The Kitchen - Save over £15,000
The perfect family kitchen is one aspect few self-builders are prepared to compromise on, with high-end kitchens starting from around £20,000. However, a lot of the more expensive units’ carcasses are made of the same material as the cheaper ones — it’s the doors that give them their style. An increasing number of self-builders are turning to IKEA for their kitchens, costing up to £5,000. A range of smart interior fittings for cupboards and drawers are on offer, and even solid wood worktops. Also try Pineland (pineland.co.uk) for a cost-effective solid pine kitchen.
Most ‘budget’ kitchens, including those from DIY sheds, can be nicely dressed up with quality door furniture, worktops and splashbacks. Making these savings on the kitchen units, you can invest more in other items like tiling, appliances and seating — lifting the kitchen into the realm of luxury. You can also save a lot of money by hiding storage and cupboard space in a cheaper utility area in a separate room.
Bathrooms - Save over £5,000
Firstly, minimise the number of bathrooms you have. An en suite with every bedroom isn’t generally necessary — not only do extra bathrooms require sanitaryware, but they involve extra plumbing runs, floor and all finishes, specialised lighting and ventilation, and heated towel rails.Designer sanitaryware carries a big price tag, so opt for only one statement item – such as the basin or bath – and let everything else serve as a backdrop. You don’t need to buy everything from the same manufacturer, but do check that any whites match. Get your tiles from discount tile superstores, and opt for acrylic or pressed steel baths as opposed to cast iron, which is far more expensive — neither economy will be apparent once installed.
You’ll need to plan in bathrooms early, to get all the plumbing in the right place, as changes at second fix stage are expensive. Bear in mind that the plumber will need to fit waste pipes for basins depending on whether they are pedestal (in the floor) or wall hung. If you want a flush shower tray, the waste pipe will have to be set low enough for a subfloor waste trap.
