ᐅ Kitchen Photos Thread – Show Us Your Kitchens!

Bertram100 schrieb:

Unfortunately, the days when people kept their furniture and kitchens for 25 years are almost over. I hope it will return to that. Often, the products don’t even last that long. The advantage of constantly upgrading is that I was able to buy almost all the kitchen appliances (range hood, refrigerator, faucet, oven) second hand.

Same for us, even the stylish wood-burning stove was lightly used. This way, you can realize great ideas, and in the meantime, we enjoy furniture with its own history. The search simply goes the other way around: we get inspired by what’s available on the market; we take our time, and we enjoy it. Everything looks like new, has high quality and timeless design that will outlast us...... 🤨. I have to admit, though, I used to think differently when I was younger....

hausnrplus25 schrieb:

Because you usually keep it for decades, unlike non-fixed furniture. Quite simple.

That was exactly the original question from @hampshire: why people don’t invest equally in other furniture and design elements. In my opinion, there is clearly a trend here, which is also reflected in numerous cooking shows. However, as I have pointed out several times, something doesn’t add up considering the simultaneous explosion in food delivery services. Whenever I visit a furniture store, I’m always surprised by which sofas or in front of which wall units young people sit or stand and apparently feel comfortable with 🙁. There have also been previous comments here about sadly copied designs of lamps and furniture.

Yaso2.0 schrieb:

Our experience over the last 20 years has shown that we never tire of a kitchen, but certainly do with other furniture. For that reason, we are willing to invest more money in the kitchen compared to other furniture.

Everyone should and may decide that for themselves. Still, I believe you wouldn’t get tired of high-quality furniture classics, lamps, and other items either; that usually only happens with trendy products. A truly beautiful dining table, a stylish light fixture, a desk, or an elegant sofa—I pass by these several times a day and enjoy them. For example, we’re currently investing a bit more in a staircase that we really like, which stands open in the middle of the room.

It’s quite clear: if you spend 20,000 on the kitchen, you won’t have any money left for the designer living room cabinet. 😀 You can live without a cabinet, but living without a kitchen will be difficult, so the purchase order is predetermined. It will be similar for us, although the other furniture will not be any less high-quality than the kitchen.

A large part of the price of our kitchen comes from the electrical appliances and the lacquered fronts. Otherwise, we have no gimmicks that are presented on Instagram and similar platforms as the must-haves of the century.

We signed for 21,000 (21k). The most expensive kitchen we have ever bought.

But I wouldn’t know when a sofa is considered “high quality.” From $5,000 (5k) up, or only if it has a certain luxury brand name on it? What price ratio should the rest of the furniture have compared to the kitchen to also be considered relatively high quality?

Yaso2.0 schrieb:

What price ratio should the rest of the furniture have compared to the kitchen to be considered similarly high-quality?

That’s the tricky part of this question.

hampshire schrieb:

Without targeting or criticizing anyone specifically – why is it that so many people have much higher expectations for their kitchens than for the rest of their furnishings?

Why should furniture that has been lovingly collected mean less in terms of quality than a new fitted kitchen?
Whether you spend a lot or a little on design, whether the furniture is stylish or not – who decides the value? Why does it have to be the expensive design, whether second-hand or new?
The resident feels comfortable with their own standards, but many people downgrade it if it’s not a “Mercedes” or a certain lamp brand, which apparently has to be in every home because it’s so hyped.
Personally, I enjoy every piece in my home and like looking at them, but just as @pagoni2020 seems to do it (at least that’s how I understood it), collecting design brands can also be quite overwhelming or tiring in one room... or house.

Yaso2.0 schrieb:

But I wouldn’t know when a sofa is considered “high-quality.” Is it from $5,000, or only if it has R. Benz on it? How should the price of the other furniture relate to the kitchen to be considered comparatively high-quality?

Hmm... it doesn’t have to have a brand name on it, and sometimes it really comes down to personal perception or feeling when and why something is seen as high-quality. Beyond a certain point, it’s no longer just about pure quality, but up until that point, it definitely is. It’s the same with kitchen appliances, tools, or favorite cars; sitting in a Passat isn’t necessarily worse than sitting in a BMW.
It doesn’t have to be that way, everyone has their own preferences. My car costs a maximum of €2,000 (about $2,200), a garage would be way too expensive for me, but for example, our chosen lamp will probably reach the price of my car 😱. Some of our furniture, such as pieces from USM-Haller, are a value investment, since you can resell them at any time without losing value. Well-maintained classic furniture hardly loses its value.
But you also have to enjoy these things. I understand others feel differently, but I just don’t like it. In our open kitchen, the white Ikea kitchen shines 😱.
Everyone has their own values—that’s a good thing.

That's true. My husband had to sell his USM furniture because I refused to live with office furniture. The price helped him somewhat get over the loss. 😀