How Much Does a Bespoke Kitchen Cost?
A bespoke kitchen can be a great investment if you want a space that lasts, but how much should you expect to pay?
If you’re hoping to plan a kitchen that functions perfectly, looks beautiful and lasts for years, it could be worth hiring a professional designer. To help you decide if this is the right option for you and as part of our Kitchen Planning guide, we’ve asked kitchen designers to explain the costs involved in planning a bespoke cookspace.
Professional advice from: Cathy Davis of Classic Interiors; Diane Berry of Diane Berry Kitchens; Lottie McCrostie and Jayne Everett of Naked Kitchens; Zoe Holland of Sustainable Kitchens
Also in this series: How a Kitchen Designer Can Keep Your Project On Schedule and On Budget; How to Choose a Kitchen Designer
Beginning your kitchen project? Read How to Start a Kitchen Renovation
Professional advice from: Cathy Davis of Classic Interiors; Diane Berry of Diane Berry Kitchens; Lottie McCrostie and Jayne Everett of Naked Kitchens; Zoe Holland of Sustainable Kitchens
Also in this series: How a Kitchen Designer Can Keep Your Project On Schedule and On Budget; How to Choose a Kitchen Designer
Beginning your kitchen project? Read How to Start a Kitchen Renovation
How are costs allocated at each stage of the process?
As a general rule at Sustainable Kitchens, Zoe says, 30 percent of the budget is spent on cabinetry and 50 percent on appliances, worktops and accessories. This leaves 20 percent to be spent on installation, delivery and hand-painting.
Cathy outlines the average split of costs at Classic Interiors as 60 percent on furniture, 15 percent on worktops, 15 percent on appliances and 10 percent on fitting.
“So for a £20,000 kitchen,” she says, “I would expect the quote to include around £12,000 for furniture, £3,000 for quartz worktops, £3,000 for appliances and £2,000 for fitting.”
However, homeowners have differing priorities when it comes to allocating a budget, as Lottie McCrostie explains. “One person could know exactly what they want, so spend nothing on a design service, decide to go for a relatively simple kitchen with not much cabinetry or need for accessories, but then splash out £50,000 on state-of-the-art appliances.
“Another may need more help with design, spend lots more on cabinetry if they want more bespoke storage, but then only spend £10,000 on appliances from slightly cheaper brands,” she says.
As a general rule at Sustainable Kitchens, Zoe says, 30 percent of the budget is spent on cabinetry and 50 percent on appliances, worktops and accessories. This leaves 20 percent to be spent on installation, delivery and hand-painting.
Cathy outlines the average split of costs at Classic Interiors as 60 percent on furniture, 15 percent on worktops, 15 percent on appliances and 10 percent on fitting.
“So for a £20,000 kitchen,” she says, “I would expect the quote to include around £12,000 for furniture, £3,000 for quartz worktops, £3,000 for appliances and £2,000 for fitting.”
However, homeowners have differing priorities when it comes to allocating a budget, as Lottie McCrostie explains. “One person could know exactly what they want, so spend nothing on a design service, decide to go for a relatively simple kitchen with not much cabinetry or need for accessories, but then splash out £50,000 on state-of-the-art appliances.
“Another may need more help with design, spend lots more on cabinetry if they want more bespoke storage, but then only spend £10,000 on appliances from slightly cheaper brands,” she says.
Is the first consultation free?
“Most kitchen designers offer a free consultation, but often don’t release their work without payment,” Diane explains. “For example, I charge £3,000 for the release of drawings, but this can then be used as part payment of a deposit when they proceed, so in principle it’s free.”
“It’s common for the first design to be no obligation,” Cathy says, “so you can ensure the company and designer are thinking the same way you are [as a homeowner], but you need to be prepared to commission the designer after this point, and either pay a design fee or a deposit, which is commonly around 10 percent of the project cost.
“Designs generally aren’t released until a design fee or deposit is paid,” she adds, “as that’s the company or designer’s intellectual property, which has often taken hours or even days of work to create.”
Diane explains that the process begins with a face-to-face meeting chatting through the homeowner’s hopes and needs for their space. “We then spend a week or two gathering ideas and preparing drawings,” she says, “then invite the clients back to our studio to be presented with our first designs and a selection of materials that might suit their brief.”
“Most kitchen designers offer a free consultation, but often don’t release their work without payment,” Diane explains. “For example, I charge £3,000 for the release of drawings, but this can then be used as part payment of a deposit when they proceed, so in principle it’s free.”
“It’s common for the first design to be no obligation,” Cathy says, “so you can ensure the company and designer are thinking the same way you are [as a homeowner], but you need to be prepared to commission the designer after this point, and either pay a design fee or a deposit, which is commonly around 10 percent of the project cost.
“Designs generally aren’t released until a design fee or deposit is paid,” she adds, “as that’s the company or designer’s intellectual property, which has often taken hours or even days of work to create.”
Diane explains that the process begins with a face-to-face meeting chatting through the homeowner’s hopes and needs for their space. “We then spend a week or two gathering ideas and preparing drawings,” she says, “then invite the clients back to our studio to be presented with our first designs and a selection of materials that might suit their brief.”
Is it possible to pay for a design service only?
Some companies offer just a design service, but this is usually with the understanding that you’ll purchase a kitchen from them.
“We offer two routes to ordering a Naked Kitchen,” says Jayne. “The Straight to Order route, where a client can simply order the exact cabinets and accessories for their kitchen from our online library of cabinets, or the Render Service, where we work together to evolve our clients’ kitchen plans to produce a 3D render and detailed quotation ready to place an order. This service costs £500 plus VAT and 50% of this is offset against the order.”
Some companies offer just a design service, but this is usually with the understanding that you’ll purchase a kitchen from them.
“We offer two routes to ordering a Naked Kitchen,” says Jayne. “The Straight to Order route, where a client can simply order the exact cabinets and accessories for their kitchen from our online library of cabinets, or the Render Service, where we work together to evolve our clients’ kitchen plans to produce a 3D render and detailed quotation ready to place an order. This service costs £500 plus VAT and 50% of this is offset against the order.”
What factors affect the cost?
“Prices vary a lot depending on things such as worktop material and size; brand and number of appliances, and installation quotes,” Lottie says.
“The biggest determining factor in the budget is the room size,” Cathy says. “When I first meet my clients, I’ll ask them a few simple questions, which enables me to very quickly estimate the project costs.
“I’ll discuss the budget at the outset to ensure I can create a design that’s within it and ensure the client is realistic as to what each aspect will cost,” she continues. “It’s important to be honest and transparent about the budget to ensure the very best design can be created within it.”
More: Where Designers Would Spend and Save in a Kitchen
“Prices vary a lot depending on things such as worktop material and size; brand and number of appliances, and installation quotes,” Lottie says.
“The biggest determining factor in the budget is the room size,” Cathy says. “When I first meet my clients, I’ll ask them a few simple questions, which enables me to very quickly estimate the project costs.
“I’ll discuss the budget at the outset to ensure I can create a design that’s within it and ensure the client is realistic as to what each aspect will cost,” she continues. “It’s important to be honest and transparent about the budget to ensure the very best design can be created within it.”
More: Where Designers Would Spend and Save in a Kitchen
Are there cheaper options available?
If your budget doesn’t stretch to a bespoke kitchen, some companies offer alternative packages.
“Our sister company, Honest Kitchens, works on the same principles as Sustainable Kitchens, but with standard-sized cabinetry,” Zoe says. “The client manages the project and sources appliances, worktops and installation.”
Naked Kitchens offers a range of options that differ from its fully bespoke projects service. “Naked Kitchens start at around £18,000 and Naked Doors from around £3,000, depending on the amount of cabinetry and the materials specified,” Jayne says.
If your budget doesn’t stretch to a bespoke kitchen, some companies offer alternative packages.
“Our sister company, Honest Kitchens, works on the same principles as Sustainable Kitchens, but with standard-sized cabinetry,” Zoe says. “The client manages the project and sources appliances, worktops and installation.”
Naked Kitchens offers a range of options that differ from its fully bespoke projects service. “Naked Kitchens start at around £18,000 and Naked Doors from around £3,000, depending on the amount of cabinetry and the materials specified,” Jayne says.
Are there other costs to factor in?
“It’s imperative you keep some of the budget for unforeseen events,” Cathy says. “What if your fuse box needs upgrading to support your new, high-powered ovens and induction hob? That could be £500 or more, which the designer may not have quoted for.”
She also recommends you think about decorating. “It’s often fine when a client wants to paint the kitchen themselves,” she says, “but you need to have some basic skills and a good colour choice. If it’s done badly, it can ruin a space, so it’s worth budgeting for a quality decorator, too.”
More: How to Choose a Kitchen Designer
Tell us…
Have you considered using a kitchen designer for your project? Was this budgeting information useful? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
“It’s imperative you keep some of the budget for unforeseen events,” Cathy says. “What if your fuse box needs upgrading to support your new, high-powered ovens and induction hob? That could be £500 or more, which the designer may not have quoted for.”
She also recommends you think about decorating. “It’s often fine when a client wants to paint the kitchen themselves,” she says, “but you need to have some basic skills and a good colour choice. If it’s done badly, it can ruin a space, so it’s worth budgeting for a quality decorator, too.”
More: How to Choose a Kitchen Designer
Tell us…
Have you considered using a kitchen designer for your project? Was this budgeting information useful? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
The price of a bespoke kitchen generally starts at £20,000, according to our experts. “That’s our average at Classic Interiors, but we work on around 200 projects a year and budgets vary from £15,000 to more than £50,000,” Cathy Davis says.
“Most of our kitchens are between £35,000 and £75,000,” Diane Berry says. “However, we have done a few jobs at £25,000 and quite a few more than £100,000.”
Jayne Everett says the price of a completely bespoke kitchen at Naked Kitchens starts at £18,000 for an average-size kitchen, while Zoe Holland says Sustainable Kitchens’ prices start at £25,000. However, Zoe adds that clients tend to spend £35,000 on average.
Are you planning a revamp? Find a kitchen designer in your area.