There are many ways to buy a kitchen, but which is best for your budget and scheme?
WORDS PAULA WOODS
Make a unique investment
Go bespoke and you’ll get a one-off design in whichever materials and fittings you want. It’s made to your room’s precise specifications, and you can expect to pay from £30,000 upwards.
Bespoke framed timber kitchen with honed Bianco Eclipsia Quartzite worksurfaces and splashback, from £50,000, Blakes London (blakeslondon.com)
Opt for a virtual process
It’s possible to plan, design and order a supply-only kitchen entirely online. Consumer Contracts Regulations permit a 14-day period in which to cancel an online order, unless the items are bespoke or made to order.
Hjerte kitchen cabinets in nine colours including Spruce Green, from £2,125 for an eight-unit kitchen, Smile Kitchens (smilekitchens.com)
Get a designer diffusion line
Some high-end manufacturers produce more affordable supply-only ranges that follow the companies’ design principles and craftsmanship.
KR2 kitchen cabinets, pre-assembled and primed for painting, from £10,000, Kin by Mowlem (kinbymowlem.com)
Buy via your builder
Your builder, joiner or kitchen installer may be able to get a good price by buying on your behalf through trade-only suppliers, many of which have design services you can use.
Cambridge slim-frame Shaker kitchen in four colours including Driftwood Blue, from £2,684.39 for an eight-unit kitchen, quartz Calacatta gold worksurface, from £312 per sqm, Benchmarx Kitchens (benchmarxkitchens.co.uk)
Try the reuse experts
A few companies specialise in sourcing quality kitchens for resale. Find a list of fitters on the British Institute of Kitchen, Bedroom and Bathroom Installation website (bikbbi.org.uk).
Secondhand kitchen, £3,500, Rehome (rehome.co.uk)
Replace key components
Specialist cabinet door, drawer and panel suppliers enable you to update existing carcasses or to buy an off-the-shelf carcass range to fit with your choice of fronts.
Vertical timber fronts, panels and plinths in 18 colours, including this Alabaster Wood, or 1,950 custom shades, from £95 for a 600x100 drawer front, Superfront (superfront.com). Metod carcasses, £32 for a 600mm base unit, Ikea (ikea.com)
For a quick turnaround
Some retailers offering units for DIY assembly hold stock that can be bought in store
