The replacement of a kitchen can be a very costly and very wasteful project. Skips are hired and everything is invariably thrown out. In fact, what gets put up after is usually very similar to what had just been thrown out. Sometimes the materials are even inferior. Most cupboard backs are often in very good condition. This raises the option of only replacing what really needs to be replaced. Cupboard fronts, drawers, drawer runners and hinges, as the only moving parts, are the most likely to be damaged. And they can be replaced at a tiny fraction of the cost of the whole units.

In St Mary’s Parish Centre kitchen, as with quite a few kitchens that look tired and worn, the handles were beginning to break and wear and there were unsightly stains on the worksurface. This kitchen has beautiful solid oak cupboard fronts and was clearly built to last many decades. A kind donor offered solid wood door knobs to replace the broken metal knockers and this immediately returned the kitchen to an excellent condition.

Hinges, drawer runners and handles can all be replaced easily to repair broken or damaged parts. They can often be replaced for soft-close ones these days if that is desired.

Cupboard Fronts

If you are lucky enough to have a kitchen with solid wood cupboard fronts then it should be longer lasting and easier to repair. The rule of thumb for sustainability of wooden furniture applies: for sustainability the wood must last longer than the time it took for the tree to grow.

If you have cupboard fronts in good condition but you want a change, you could consider painting them for that new kitchen feel at a fraction of the cost.

If you have cupboard fronts in poor condition, then you should be able to find replacement door fronts to fit. Despite best efforts from some kitchen manufacturers and retailers to tweak the sizes of kitchen units (possibly to stop people doing this trick?), many kitchens have units which are the same size as a few different standard sizes.

Cupboards Units

Cupboard units invariably are in good condition. Occasionally there might be damage near the sink or cooker hood. Unit shelves can be replaced easily, but if the damage is more substantial then a single unit replacement is generally viable and can be made to blend in with the other units. It is possible to replace the top units separately from the base units if more of a refresh is required.

The cost of units can sometimes be prohibitive: a recent price review suggested stand-alone refrigerators stacked next to each other could cost less than fitted chipboard cupboard units! Perhaps that is to be expected if a complete kitchen could cost more than a new car!

Worksurfaces

The worksurface at St Mary’s (see photo) is stained in one area as a result of heat damage over the years. It is in good condition and the discolouration may simply be described as cosmetic. There is no reason to replace it.

Solid wooden worksurfaces can be harder to maintain than this sort of worksurface as they generally need to be kept dry. However, if you have one with marks or stubborn stains then it is quite feasible to sand it down and re-apply the oils to make it look as good as new (a competent DIY’er or a professional can help with this). As with other solid wooden products, it should be able to last for longer than the time it took for the tree to grow if it is to be considered truly sustainable.

Other facelift ideas

Painting the walls can make the kitchen seem new and tiles can be painted with specialist tile paint too if a new colour scheme is required. If the tile grout is in poor condition then this can often be carefully removed and re-grouted (perhaps to a different colour). Sealants can be reapplied. If the tiles are cracked or broken then they may often be able to be replaced if spares can be found. Failing that, the tiled areas can be re-tiled without damaging the rest of the kitchen.

Kitchen flooring might look worse for wear and this can be replaced to make a big impact.

Lighting has been an area of change in recent years. Sometimes simply updating the lighting can dramatically improve the appearance of the space and make it look like a new kitchen (the St Mary’s kitchen could look very different with LED feature lights under the cupboards, for example). If you have spot lights then make sure they are low-energy LED ones.

Finally, why not try and introduce some potted plants or living herbs to bring some life into the kitchen!