When was the last time you had a long, hard look at your kitchen? Is it ‘fit for purpose’ or fit for sending to a landfill site? Planning a dream kitchen doesn’t necessarily mean ripping everything out and starting again. Nor does it mean that you have to put up with weeks of upheaval, dust and noise. And if you’re worried that the cost will mean that you have to tolerate your old kitchen for another year until the finances look a little healthier, then consider the alternative to replacement – refurbishment.
So let’s look at a few key points to help you decide whether to refurbish or renew your kitchen.
The pros and cons of replacement
The starting point for many people is a ‘rip it out and start again’ position. There are some arguments in favour of doing this, but there’s some against it too:
For replacement:
- You end up with a completely new kitchen that should fit your exact requirements
- It adds real financial value to your home if you’re planning on selling up
- It’s built to last
- It can be full of unique touches.
Against replacement:
- It is, without doubt, the most expensive option and could cost you thousands
- You’ll have to cope with weeks of disruption, noise and dust
- It’s not very green, as perfectly good units are heading off to landfill sites
- It’ll be harder to put right any design hiccups, and you may not end up with the kitchen you wanted.
The pros and cons of refurbishment
So what about refurbishing instead? It’s a cheaper option, but is it a better one?
For refurbishment:
- The #1 reason and probably the most obvious – it’s much cheaper!
- A refurbishment takes days, not weeks, so there’s minimal disruption to your home
- You’re utilising what you already have in the kitchen, but there’s still plenty of opportunity to incorporate some unique design flourishes at minimum cost to give it some real flair
- It’s the most eco-friendly option, as you’re recycling most of your kitchen and reusing perfectly good units, rather than sending them to landfill.
Against refurbishment:
- Actually, after thinking about it the only one we’ve been able to come up with is that it may not add quite as much financial value to your home as a replacement kitchen!
So there are pros and cons for both, but the key ingredient in whatever you choose to do will be your own imagination.
Transforming your kitchen
The imagination side of things is down to you, so here’s a few questions to ask before you decide:
- What do you want to be able to do in your kitchen?
- Do you like ‘olde-worlde’ tradition or do you prefer ultra-modern minimalism?
- Are you planning on extending the family, and if so is the kitchen you have fit for purpose?
- Do you have any specialist requirements, such as a fish preparation area or a special rack to display that gorgeous French copper pot set?
- How much space do you have? (A central island might be on your wish list, but if you’ve got a six-foot wide galley kitchen it’s not going to be a viable option!)
If you’re baffled by design, then call in an expert who can sit down with you and go through the options. They’ll also be able to tell you what you can reasonably achieve with the space and budget you have available.
A designer will bring a fresh approach to the job, as well as helping you to keep a sense of perspective. With the clever application of flourishes, new fronts and some replacement doors and drawers, you can transform a dull and ordinary kitchen into something extraordinary.
For more information and to see some great before and after images see our (Kitchen Refurbishment) page.
