drawers
can be filled with storage trays and pull-out baskets. MFI, for
example, does a pull-out chrome larder that will fit into a tall
cupboard. It costs just £159 and means that you don’t
have to reach into the back of the cupboard.
It even has a pull-out ironing board for £83 and a pull-out
table for those lacking space. It may be easy buying everything
in once place, but there’s nothing to stop you mixing and
matching from different stores to find the cheapest and best options
for you and your kitchen.
B&Q, for example, stocks basic units without doors. A one-metre-wide
base cabinet costs just £32. You can ask a local carpenter
to make up doors for you. This may be particularly useful if you
don’t need to replace the entire kitchen. Or you could choose
basic kitchen units but splash out on an expensive wooden worktop
to give the kitchen a designer look.
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