The recession and the volatile housing market have meant that many people are choosing to stay put and improve their homes, rather than sell up and move to bigger premises. New kitchens and bathrooms usually take huge chunks out of any refurbishment project, but a little ingenuity can mean a big cut in costs.
‘Home owners are thinking about ways in which they can remodel and improve their existing kitchens and bathrooms rather than splurge on completely new ones,' says our home expert Casey Daniel. ‘It's possible to achieve a totally new look by being clever with the budget and making informed decisions about styles and materials.
Before you start
Decide on a budget and the purpose of the refurb. Casey says: ‘Be specific: write down exactly what bothers you about your existing kitchen or bathroom, then write another list of what you're trying to achieve with the new one.' Cut out any pictures or articles in magazines of rooms or ideas you particularly like the look of, and keep them to show potential suppliers.
Kitchens
‘Use existing cabinets wherever possible,' Casey advises. ‘Often carcasses are perfectly sound, in which case you can consider replacing the doors to achieve a fresh look without ripping out the whole kitchen.' Most DIY stores will stock a limited range of cabinet doors, but we can advise on companies that specialise in manufacturing replacement doors in a wide range of styles to suit all budgets. We can also recommend carpenters who'll make bespoke doors to exact specifications. ‘If the existing doors are solid timber and are good quality, then think about having them sanded, finished and repainted, and update the look further with new handles.'
Similarly, worktops can be replaced to update your kitchen instantly. A huge choice of solid timbers are available that can be cut to length, and we can also source granite, natural stone and composite worktops. For a more contemporary look choose glass, polished plaster, stainless steel or concrete.
‘If it's more space you’re after, then often all that's needed is a good decluttering and some redecoration,’ comments Casey. Clever storage and shelving can free up valuable workspaces, while painting the walls and cabinets in matching, light monochrome colours will help make the kitchen feel larger. Open shelving is a popular alternative to fitted cabinets, and moveable dividing screens or partitions can create flexible barriers between cooking and eating areas.
The difficult market conditions may not be the best time to buy property, but new year or summer sales at struggling retailers can yield excellent bargain-hunting opportunities for new appliances. ‘Maybe now's the time to consider buying new, more energy-efficient appliances to reduce bills in case fuel costs rise,’ Casey says. ‘Worktops made of environmentally safe materials, such as those with low-emitting particleboard cores, and water-based adhesives offer a green, healthy surfacing option, while solatubes give you a natural light throughout the day and are equipped with a ventilation kit.’
Bathrooms
New taps, tiling and paint can update the look of a plain white suite. ‘Clear away clutter and make use of effective storage options to create more space,' Casey suggests. ‘You can also personalise your bathroom with some stylish accessories.’
Members that want to fit a new bathroom suite can keep costs down by keeping fixtures in the same place and keeping tiled areas to a minimum. ‘Glass bath tubs may be fashionable at the moment, but when choosing a new suite, pick a simple, classic design that won't date,' comments Casey. New plain white bathroom suites can be found at a very reasonable cost ‘off the shelf' at major DIY stores and plumbing merchants. ‘Go for something simple then upgrade the look with expensive taps, tiles and accessories.’
Insider tips:
- Some suppliers are usually booked up to a year in advance, but waiting times have dropped – we can typically get hold of people with a month's notice, rather than three.
- We have good deals with plumbers and electricians. Most plumbing companies charge £90 an hour plus VAT but ours charges £65 for the first hour and £55 per subsequent hour plus VAT and materials. This is based on visits between Monday to Friday, from 9am to 6pm.
- We can often source and find things cheaper than members can themselves.
- We will help oversee home renovations, saving members time as well as heartache. Our home team will make sure that people are booked for the right times and reduce unnecessary expenditures. ‘Fewer things go wrong if we handle it than if people try to manage it themselves,' says our home expert Roberto Crovini.
- Our keyholding service means we can let tradesmen in and out without members needing to take time off work.
- We have suppliers that meet all budgets.
- Our relationships with suppliers means members know they're hiring reliable tradespeople because we've vetted and used them many times before. And if anything does go wrong, we will step in and help sort it out.
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