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.
perth schrieb:
The kitchen is located in London (belongs to my daughter), I planned it last year.This looks very familiar to me. I just had déjà vu... Have you posted the countertop on another platform before?
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chand19861 Apr 2019 10:43hampshire schrieb:
People with a lot of money and people don’t think in “either-or” terms, but rather in “both-and.”
By the way, people who don’t place much importance on money and possessions think this way as well.
Both enjoy the same kind of freedom, just in completely different ways. Wise words and probably true. Those who think and live this way don’t usually mention having a countertop from the other side of the world with real fossil imprints that cost 50,000. They have it because they find it meaningful for themselves—or not.
I mentioned the vegetable garden because I would manage it myself, and it gives me meaning in several ways: gardening, possibly growing heirloom varieties that I can’t buy, and ultimately producing ingredients for cooking, which is the main activity the kitchen is for (not a showroom). Of course, in the end I spend the same amount of money, but for a different purpose.
Or to put it simply: if someone only finds meaning in spending money by showing off their purchases and relying on the reactions of others (“oh, your kitchen is amazing, I’m so jealous”), then they have taken an unhealthy path in their personal development.
That doesn’t mean the same money couldn’t be spent meaningfully in other, healthier ways.
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chand19861 Apr 2019 10:49guckuck2 schrieb:
I would consider myself part of the upper middle class, but for example, I have no interest in cars at all. I don’t understand why someone would spend 50,000€ (around $54,000) on a BMW that, after all, just gets you from point A to point B. Sure, it’s a nice car, comfortable, good materials, and has more power than my ride. If I had 50,000€ (around $54,000) to spare, I would think of other things to spend it on rather than buying a car. If someone buys a BMW because they genuinely enjoy the driving experience, that’s one thing. But buying one just to be seen in a BMW is another.
Those who want to be noticed for what they own rather than who they are will always have a problem. However, this is naturally the dream customer for the industry, which is why every advertisement shows this type of person as the role model. That doesn’t bring satisfaction. Owning a kitchen just to show off is simply nonsense. And if you don’t even want to show off, but just happen to have so much money that you don’t know what else to do with it, then it’s better to get it back out into other pockets—I fully agree with @hampshire on that.
I just love powerful cars with high horsepower. Sometimes practicality wins, and it ends up being a Golf station wagon without the R badge.
Even though I still miss the R Golf.
When it comes to kitchens, there comes a point where the last bit of technology costs an extraordinary amount of money.
Even though I still miss the R Golf.
When it comes to kitchens, there comes a point where the last bit of technology costs an extraordinary amount of money.
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chand19861 Apr 2019 11:03perth schrieb:
If you know how to cook, you don’t need fancy gadgets or a fancy kitchen. Reminds me of my student days: knife, cutting board, frying pan, pot, gas stove. It worked. Even tasted good. Still, later I treated myself to more comfort, efficiency, and helpful tools ("Why do we have to wash dishes today? There aren’t any spoons left to cut the bread roll! Oh, I see.") – and I could imagine even more space and nicer, higher-quality materials. But at some point, the line to the pointless is crossed.
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