Fitting a new kitchen usually takes a few days for a small, simple room and one to two weeks for a medium to large kitchen. A bespoke handmade kitchen adds a design and making stage before fitting, and the length depends on the size of the kitchen and the timber you choose. The good news: with a handmade kitchen, the disruptive part in your home is the shortest part, because the units arrive finished and made to fit.
At Oak & Pine by Design, we design, build and install handmade kitchens from our workshop in Honley, near Holmfirth. Here's what happens at each stage, and how long you'll actually be without a kitchen.
How long does it take to fit a kitchen?
| Kitchen | Typical fitting time on site |
|---|---|
| Small, simple kitchen (same layout) | a few days |
| Medium to large kitchen | one to two weeks |
| Full renovation (rewire, plastering, new floor) | longer, depending on the trades involved |
The biggest time drains aren't the cupboards. They're the jobs around them: moving plumbing and gas, rewiring, plastering, tiling and flooring. Each trade has to come in at the right moment.
How long does a bespoke kitchen take from start to finish?
A handmade kitchen goes through four stages. Here's what each one involves.
Stage 1: Consultation and design
It starts with a free, unhurried conversation with our master craftsman, Daniel Fitzpatrick. We talk through how you cook and live, your style and your budget. Where it helps, Daniel visits your home to measure up. We turn your ideas into a design, using CAD drawings where useful, and provide timber and material samples on request.
The length of this stage is up to you. Some clients know exactly what they want. Others like time to try colours and timbers.
Stage 2: Written proposal
You receive a detailed written proposal covering everything we've discussed, through to installation and the likely timescales. Nothing is built until you've signed it, so there are no surprises about what's happening or when.
Stage 3: Making in the workshop
This is where your kitchen is built by hand in our Honley workshop: timber selected, cut, jointed, assembled and finished. How long it takes depends on the size of the kitchen, the timber and the finish. Hand-painting, for example, needs time between coats.
The important thing: this stage happens in our workshop, not your home. Your existing kitchen keeps working while your new one is being made. You're welcome to visit and see your kitchen take shape.
Stage 4: Installation
Your kitchen arrives hand-finished and made to the measurements of your room, so there's far less cutting, packing and adjusting on site than with standard units. Daniel oversees the installation personally.
Want a clear timeline for your own kitchen? Book a free consultation and we'll talk it through.
Why a handmade kitchen can mean less disruption
With a flat-pack or standard kitchen, much of the work happens in your house. Units are assembled on site, then cut and filled to fit uneven walls. In a Yorkshire stone cottage or Victorian terrace, that can add days.
A bespoke kitchen reverses that. The careful work is done at the bench, and the time in your home is spent fitting, not fixing. Our clients also value knowing what's going on. As Rich Armstrong said: "The day he came to measure up I knew that he was the right man for the job. He kept me up to date with the project and when he came to fit it he was very professional."
How to keep your kitchen project on schedule
- Decide early on appliances. The units are built around them, so model numbers matter.
- Book other trades in good time. Electricians, plumbers and plasterers may need to visit before and after fitting.
- Keep the layout if you can. Moving the sink or gas adds time as well as cost.
- Plan a temporary kitchen. A kettle, microwave and fridge in another room make fitting week far easier.
- Sign off the design fully before making starts. Late changes are the most common cause of delay.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to fit a kitchen?
A small, simple kitchen takes a few days. A medium to large kitchen usually takes one to two weeks, and longer if plastering, rewiring or flooring are involved.
How long will I be without a kitchen?
Only for the removal and fitting stage. With a handmade kitchen, the making happens in our workshop while your old kitchen is still in use.
Can I see my kitchen being made?
Yes. Customers are welcome to visit the Honley workshop and see their kitchen being built.
Do you install kitchens outside West Yorkshire?
We work across Yorkshire, and we've travelled as far as Durham to install a handmade oak kitchen. Get in touch to check your area.
Start your kitchen with a conversation
Every project begins with a free consultation with Daniel, a member of the Guild of Master Craftsmen with over 25 years in business. See each step on our design-to-installation process page, then explore our handmade kitchen ranges.
Visit our workshop and showroom at Unit 3, Crossley Mills, Honley, HD9 6PL. We're open Monday to Thursday 9 to 5:30, Friday 8 to 4:30, Saturday 10 to 2, and Sunday by appointment.
Book a showroom visit or call 01484 666 333.