A kitchen makeover updates the parts of a kitchen you see and touch, such as doors, drawer fronts, worktops, splashbacks, handles and lighting, while keeping the existing cabinets and layout. It suits kitchens with sound, square carcasses and a layout that works, and costs a fraction of a full replacement with far less disruption.
Most kitchens wear out on the surface long before the boxes behind the doors do. If your cabinets are solid, the hinges hold and the layout works, replacing what you can see gives a very different kitchen for much less than a new one. The work usually takes a few days rather than a couple of weeks, and the cupboards can stay full for much of it.
The survey is about honesty as much as measuring. We open every cupboard to check for swollen chipboard under the sink or dishwasher, loose rails and damaged backs. If the carcasses aren't up to it, we'll tell you, because new doors on failing cabinets won't last. If they're sound, we'll show you combinations of doors, worktops and splashbacks that fit your budget, and price each option separately.
Which options suit your home?
Replacement doors and drawer fronts
New doors in shaker, slab, gloss or wood-effect finishes, made to fit your existing carcasses. Most fitted kitchens use standard unit sizes, so replacement doors are easy to source; older or unusual kitchens may need made-to-measure doors. New end panels, plinths and cornice are matched so the finish looks complete rather than patched.
New worktops
Replacing tired worktops changes a kitchen more than almost anything else. Laminate is quick and affordable, solid wood brings warmth, and quartz or compact laminate is hard-wearing. Changing worktops means disconnecting the sink and hob, so plumbing and, for a gas hob, a Gas Safe registered engineer are included where needed.
Splashbacks and upstands
Tiles, toughened glass, acrylic sheet or matching worktop upstands protect the wall behind the sink and hob. Glass behind a hob must be heat-rated and fitted with the clearances the hob manufacturer specifies. A new splashback is often the cheapest way to make a dated kitchen look current.
Handles, hinges and drawer runners
Swapping handles changes the style at very low cost, and upgrading to soft-close hinges and runners makes old units feel new. New handles may not line up with old screw holes, so they're usually fitted at the same time as new doors, or the old holes are filled carefully.
Lighting and small upgrades
Under-cabinet LED strips, plinth lights or new ceiling spotlights make the kitchen easier to work in. Adding lights to an existing kitchen circuit isn't notifiable, but a new circuit is, and either way the electrical work is tested. A new sink and tap or a replacement extractor can be added to the same visit.
What's included when SKJ does the work?
- Free survey, including a check inside every cabinet for swelling, damage and loose fixings
- Itemised written quote with each option priced separately, so you can choose what to change
- Measuring and ordering replacement doors, drawer fronts, panels, plinths and cornice
- Removal and fitting of doors and drawer fronts, with hinges adjusted so gaps are even
- Worktop removal and fitting, with sink and hob disconnected and reconnected
- Any gas reconnection by a Gas Safe registered engineer named in your quote
- Splashback or tiling, sealing and any agreed lighting, tested on completion
- Old doors and worktops taken away, and the kitchen left clean and usable
How much does a kitchen makeover cost?
Guide prices run from £1,200 to £11,000 depending on size and specification. New doors, drawer fronts, handles and laminate worktops for a 12-unit kitchen: typically £3,200 – £4,800.
| Option | Guide price | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Doors, drawer fronts and handles | £1,200 – £3,000 | Same worktops, new look |
| Doors, worktops and splashback | £3,000 – £6,500 | A full refresh |
| Full makeover with stone worktops and lighting | £6,500 – £11,000 | Quartz or similar, new sink, tap and lights |
Usually included: Supply and fitting of agreed doors, drawer fronts, panels and handles, worktops cut and fitted, sink and hob reconnection, splashback where listed, and removal of old materials.
Usually extra: New appliances, replacement of damaged carcasses unless quoted, flooring, decorating, and a new electrical circuit unless listed.
Guide ranges are the total a homeowner would expect to pay, including VAT where it applies. Your fixed price comes after a free survey.
What changes the price?
- How many doors and drawer fronts, and the style and finish chosen
- Worktop material, and whether stone templating is needed
- Whether the sink, tap or hob are being replaced at the same time
- Splashback material and area
- Condition of the carcasses, as any damaged units add cost
- Lighting upgrades, especially if a new circuit is needed
How does the job run, start to finish?
- Survey and carcass checkWe open every cupboard and drawer to check the carcasses, hinges and runners, measure every door and drawer front, and look at the worktop joins and splashback. You get a written quote with doors, worktops, splashback and lighting priced separately, so you can mix and match.
- Choose finishes and orderYou pick door style, colour, handles, worktop and splashback, ideally from samples held up in your own kitchen's light. Doors made to measure usually take a few weeks; we confirm the delivery date before booking the fit, so nothing is started too early.
- Worktops and splashback firstIf worktops are changing, they go first: the sink and hob are disconnected, old tops removed, new ones cut, jointed and sealed, and the sink, tap and hob reconnected. Splashbacks follow once the tops are fixed. This stage takes one or two days for laminate or wood.
- Doors, drawers and finishing panelsOld doors come off, new hinges go on and new doors and drawer fronts are hung, then adjusted so every gap lines up. Plinths, end panels, cornice and handles finish the look. The kitchen stays usable throughout, apart from the cupboard being worked on.
- Lighting, final checks and handoverAny lighting is fitted and tested, the sink and appliances are run to check for leaks, and every door and drawer is checked. Old doors and worktops are taken away. We walk round with you, adjust anything that isn't right, and hand over the paperwork.
Timescale: Usually 2–4 days on site, plus up to two weeks for stone worktops.
Planning, Building Regulations and approvals
Does a kitchen makeover need Building Regulations approval?
Usually not. Replacing doors, worktops, splashbacks and handles on existing units isn't controlled building work, and planning permission doesn't apply to internal changes in a house. Rules come in only where the work touches services: gas fittings must be handled by a Gas Safe registered engineer, new electrical circuits are notifiable under Part P, and if you replace a cooker hood, the extract ventilation shouldn't end up worse than before. Listed buildings may need consent for some internal changes.
Who can disconnect and reconnect my gas hob?
New worktops mean the hob has to come out and go back in. If it's gas, the law requires the disconnection and reconnection to be carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer competent for that type of appliance, who will test for tightness afterwards. You can check an engineer's registration and qualifications on the Gas Safe Register website or on their ID card. Your quote names who does it.
Is under-cabinet lighting notifiable electrical work?
It depends on how it's wired. Kitchens are not special locations under Part P, so adding lights or a fused spur to an existing kitchen circuit isn't notifiable, though it must still be installed safely and tested. A new circuit from the consumer unit is notifiable, and it must be certified by an electrician registered with a competent person scheme or inspected through building control. Low-voltage plug-in LED kits avoid the question entirely.
Kitchen makeovers: your questions answered
How much does a kitchen makeover cost compared with a new kitchen?
A makeover typically costs £1,200–£11,000 in the West Midlands, including VAT where it applies, against roughly £7,500–£28,000 to supply and fit a new kitchen. New doors, drawer fronts, handles and laminate worktops for a 12-unit kitchen usually come to £3,200–£4,800. The saving comes from keeping the carcasses, plumbing and layout you already have.
How do I know if my units are good enough to keep?
Open the cupboard under the sink and the one beside the dishwasher. If the chipboard is swollen, crumbly or stained, those units may need replacing. Check that cabinets are level, backs are intact and hinges hold their screws. We check every cabinet at the survey and will tell you straight if a makeover isn't the right answer.
How long does a kitchen makeover take?
Most take 2–4 days on site. Doors and drawer fronts usually take a day or two, and laminate or wood worktops another day or so. Stone worktops are templated after any unit adjustments and fitted up to two weeks later. You can keep using the kitchen for most of the work, apart from a day or so while the sink and hob are disconnected.
Will new doors fit my old kitchen?
Usually, yes. Most fitted kitchens use standard unit widths, so doors are widely available in many styles. Older or less common kitchens sometimes have unusual sizes or hinge positions, and then made-to-measure doors are the answer. We measure every door and drawer front individually rather than relying on catalogue sizes, so they fit first time.
What guarantees do replacement doors and worktops have?
Doors, worktops, sinks, taps and hinges carry their own manufacturers' guarantees, and the terms for each product are set out in your quote. Some worktop guarantees depend on correct sealing and care, so we'll tell you what the manufacturer asks for. If anything we fitted isn't right afterwards, call us and we'll come back to look at it.
What should I do before the makeover starts?
Clear the worktops and empty the cupboard under the sink, plus any cupboards whose doors are being changed on the first day. If worktops are being replaced, empty everything along those runs. Have a think about handle positions and splashback height before the fit, and keep a sample of your floor handy so we can check colours together.
Which areas do we cover for kitchen makeovers?
We cover the whole West Midlands from West Bromwich. Pick your area for local details, councils and postcodes:
- Kitchen makeovers in Sandwell
- Kitchen makeovers in Birmingham
- Kitchen makeovers in Dudley
- Kitchen makeovers in Walsall
- Kitchen makeovers in Wolverhampton
- Kitchen makeovers in Solihull
- Kitchen makeovers in Coventry
- Kitchen makeovers in Staffordshire
- Kitchen makeovers in Worcestershire
- Kitchen makeovers in Warwickshire