Your kitchen is stunning - but is it covered?

It’s been a long day at work. You walk through the door pop the kettle on… but this isn’t just any kettle. This is your brand new Stainless Steel Smeg Kettle, the crown jewel of your countertop. Then you reach for your favourite mug - your customised Emma Bridgewater. Between the two of them, you’ve already counted up nearly £200 in value, and you haven’t even made the tea yet.

Feeling peckish, you wander over to your £9,000 Sub-Zero fridge-freezer and that’s when it hits you: your kitchen alone is worth more than your first car. You see where I’m going with this. We all love the finer things in life, beautifully designed and colour matched appliances, but those finer things come with a price tag.

The real question is: if disaster strikes, will your insurance actually cover the cost of replacing your carefully curated kitchen of luxury?

The hidden cost of high-end appliances

High net worth clients often invest in premium kitchen environments, where appliances are not only functional but also central to the property’s overall value and lifestyle expectations.

Appliances from luxury brands such as Gaggenau, KitchenAid, Wolf, La Cornue and Miele are engineered with bespoke finishes and complex installation requirements that significantly elevate their reinstatement costs.

Within the Private Client market, kitchens are frequently designed as architectural centrepieces - where the social glass of wine is poured and dinner parties are held. When damage occurs, whether through fire, escape of water, or mechanical breakdown, the cost of sourcing and installing like for like replacements can be considerably higher than when the items were first purchased.

These premium elements form a material part of a high value home’s total rebuild or contents valuation, making accurate assessment essential from an insurance perspective.

Fittings, fixtures, or contents? Understanding the difference

It’s important to understand what in your kitchen is classed as buildings and what is classed as contents.
Usually, any built-in units and integrated appliances are classed as buildings. Slot-in appliances, that can be removed easily - plus worktop appliances such as mixers, air fryers, kettles – and cookware such as le Creuset, should be accounted for under General Contents.

Separating fixtures and fittings from contents correctly isn’t just administrative - it can be the difference between a smooth claim and an unexpected shortfall.

The risk of underinsurance in luxury kitchens

Underinsurance presents a significant risk in the Private Client sector, where clients may underestimate the full reinstatement value of their kitchens due to the bespoke nature of luxury appliances.

It’s tempting to rely on outdated purchase prices or simple index-linking, without accounting for increased costs of both the appliances and the skilled labour to fit them. Should a claim arise, even a partial kitchen loss can expose shortfalls if the building or contents sums insured have not been kept up to date.

Consequently, this can trigger average clauses and potential reduced claim settlements, leaving clients with a gap between claims payment and true replacement cost.

How your broker helps protect your investment

As your broker, we aim to advise as much as possible about the trials and tribulations underinsurance can bring. We issue contents checklist for items that don’t count as fixtures or fittings and, although it can be difficult to guage exactly what your items may cost, we’re here to help point you in the direction of people who can.

A market where values keep rising

According to industry analysis from Expert Market Research, the overall UK kitchen appliances market was valued at USD 4.96 billion in 2025 and is forecast to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 4.2% from 2026 through to 2035, highlighting the strong consumer demand driving luxury appliance values.

Have luxury kitchen appliances have become the new status symbol - quietly replacing designer handbags and sports cars as the thing everyone secretly wants to show off?

These days, it’s perfectly normal for a fridge to cost more than a weekend away, or for a coffee machine to have more settings than your laptop.

Final thought: are your sums insured keeping up?

While these beautifully crafted appliances do make life feel a little more glamorous, they can also make your insurance policy feel a little… outdated. That’s why keeping your cover up-to-date matters so, if the unexpected happens, your kitchen and its contents can be restored to the same high standard you’ve worked hard to create - no downgrades necessary.

So next time you’re setting your bespoke oak table with your Christofle, or even your Arthur Price cutlery, just pause for a moment and think: have I checked whether my insurance will cover these carefully chosen pieces?

Ready to make sure you’re properly protected?

If you’re unsure whether your current cover reflects the true value of your kitchen or wider home, now is the time to review it. We’re here to help ensure that every carefully chosen appliance, fixture, and finishing touch is fully protected - exactly as it should be.

Contact us on 020 8256 4901, or email privateclients@howdeninsurance.co.uk