Altea splits into two very different kitchen jobs, and the price follows the split. In the old town you are fitting a modern kitchen into a house built one against the next; in a villa you are deciding how a large room relates to the terrace and the view.
Old town: the route in is part of the price
Before we think about door colours, we think about the lane. Units arrive flat-packed or in sections, worktops are cut to fit through the door, and materials are often carried by hand for part of the way. We plan the order of delivery so nothing waits in a lane. That planning takes time and shows up in the quotation, and we photograph the access route as well as the room at the first visit so that the figure reflects it.
Old houses seldom have a square room. Walls lean a little, ceilings step, and a window may sit exactly where you would like the hob. Bespoke units are built to those quirks and avoid the gaps a standard carcass leaves behind. They cost differently from off-the-shelf units, and in these rooms they are usually the better choice.
Villa kitchens: space brings its own costs
A generous island with seating on one side and preparation space on the other is a popular answer. If the island carries a sink or hob, pipes and cables have to be laid into the floor, which is far easier before the new floor tiles go down. That is why the design is settled early. Appliances can be built into a tall bank of units to keep the island clear, and we supply and fit those, or fit ones you have chosen.
A checklist of what moves the price
- Whether sinks, hobs and lighting are moved or stay put.
- Bespoke units or standard ones.
- Worktops templated and fitted, and the material chosen.
- Mosaic or ceramic splashbacks, which often decide the character of the room.
- Rewiring for an oven, hob and dishwasher.
- Repairing and repainting plaster once old units come out.
What is behind the units
Old units hide plaster that is patched, marked or damp-stained. We repair and repaint it before the new run goes in. New circuits are far simpler with the walls open, so rewiring is usually worth doing at this stage. If the bathroom is also due, doing both together saves repeat visits and a second round of mess.
Choosing materials with your own eyes
You can see and handle units, worktops and tiles at the local suppliers we use before anything is ordered. Timber fronts, glass mosaic and warm-toned tiles suit old town houses well. In a villa, finishes that cope with long hot summers and entertaining matter more than fashion.
Getting a price you can trust
One team handles design, units, worktops, tiling, plumbing, electrics and decoration, and one person answers your questions, so you are not comparing separate trades. The quotation is free. Once work begins it runs to a programme, with updates and photographs if you are overseas, and the work is guaranteed within the scope set out in the quotation. See our kitchen renovations page for more. If you are unsure whether to keep the layout, we talk through how you cook and entertain before anything is drawn, since that answer changes the work more than the style of door does.
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Property Renovations Across the Costa Blanca
Dragon Reforms provides property renovation advice for homeowners throughout Altea, Callosa d'en Sarrià, La Nucía, Finestrat and Villajoyosa and towns right across the Costa Blanca.