Bespoke Kitchens & Bathrooms: Is it time to Stay or Downsize?

Deciding whether to move to a new property or renovate your current one is a significant crossroad for many homeowners. Whether you are looking to modernise your existing space or are considering a move to a more manageable home, the quality of your kitchen and bathroom remains a central factor in your daily comfort and property value.

We sat down with Chris Beale from House of Harmony in Bury St Edmunds, to discuss the financial and lifestyle implications of both options.

Q: Many homeowners feel their current space no longer fits their lifestyle. Is moving always the best answer?

Chris Beale: Moving house simply because your kitchen or bathroom is no longer working for you can seem quite radical. How we use our space needs to evolve as life evolves. This could be due to children growing from toddlers to young adults, a shift toward working from home, or a change in how you host social occasions. What worked ten years ago may not work now.

Moving is not always the best option. Often, a new kitchen design and layout, or a second basin in the bathroom, or a new shower room downstairs, can solve the issues. If you love your neighbourhood and lifestyle but something just isn’t working in your home, it seems a bit radical to go through the upheaval of moving when a new kitchen or bathroom is all that is needed.

Q: If someone chooses to stay and improve their current home, what are the financial benefits?

Chris Beale: Financially, it can cost roughly the same to stay as it does to move. For a house move from £400,000 to £500,000, moving costs typically reach around £20,000 once you factor in Stamp Duty, legal fees, surveys, estate agent fees, and removal costs. You also often have to spend on spot decorating to get the property ready for the market and improve kerb appeal. And let’s face it, once you move, you are going to buy new furniture, maybe carpets, and do a bit of decorating, which will add to the cost. If you can afford to move, you can afford to stay. By replacing your kitchen or bathroom instead, you keep your neighbours, schools, and community while creating the exact home you want.

Furthermore, a new kitchen is highly effective at increasing property value, typically adding between 5% and 15% to a home’s total value.

Q: What impact can a bespoke kitchen or bespoke bathroom have on a home?

Chris Beale: It can completely change how you use your space, your daily routines and how you live in your home. It can give you back the joy you felt when you first moved in, and give you the feeling of having a new home – without any of the hassle, expense or stress.

It is considered that moving home is the most stressful life event. If your motivation to move is not about the physical location of your home, but more about how you can use your space, then having a bespoke kitchen or bathroom designed and fitted is the ideal solution.

Q: We are seeing a lot of people choosing to downsize. What is driving this trend?

Chris Beale: Downsizing is a major part of the UK market, with research suggesting that nearly 200,000 over 50s homeowners downsize each year. Roughly 33% of all home sellers are moving to a smaller property. The reasons vary from becoming an “empty nester” when children move out to seeking financial freedom by reducing mortgage payments or releasing equity. Many are also looking for lower maintenance costs and energy bills.

Q: When people downsize, what challenges do they face with their new, smaller homes?

Chris Beale: Often, the property you move into when downsizing has been under the same ownership for 20 years or more. As the previous owners have aged, so have the kitchen and bathroom. But bungalow life does not need to mean a kitchen or bathroom your Nan would have liked!

Using some of the equity released from your move, you can create a space with open-plan living, cutting-edge technology, and clean lines. You do not have to compromise on style just because you are moving to a smaller footprint.

Q: Whether staying or downsizing, what is the first step for a homeowner?

Chris Beale: Visit our kitchen showroom or bathroom showroom to see what is possible with modern bespoke kitchens and bespoke bathrooms. Seeing the technology and design options in person helps you visualise how your home can evolve to meet your current needs, regardless of the property’s size.

We can provide a full design service, and can visit your home to assess how you can get the extra shower or the more usable bathroom space you need. Needing kitchen space to entertain or a space to work from home doesn’t mean you have to move home. And downsizing doesn’t mean you need to compromise on your style.