Bought a house, estimated the renovation budget plus 10-15% for inevitable extras, and we set aside 5000 EUR for the kitchen!!!!
That’s how it started... at first, I was in a bit of shock, but we still had time. First step: remove all the walls for a new layout—I need space...
Let’s start with the (according to the agent) move-in ready property. The small kitchen, just under 8 square meters (about 86 square feet), had its 1970s pass-through removed. The wall including the kitchen door is gone! The wall next to the cellar stairs is gone too! Actually, the entire slanted wall, nearly 7 meters (23 feet) high, removed completely...
The window had to go as well since we needed a different working height than the standard 90 cm (35 inches). New screed installed, we switched to underfloor heating, all electrical wiring and water pipes are new.
After almost six months, the realization slowly sank in: the kitchen budget will not exceed 5000 EUR, so we had to look for a used kitchen... something special, but very cheap.
The search criteria: within a 100 km (62 miles) radius, up to 1000 EUR, because I still want new appliances.
That’s how it started... at first, I was in a bit of shock, but we still had time. First step: remove all the walls for a new layout—I need space...
Let’s start with the (according to the agent) move-in ready property. The small kitchen, just under 8 square meters (about 86 square feet), had its 1970s pass-through removed. The wall including the kitchen door is gone! The wall next to the cellar stairs is gone too! Actually, the entire slanted wall, nearly 7 meters (23 feet) high, removed completely...
The window had to go as well since we needed a different working height than the standard 90 cm (35 inches). New screed installed, we switched to underfloor heating, all electrical wiring and water pipes are new.
After almost six months, the realization slowly sank in: the kitchen budget will not exceed 5000 EUR, so we had to look for a used kitchen... something special, but very cheap.
The search criteria: within a 100 km (62 miles) radius, up to 1000 EUR, because I still want new appliances.
I once considered creating a thread about favorite corners each time I finished renovating and designed a new favorite spot.
But then I thought briefly about why the kitchen holds such a high priority in house construction: because it is built-in and often far exceeds what some would call a "complete living room price"—usually.
But then I thought briefly about why the kitchen holds such a high priority in house construction: because it is built-in and often far exceeds what some would call a "complete living room price"—usually.
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Myrna_Loy7 Jul 2021 17:54This is not a new phenomenon. It usually only causes problems in traditional families. My mother and my aunts all got expensive kitchens when building their houses in the 1980s or mid-1990s. When the men wanted renovations, the response was always: “That was expensive! It’s still perfectly fine!” 😀
Myrna_Loy schrieb:
This is not a new phenomenon. It only really becomes an issue in traditional families. My mother and aunts all got expensive kitchens when building their homes in the 1980s or mid-1990s. The men’s response to renovation requests was always: “That was expensive! It’s still fine!” 😀 My parents built their house in ’78, and my mother cashed in her pension to pay for the costly rustic oak kitchen. She often wanted a new one, but my father thought it was too much money. He also didn’t spend much time there. Now my mother is frail with age and content again.
I often shake my head at how the doors already hang uneven and look worn…
43 years! 😉
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Myrna_Loy7 Jul 2021 18:28My mother also curses her 1990s country-style kitchen in light gray. Five years ago, she painted over the pink-gray Laura Ashley floral wallpaper more out of frustration than with precision. 😀
My mother-in-law, however, has a real problem. She inherited a top-of-the-range 1970s Poggenpohl kitchen in curry yellow from her mother-in-law because, after building the house, there wasn’t enough money left for a new kitchen. Superb quality. Great interior fittings, beautiful recessed handles. Apothecary cabinets, deep drawers, and all the features common today.
Unfortunately, it looks very modern again now.
Maybe I’ll take it over someday.
My mother-in-law, however, has a real problem. She inherited a top-of-the-range 1970s Poggenpohl kitchen in curry yellow from her mother-in-law because, after building the house, there wasn’t enough money left for a new kitchen. Superb quality. Great interior fittings, beautiful recessed handles. Apothecary cabinets, deep drawers, and all the features common today.
Unfortunately, it looks very modern again now.
Maybe I’ll take it over someday.
ypg schrieb:
My parents built this house when they were 78, and my mother cashed in her pension to pay for the expensive rustic oak kitchen. She wanted a new one many times, but my father thought it was too costly. He also doesn’t spend much time there. Now my mom is frail with age and is content again.
I often shake my head at how the doors are already sagging and worn…
43 years! 😉 She earned that kitchen herself. It’s staying.
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