ᐅ Excessive Costs for the Kitchen?!

Clearly, the pot will be hot. However, the cooktop itself doesn’t stay hot for long because it only heats up from the residual heat of the pot...

Tolentino schrieb:

Of course, the pot will be hot. However, the cooktop itself won't stay hot for long because it only heats up from the residual heat of the pot...

But not hot enough to cause any burning or scorching.

Ok, I never left it to chance.

The pot with vegetables, potatoes, etc., is not as hot; the pan with fat used after the pancakes or potato fritters is much hotter, and not every stone slab can handle that.

I also find it surprising what this topic has sparked.

Nida35a schrieb:

The pot with vegetables, potatoes, etc. isn’t that hot, but the pan with oil after making pancakes or potato fritters is much hotter, and not every stone countertop can handle that.

I would be very careful too. Our kitchen fitter said the planned ceramic countertop is quite durable, but he wouldn’t put a hot pot or especially a pan directly on it. That doesn’t bother us, since we always use a wooden board underneath out of habit anyway.

I also think it’s important to understand that a kitchen always matches the preferences (not necessarily the demands) of its users. We love cooking. Our kitchen gets used very heavily and intensively. I really enjoy experimenting and sometimes preparing elaborate dishes. From our point of view, it only makes sense to give this part of the house a high priority.

ypg schrieb:

I just remembered the phrase "you only build once," which fits the comment about choosing a kitchen for 11,500 and then ending up spending 19,000 after visiting the showroom. To me, that sounds like a case of last-minute panic.

You must be referring to us. But it had nothing to do with "you only build once," rather that we hadn’t properly assessed our wishes beforehand or realized what great options were available.

1. We originally planned a ceramic cooktop and an island hood—but it ended up being a Berbel induction cooktop with downdraft extractor. From the start, I was bothered by the ugly hood hanging in the middle of the room, but I didn’t know such cool solutions existed --> +3,500€ (approx. $3,700) on top of the 11,500€ (approx. $12,200).

2. We first planned for a Häcker Classic kitchen with cassette fronts, but then I read that those are just foil-covered. Systemat offers the same front fully lacquered and with a better modular grid --> +1,500€ (approx. $1,600).

3. My wife discovered at the showroom that refrigerators with a 1°C (34°F) compartment exist --> +800€ (approx. $850) (upgrade from a standard Siemens to a Miele with a 1°C compartment).

4. We couldn’t find a nice wood countertop for the white cassette fronts. A concrete-look plaster would have been the closest, which was included in the 11,500€ (approx. $12,200) version, but we weren’t thrilled by it. We didn’t want a wood finish either since we already have wood-look tiles. --> Then we found a brilliant color in quartz composite countertops that matches perfectly, and you can install the sink and cooktop flush-mounted --> +3,000€ (approx. $3,200).

And just like that, you’re at 20,000€ (approx. $21,300) instead of 11,500€ (approx. $12,200). None of these decisions were made because of "you only build once." The 11,500€ plan simply didn’t convince us in these areas, though I will admit it probably would have still made a great kitchen.