Full Kitchen Refurbishment in a London Victorian Terrace: Design, Products, and Costs

THE CHOICE OF KITCHEN UNIT SUPPLIER SETS THE CEILING FOR WHAT THE KITCHEN CAN LOOK LIKE AND THE FLOOR FOR WHAT IT WILL COST. IN LONDON VICTORIAN TERRACE REFURBISHMENTS, THE FOLLOWING SUPPLIERS ARE MOST COMMONLY SPECIFIED ACROSS DIFFERENT BUDGET TIERS.

HOWDENS JOINERY (TRADE-ONLY, BUILDER SUPPLY — THE DOMINANT VOLUME KITCHEN IN LONDON RENOVATION): HOWDENS IS THE UK'S LARGEST TRADE KITCHEN SUPPLIER — AVAILABLE ONLY THROUGH A REGISTERED TRADE ACCOUNT (BUILDERS AND CONTRACTORS HAVE ACCOUNTS; HOMEOWNERS DO NOT BUY DIRECTLY). HOWDENS KITCHEN RANGES RELEVANT TO LONDON RENOVATIONS: BURFORD SHAKER (CREAM, STONE GREY, WHITE — THE MOST POPULAR LONDON RENOVATION KITCHEN IN THE £8,000 TO £15,000 SUPPLY-ONLY RANGE). GREENWICH SLAB (HANDLELESS, MATT GREY OR WHITE — CONTEMPORARY OPTION FOR OPEN-PLAN LONDON KITCHEN-DINERS). FAIRFORD SHAKER (INFRAME EFFECT, PREMIUM WITHIN HOWDENS RANGE). HOWDENS CABINETS ARE 720MM HIGH (STANDARD BASE), 900MM HIGH (TALL UNITS), 300MM TO 900MM WIDE. UNIT CARCASSES ARE E0 LOW-EMISSION CHIPBOARD WITH MELAMINE FACE.

WREN KITCHENS (RETAIL, DIRECT-TO-HOMEOWNER, SECOND-TIER PRICE POINT): WREN KITCHENS IS THE UK'S LARGEST DIRECT-TO-HOMEOWNER KITCHEN BRAND — SHOWROOMS IN LONDON (TOTTENHAM COURT ROAD, CROYDON, WATFORD). RELEVANT RANGES: INFINITY PLUS (SOLID WOOD FRAME, SHAKER DOOR — THE MOST POPULAR WREN RANGE FOR LONDON TERRACES), AURORA (HANDLELESS, HIGH-GLOSS LACQUER FOR CONTEMPORARY OPEN-PLAN). WREN CABINET CARCASSES ARE POLYMER-COATED CHIPBOARD. WREN KITCHENS INCLUDE FREE DESIGN SERVICE AND HOME DELIVERY — BUT INSTALLATION IS CHARGED SEPARATELY AND WREN RECOMMEND THEIR OWN FITTERS.

SIEMATIC (PREMIUM GERMAN KITCHEN — THE MID-TO-HIGH SPECIFICATION CHOICE FOR LONDON RENOVATION): SIEMATIC S3 (SHAKER WITH INFRAME DOORS — AVAILABLE IN STONE GREY, PEBBLE GREY, DOVE WHITE — CLASSIC CHOICE FOR LONDON PERIOD PROPERTY KITCHEN RENOVATION). SIEMATIC PURE S2 (HANDLELESS LINEAR). SIEMATIC CARCASSES ARE FULLY BONDED CHIPBOARD WITH PRECISION-MACHINED STEEL HINGES (BLUM TANDEM BOX INTIVO DRAWER SYSTEMS). SUPPLY-ONLY: £15,000 TO £35,000+ DEPENDING ON CONFIGURATION AND SIZE.

THE WORKTOP IS THE MOST VISUALLY DOMINANT ELEMENT OF THE KITCHEN SURFACE AND DIRECTLY AFFECTS DURABILITY, CLEANING, HEAT RESISTANCE, AND COST.

EMGINEERED QUARTZ WORKTOPS (THE DOMINANT CHOICE FOR LONDON RENOVATION KITCHENS): ENGINEERED QUARTZ (SILICA AGGREGATE BOUND WITH POLYESTER RESIN) IS THE MOST WIDELY SPECIFIED KITCHEN WORKTOP IN LONDON RENOVATION. KEY BRANDS AND PRODUCTS: SILESTONE CALACATTA GOLD (COMPAC — 91% QUARTZ, AVAILABLE IN 20MM AND 30MM THICKNESS — ONE OF THE BEST-SELLING WORKTOP MATERIALS IN LONDON); CAESARSTONE CALACATTA NUVO (ANOTHER POPULAR LONDON CHOICE — 93% NATURAL QUARTZ, AVAILABLE IN 20MM THICKNESS, VEINED MARBLE-EFFECT IN WHITE AND GOLD); COSENTINO SILESTONE ETERNAL STATUARIO (PREMIUM SILESTONE — WHITE MARBLE EFFECT, 20MM). QUARTZ ADVANTAGES: NON-POROUS (DOES NOT STAIN), UNIFORM COLOUR AND PATTERN, DOES NOT NEED SEALING, AVAILABLE IN LARGE FORMATS FOR SEAMLESS KITCHEN ISLANDS. QUARTZ LIMITATIONS: NOT HEAT-RESISTANT TO DIRECT PAN CONTACT — TRIVETS REQUIRED; SOME QUARTZ PRODUCTS CONTAIN CRYSTALLINE SILICA — FABRICATION MUST COMPLY WITH CONTROL OF SILICA DUST REGULATIONS (WET CUTTING, ENCLOSED DUST EXTRACTION). TYPICAL SUPPLY-AND-FIT COST FOR LONDON KITCHEN QUARTZ WORKTOP: £350 TO £600 PER LINEAR METRE (INCLUDING FITTING, CUTOUTS FOR SINK AND HOB).

DEKTON (ULTRA-COMPACT SINTERED SURFACE — PREMIUM, HEAT-RESISTANT): COSENTINO DEKTON IS A SINTERED STONE PRODUCT (MIXTURE OF GLASS, PORCELAIN, AND QUARTZ PARTICLES SINTERED AT HIGH TEMPERATURE AND PRESSURE) WITH EXCEPTIONAL HEAT RESISTANCE (UP TO 300°C DIRECT) AND SCRATCH RESISTANCE. POPULAR DEKTON COLOURS FOR LONDON KITCHENS: DEKTON OPERA (WHITE WITH GREY VEINING), DEKTON KELYA (DARK GREY, BASALT EFFECT). SUPPLY AND FIT: £500 TO £800 PER LINEAR METRE.

BUILT-IN APPLIANCES IN A LONDON KITCHEN REFURBISHMENT ARE A SIGNIFICANT COST ITEM — AND THE CHOICE OF APPLIANCE BRAND AND SPECIFICATION AFFECTS BOTH THE FINISHED QUALITY AND THE INSTALLATION COMPLEXITY.

OVENS: AEG BPE948730M (SINGLE OVEN, 71L STEAMBOOST CAVITY — A CONSISTENT CHOICE FOR LONDON RENOVATION KITCHENS AT APPROXIMATELY £700 TO £900 TRADE PRICE; ENAMEL INTERIOR, BREAD PROVING SETTING, GENTLE STEAM). NEFF B6ACH7HH0B SLIDE AND HIDE (THE HIDEAWAY DOOR OVEN — POPULAR FOR LONDON KITCHEN ISLANDS WHERE DOOR CLEARANCE IS AN ISSUE; £900 TO £1,200 TRADE PRICE). SIEMENS HS958GEA1B BUILT-IN OVEN WITH FULL STEAM (FOR HIGHER-SPECIFICATION LONDON KITCHENS — FULL COMBI-STEAM, 71L CAVITY, £1,200 TO £1,500 TRADE PRICE).

INDUCTION HOBS: AEG IAE84881FB (60CM INDUCTION, BRIDGING FUNCTION — £400 TO £600; THE MOST WIDELY FITTED INDUCTION HOB IN LONDON RENOVATION KITCHENS. FOUR ZONE PLUS BRIDGE FUNCTION FOR PAN FLEXIBILITY). NEFF T58PT20N0 (90CM FIVE-ZONE INDUCTION FLEXINDUCTION — FOR LARGER LONDON KITCHEN REFURBISHMENTS WHERE A 90CM HOB FITS THE DESIGN; £800 TO £1,100). IMPORTANT: INDUCTION HOBS REQUIRE A DEDICATED 32A OR 40A RADIAL CIRCUIT FROM THE CONSUMER UNIT — THIS IS A PART P NOTIFIABLE WORK ITEM (ELECTRICAL SAFETY ACT 2022).

EXTRACTOR / VENTILATION: NEFF D95IMW5N1B TELESCOPIC SLIDER HOOD (INTEGRATED INTO WALL UNIT — POPS FORWARD WHEN IN USE; £500 TO £750). ELICA APLOMB CEILING HOOD (FOR LONDON OPEN-PLAN KITCHEN-DINERS WITH ISLAND — CEILING-MOUNTED, RECIRCULATION OR EXTERNAL DUCT; £800 TO £1,500). EXTERNAL DUCTING IS ALWAYS PREFERRED OVER RECIRCULATION — CHARCOAL FILTERS IN RECIRCULATION HOODS REQUIRE REPLACING EVERY 3 TO 6 MONTHS AND DO NOT REMOVE STEAM. EXTERNAL DUCTING FROM A LONDON TERRACE KITCHEN TYPICALLY EXITS THROUGH THE REAR ELEVATION — PLANNING PERMITTED DEVELOPMENT ALLOWS VENTILATION GRILLES TO REAR ELEVATIONS WITHOUT CONSENT.

THE BIGGEST COST AND COMPLEXITY VARIABLE IN A LONDON VICTORIAN TERRACE KITCHEN REFURBISHMENT IS STRUCTURAL WORK — MOST COMMONLY THE REMOVAL OF THE DIVIDING WALL BETWEEN THE KITCHEN AND REAR RECEPTION TO CREATE AN OPEN-PLAN KITCHEN-DINER, OR THE REMOVAL OF THE CHIMNEY BREAST TO GAIN FLOOR SPACE.

OPENING BETWEEN KITCHEN AND REAR RECEPTION (KNOCK-THROUGH): THE DIVIDING WALL IN A LONDON VICTORIAN TERRACE BETWEEN THE GROUND-FLOOR REAR RECEPTION ROOM AND THE REAR KITCHEN IS TYPICALLY EITHER: A LOAD-BEARING SOLID BRICK WALL (MOST COMMON IN TERRACE MID-SECTIONS) OR A LATER ADDITION PARTITION WALL (SOMETIMES FOUND WHERE A PREVIOUS EXTENSION WAS ADDED). A STRUCTURAL ENGINEER ASSESSMENT IS REQUIRED TO DETERMINE WALL TYPE BEFORE OPENING. IF LOAD-BEARING, A STEEL BEAM (TYPICALLY UB 203X133X25 OR UB 254X146X31 DEPENDING ON SPAN AND LOAD ABOVE) IS REQUIRED ON STEEL POSTS OR PADSTONES. COST OF KNOCK-THROUGH STRUCTURAL WORKS (INCLUDING STRUCTURAL ENGINEER FEE, BEAM SUPPLY AND INSTALL, PADSTONES OR POSTS, BUILDING CONTROL INSPECTION): £3,000 TO £7,000 DEPENDING ON WALL TYPE AND BEAM SIZE.

CHIMNEY BREAST REMOVAL: GROUND-FLOOR CHIMNEY BREAST REMOVAL IN A LONDON VICTORIAN TERRACE REQUIRES A STRUCTURAL STEEL SUPPORT FOR THE CHIMNEY BREAST ABOVE — THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT STRUCTURAL INTERVENTION REQUIRING STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING DESIGN AND BUILDING CONTROL APPROVAL. THE TYPICAL APPROACH IS A STEEL GOALPOST FRAME BUILT INTO THE WALLS ABOVE THE REMOVED CHIMNEY BREAST STACK (CARRIED THROUGH THE FIRST FLOOR AND INTO THE LOFT SPACE). COST: £4,000 TO £10,000 DEPENDING ON WHETHER THE REMOVAL ALSO AFFECTS FIRST-FLOOR CHIMNEY BREAST OR ONLY THE GROUND FLOOR.

IN A FULL KITCHEN REFURBISHMENT INVOLVING RELOCATION OF THE KITCHEN LAYOUT (E.G. SINK MOVED TO ISLAND OR OPPOSITE WALL, HOB RELOCATED), SIGNIFICANT PLUMBING, GAS, AND ELECTRICAL WORK IS REQUIRED.

DRAINAGE (SINK AND DISHWASHER WASTE): KITCHEN SINKS AND DISHWASHERS MUST CONNECT TO A WASTE PIPE RUNNING AT A MINIMUM 1:40 GRADIENT TO THE DRAIN OR SOIL STACK. IN LONDON VICTORIAN TERRACES, THE ORIGINAL KITCHEN DRAIN IS TYPICALLY LOCATED BELOW THE FLOOR AT THE REAR EXTERNAL WALL. IF THE SINK IS BEING RELOCATED MORE THAN 1 TO 2 METRES FROM THE ORIGINAL POSITION, THE DRAINAGE FALL MUST BE RECALCULATED — IN SOME CASES A MACERATOR PUMP (SANIFLO SANIVITE) MAY BE NEEDED WHERE THE GRADIENT CANNOT BE ACHIEVED UNDER THE FLOOR. CONNECTING TO THE SOIL STACK (FOR WASTE PIPE ABOVE GROUND): 40MM POLYPIPE PUSHFIT WASTE PIPEWORK AT 1:40 FALL — CONFIRM WITHIN THE FLOOR VOID BEFORE KITCHEN DESIGN IS FIXED.

GAS (RELOCATED HOB): IF THE GAS HOB IS BEING RELOCATED FROM ITS ORIGINAL POSITION, A GAS SAFE-REGISTERED ENGINEER MUST INSTALL THE NEW GAS POINT. LONDON VICTORIAN TERRACES HAVE ½ INCH GAS SUPPLY PIPES (12MM COPPER) TO THE ORIGINAL KITCHEN LOCATION — EXTENSION RUNS OF MORE THAN 2 METRES MAY REQUIRE UPGRADING TO 15MM OR 22MM COPPER. ALL GAS WORK MUST BE CARRIED OUT BY A GAS SAFE REGISTERED ENGINEER (REGISTRATION NUMBER MUST BE ON BUILDING NOTIFICATION) AND TESTED WITH A GAS TIGHTNESS TEST DOCUMENTED BEFORE COMMISSIONING.

ELECTRICS (PART P NOTIFIABLE): REWIRING OF A KITCHEN IS NOTIFIABLE UNDER PART P OF THE BUILDING REGULATIONS (ELECTRICAL SAFETY IN DWELLINGS). THE FOLLOWING WORKS ARE NOTIFIABLE: NEW CIRCUITS, NEW CONSUMER UNIT, SOCKET OUTLETS IN KITCHEN WITHIN 600MM OF A SINK OR HOB. THE INSTALLING ELECTRICIAN MUST EITHER BE REGISTERED WITH A COMPETENT PERSON SCHEME (NAPIT, ELECSA, NICEIC) — IN WHICH CASE THEY SELF-CERTIFY — OR THE WORK MUST BE SUBMITTED TO BUILDING CONTROL FOR INSPECTION AND SIGN-OFF. ALL KITCHEN SOCKETS MUST BE PROTECTED BY A 30MA RCCB OR RCBO.

KITCHEN REFURBISHMENT COSTS IN LONDON VARY SIGNIFICANTLY BASED ON UNIT SPECIFICATION, WORKTOP CHOICE, STRUCTURAL WORKS, AND APPLIANCE SPECIFICATION.

BASIC KITCHEN SWAP (HOWDENS BURFORD SHAKER, LAMINATE WORKTOP, TILED SPLASHBACK, SAME LAYOUT — NO STRUCTURAL WORKS): HOWDENS KITCHEN SUPPLY (10 UNITS, BASE AND WALL): £3,000 TO £6,000 SUPPLY ONLY. INSTALLATION (CARPENTER/KITCHEN FITTER, PLUMBER, ELECTRICIAN): £2,000 TO £4,000. LAMINATE WORKTOP (FORMICA OR HOWDENS OWN): £500 TO £1,200 SUPPLY AND FIT. TILED SPLASHBACK (METRO TILES 75X150MM, FIRED EARTH): £500 TO £1,000. TOTAL: £6,000 TO £12,000.

MID-SPECIFICATION KITCHEN REFURBISHMENT (HOWDENS OR WREN, QUARTZ WORKTOP, AEG APPLIANCES, NEW DRAINAGE AND ELECTRICAL, NO STRUCTURAL WORKS): KITCHEN SUPPLY (HOWDENS GREENWICH OR WREN INFINITY PLUS): £5,000 TO £9,000. INSTALLATION (KITCHEN FITTER, ELECTRICIAN, PLUMBER): £3,000 TO £5,000. SILESTONE CALACATTA QUARTZ WORKTOP: £2,500 TO £5,000 (SUPPLY AND FIT). APPLIANCES (AEG OVEN, INDUCTION HOB, BOSCH DISHWASHER, NEFF EXTRACTOR): £2,500 TO £5,000 SUPPLY. TILING AND FINISHES: £1,000 TO £2,500. TOTAL: £14,000 TO £26,500.

FULL HIGH-SPECIFICATION OPEN-PLAN KITCHEN REFURBISHMENT (SIEMATIC OR BULTHAUP, DEKTON WORKTOPS, NEFF OR SIEMENS APPLIANCES, STRUCTURAL KNOCK-THROUGH, ISLAND): KITCHEN SUPPLY (SIEMATIC S3): £15,000 TO £35,000. STRUCTURAL KNOCK-THROUGH AND BEAM: £4,000 TO £7,000. WORKTOPS (DEKTON OR QUARTZ): £4,000 TO £10,000. APPLIANCES (NEFF, SIEMENS, MIELE): £5,000 TO £15,000. ISLAND (JOINERY AND PLUMBING): £2,000 TO £5,000. M&E (ELECTRICAL, PLUMBING, GAS): £3,000 TO £6,000. TOTAL: £33,000 TO £78,000+.