A bespoke kitchen from a carpenter or ready-made units from a chain store – which is really worth it?
Most people overpay for their kitchen as early as the design stage – without even realising it. Ready-made units attract buyers with a low catalogue price, but the final amount can come as a surprise. Below, we show what it really looks like – with real figures and no sugar-coating.
1. Price – ready-made units are not actually that cheap
A kitchen set from IKEA, Black Red White or another furniture chain may look attractive at first glance. In practice, the catalogue price is increased by charges for every dimensional modification, delivery, installation and appliance connections – and any gaps ultimately require filler panels and cover strips. Customers often discover the true price only when all the invoices are already on the table.
What does this look like in numbers? For a typical kitchen in a Warsaw flat, the difference between a modular and a bespoke kitchen is usually 15–30%, not double the price:
A free quotation based on a floor plan or photos – with no obligation and no unnecessary waiting.
2. Wasted space you have already paid for
Ready-made units are available in standard widths, usually in 20 cm increments. In Warsaw flats – both in older buildings and new developments – walls rarely fit the modular grid perfectly. The result? Wasted space hidden behind a cover panel, even though the customer effectively paid for it when purchasing the flat.
Service recesses and structural columns are particularly common in kitchens in new-build properties. A ready-made unit simply works around them. A bespoke kitchen fills the space from wall to wall and floor to ceiling – every recess and irregular angle can be used.
The customer had a 2.6 m long kitchen. Ready-made units would have left 15–20 cm of wasted space to be covered with a filler panel. With the bespoke design, we used the entire area and created an additional cabinet – without compromises or improvised add-ons.
In small flats, which are very common in Warsaw, this approach can provide 20–30% more storage space. In a city where every square metre is expensive, every centimetre of cabinetry has real value.
Recesses, columns and non-standard dimensions – we complete projects throughout Warsaw and the surrounding area, with no additional travel charges.
3. Durability – problems begin after 2–3 years
Mass-produced furniture – regardless of the retailer – is designed for scale: it is manufactured quickly and repeatedly, using thinner boards (16 mm) and lower-priced fittings. Everything looks fine at first. Problems begin after 2–3 years of intensive use.
A drawer opened a dozen times a day begins to move less smoothly. Doors start to sag slightly and require adjustment. Hinges lose their precision. This is not necessarily a fault – it is simply the limit of cheaper fittings. The customer is not merely buying 18 mm board or premium hinges. They are buying a kitchen that should work just as smoothly after many years as it did in the first week.
In bespoke kitchens, we use 18–22 mm boards and premium fittings, including Blum and Hettich hinges and runners. Materials are selected for the specific project: laminate, acrylic, veneer or lacquer in any shade from the NCS palette. The difference in workmanship is not revealed during a presentation, but through years of everyday use.
| Criterion | 🏪 Ready-made units (IKEA and other chains) | 🪚 Bespoke kitchen |
|---|---|---|
| Board thickness | 16 mm (standard) | 18–22 mm |
| Fittings and hinges | Budget or mid-range | Premium (Blum, Hettich) |
| Fit to the available space | Units in 20 cm increments, filler panels and cover strips | Millimetre-precise fit |
| Choice of colours and fronts | Limited seasonal catalogue | Full NCS palette, veneers and acrylic |
| Lead time | 2–4 weeks | 4–5 weeks |
| Catalogue price | Lower (apparently) | Higher initial cost |
| Final cost (including installation and appliances) | Often similar to a bespoke kitchen | Transparent from the outset |
4. Aesthetics and interior consistency
Furniture retailers offer attractive, proven combinations. The problem is that the same fronts – whether from IKEA’s METOD range or another chain’s catalogue – appear in tens of thousands of homes every year. The result is predictable.
A bespoke kitchen is designed for a specific interior. You can combine an oak worktop with fronts in a custom NCS shade, integrate the kitchen with a TV wall in the living room or match the cabinetry to the veneer used in the bedroom. There are no catalogue-imposed compromises.
5. Lead time
The difference here is smaller than it may seem. Ready-made units from a large furniture retailer can be delivered within 2–4 weeks, provided that the selected components are in stock. If items are unavailable, the waiting time can become considerably longer.
A bespoke kitchen from Meble Chojnowski typically takes 4–5 weeks from design to installation. It is worth planning it alongside the remaining finishing work so that the schedules complement rather than delay one another.
6. When should you choose ready-made units, and when is a bespoke kitchen better?
- You are furnishing a rental property
- The kitchen has a simple, standard layout
- The budget is very limited
- You need the kitchen quickly – within 2–3 weeks
- This is your long-term home
- You have recesses, columns or non-standard dimensions
- You want to make maximum use of a small space
- Aesthetics, durability and individuality matter to you
Summary
The biggest mistake when choosing a kitchen is looking only at the starting price. Ready-made units are tempting because of their low catalogue price, but once installation, filler panels, modifications and spatial compromises are included, the final cost often comes close to that of a bespoke kitchen. The bespoke option is also not something you need to replace after only a few years.
A bespoke kitchen involves a higher initial cost, but it is money better spent over the following ten or fifteen years. This is particularly true in Warsaw, where you have already paid for every square metre when buying the property – so it makes little sense to hide part of that space behind a cover panel.
A free consultation and quotation – with no pressure and no obligation. We respond promptly.
We complete projects throughout Warsaw and the surrounding area, including Mokotów, Żoliborz, Wola, Ursynów, Wilanów, Białołęka, Praga-Południe, Praga-Północ, Bemowo, Ochota, Targówek, Bielany and Śródmieście.