When you have decided that you are in the market for a new kitchen, one of the most important factors is budget. But why?
There are so many companies that you can purchase your kitchen, from large multi nationals to small independent companies. Selling products from off the shelf to totally handmade bespoke. Ranging from £600 through to over £100,000. I’m sure that we all have a view on these figures, but that’s for another blog.
With so many products to choose from and all companies do a white gloss or a painted shaker option, They’re all the same, aren’t they? In fact, all companies will have several options and no not all are created equal. Most companies will have several suppliers (normally 2/ 3) through some only have 1 supplier. Even they companies with 1 supplier of furniture will probably have an option of at least 2/3 gloss white options and 3/4 shakers. Your designer will need to understand which supplier/door range use in your design.
So where to start
Other factors are also key, such as what appliances you require, do you have an idea on your work top choice? There is also installation as well as flooring and decoration to take into considerations.
The most common response I get to my question, “Have you a budget in mind for your project” is “As little as possible” or “I don’t know/I don’t have one” This is the reason why I our first appointment can take so long, there are lots of questions which can help to get to an approx. budget. We will explore what your dream kitchen would look & feel like, how your use your current kitchen. What you would like to achieve at the end of the project, amongst lots of other question. The aim is to try to get a better understanding of your lifestyle and idea of budget.
Another question would be how long do you see this kitchen being part of your life/how long do you intend to live in your current home? This question will help you understand the difference between how much money you have available to spend verse how much you would like to or is wise to spend? For example, if this is your forever home, you would most likely want to invest in the kitchen of your dreams. On the other hand, if it 5-10 years, you would want a good quality, but a reasonable price.
In all cases I would recommend good quality cabinetry as the most important, as this is the most expensive to replace. Notice I said cabinetry not doors. This is because, not all companies use the same components and specification, also there are companies that specialise in replacement doors etc.
So how do you decide on what you would like to spend on your dream kitchen? Firstly, ask yourself the following questions.
- Why do I want to change my kitchen?
- How long do I intend to live in this home?
- How do I see my family life changing in this time?
- Are there other projects in the home I also need to consider?
- What appliances will I need?
- What type of worktop would I like/need?
- If money was no object what would my dream kitchen look/feel like?
- What does my kitchen have to have as minimum?
- How am I funding the project?
Most companies will be able to give you a rough idea of how much a kitchen will cost (NOTE, NOT YOUR KITCHEN), most likely their average kitchen costs
