Replacing kitchen vs changing cupboard doors etc.

Absolutely no point in ripping a kitchen out if carcases are good. Unless like Callistemon, you want drawers ( we got drawers few yrs back- much easier)
My DiL and son got doors sprayed new worktops and tiles. Lovely and little hassle.

Sorry, Fiorentina, can't offer advice to you. I am in desperate need of an up-date on our 1998 kitchen units..!!

Franbern, our units are the same as your "before" photo.! very solid, but ours are slightly lighter, in colour.

Having 18 base, 17 wall cupboards, & 6 drawers, I can't imagine the cost & upheaval of replacing them.

All advice & ideas welcome.!

A few years ago in our previous house, we changed our door fronts, shiny new worktops , new sink and tap at a fraction of the cost of a new kitchen.
We used one of the well known door companies and they did an excellent job.

Could you paint the doors? Would you be able to buy a small cheap trial pot to see if it works and that you like the colour before you make a big decision? Whatever you decide I hope it works out and you like the result.

I had a professional to strip down the doors, revarnish them and fit new door handles. I also had the worktops replaced and had a new stainless steel sink. I am very pleased with the result and the cost was a fraction of the cost of fitting a new kitchen. Minimal disruption too! Good Luck,

I replaced the doors as although I considered painting them the doors were a slightly old fashioned style so replacing them was the next best alternative and not to expensive or disruptive.

Last year I had a kitchen respray. There was nothing wrong with the units but they looked a bit tired. I had the whole lot resprayed by a small local company and I am delighted with the results. It looks brand new but cost a fraction of either new doors or a new kitchen.

If the kitchen units are in really good condition and you think you can get another 10 years out of them, then go for new doors and maybe a new worktop to really spruce it up.
But if it’s just the mess that is stopping you from having a whole new kitchen then just think of it as 2 weeks out your life with a bit of disruption, a bit of dust, and a fabulous kitchen at the end of it. Set up a mini kitchen in the hall or another room, have takeaways if necessary and it’ll soon be over.

My OH is currently in the process of repainting all our kitchen units. We are changing from its current mucky scratched cream to pale grey on the lower units and white on the wall units. Its looking really good so far.
We will fit new worktops and re-tile too at some point.

This will be the second time he's done it, its a laborious and lengthy process, taking off all the doors, removing all handles etc, sanding them down, two coats of paint then re-hanging. But boy is it worth it!

The paint costs £36 per tub from B&Q so not expensive.

Given the choice I would pay someone to come in and do it - but I prefer to save the money and spend it on holidays!

We replaced our doors and woktops six months ago. The layout was good and the carcasses of the units were in good nick. Great job by the company, really and clean tidy fitters. It cost us about a third of the new kitchen price. Other people are mentioning company names so I recommend Dream Doors who have branches all over.

A reliable local kitchen fitter told me that most kitchen company's carcasses are made in exactly the same materials. If you are happy with the layout then you won't necessarily improve the kitchen by changing the cupboards completely. I would certainly go for a repaint or new doors; why not get a professional decorator to paint them? My DD had good quality fitted wardrobes in her new house but they were an unnattractive pale gingery shade of wood; when having the room redecorated she asked for the cupboards to be painted also. They were transformed with specialist paint for a very small cost compared to new doors or new wardrobes.

Before moving to France we lived in a 60's built house with it's original kitchen. It was far too expensive to replace the whole lot so we went for new doors. I'm lucky because my OH was a furniture restorer and cabinet maker and so was able to complete the work.

Anyway, we had doors cut to size by a company called Ipswich Plastics. They laminated sheets of Formica onto MDF (both sides) and cut the doors and drawer fronts to size. There are other makes than Formica and a very large selection. We chose a retro design for the outside and a plain colour for the interiors. You will need someone who can fit hinges and handles and to hang the doors.

The kitchen looked really good after its makeover and it wasn't that expensive. I can't remember how much because it was about 15 years ago but I'm someone who doesn't like spending tons of money.

Have you decided fiorentina?
Or have we just confused you even more?!

I am still undecided.

'House for sale. Renovation project for keen do-it-yourselfers'!

If you like the layout and the carcasses are ok, either paint or replace the doors.
Changing the appliances can help - even if it is just the kettle, toaster and microwave, along with storage jars etc.

Changing work surfaces is a great idea. I did this a few years ago. Check out ikea theirs are cheaper than most, by a mile!
After this I wanted to change door fronts git quotes, mad prices. So I painted them, cheap and results were great. What have you got to loose? If changing the fronts anyway nothing!
All I'd say is the base coat is the most important. Get one that specifically says it's for laminate, don't buy cheap! A good bottom coat and 2 top coats should do it. If your units have a 'grain effect' the painting is much easier, if completely smooth, make sure you take your time. A good paintbrush and a mini roller gives a professional finish. ??

I've thought of what to do to cheer up the kitchen. DH who is a terrific DIYer just won't listen when I mention painting doors etc. He says I would not like opening doors and still seeing the old colour on the inside of the carcasses. To paint inside would be a massive job and wouldn't be all that robust. If wooden carcasses may be worthwhile painting. I'm still working on getting a new kitchen!

Our kitchen cupboards were the same dark oak as Franberns. My husband repainted them with Little Greene Paint and put new handles on. We had the floor changed and re-tiled the walls in modern tiles. We also changed the lighting.
The whole thing came in at around £2,000 and it looks like a brand new modern kitchen.

Remove the doors, sand them down, and repaint them / re-varnish them. It would be nice to change the knobs / handles too, but only if you don't have to drill new holes into the wood. Mark the doors 1 2 3 4 etc, because sometimes they are not all exactly the same size, by millimeters.

Mine was also around 2014/15 - lots of cupboards, around 12 base cupboards and seven drawer fronts and seven wall cupboards, - I seem to remember it cost me around a grand back then, for all of these. These were good solid wooden doors, just seemed totally wrong to send those to landfill and put in cheap plastic ones. Never regretted that decision.

I know exactly what I'd like to do with it if we were 20 years younger and had three times as much money! But we can't change either of those criteria.

Thank you Chewbacca and Operalover

We've done the new worktops, oven, sink hob, tiles, handles bit once years ago.

I think we need to move house instead.

Have a look at the french chic fan page on FB. You could paint your doors and change the worktop for a fraction of the cost of new doors.

Callistemon It was a while ago, around 2014/2015, I think, that I had my kitchen cupboards, 5 top ones and 4 lower ones, resprayed for £600 and then an additional £295 for the table and 4 chairs. I've just asked for a price quote to have a pine Welsh dresser resprayed and I'm expecting it to be about £400 or so.

Because I'm worth it!!

I just need someone else to come and empty all the cupboards and clean up after they hack up the floor etc.


How much was spraying?

Ah drat Callistemon. Nowt for it but a lovely, spanking new kitchen, complete with deep drawers, integrated dish washer and double oven. You deserve it!