Would you buy a kitchen that you hadn't seen in real life?

Lally

I am really liking National kitchens' things, but sometimes kitchens look totally different in real life than they do in photos.

I know you can buy sample doors from them but it still won't give the same feel as a model kitchen in a store.

Has anyone done this and how did the end result turn out?

Doozergirl

Which ones are you looking at?

The modern ones look, well they're using some pictures exactly the same as this company so perhaps they're a stockist.

http://www.cucinacolore.co.uk/

Cucina Colore are also sold by and renamed as John Lewis (the department store) Colour Collection.

Pretani

I've bought kitchens by looking solely at the doors, worktop and handles. The trick is to go simple and neutral. 8 years ago I put in a country style kitchen with cream doors, with turned pillars at the end of every unit and a brown + rusty speckled marble worktop. Can't go wrong with that conbination. Last year I changed house and put in a white kitchen with pvc doors (super easy to clean), a dark oak worktop and long chrome handles. Can't go wrong with that combination either. If you're buying from samples, keep your design simple. If you're installing a modern kitchen with coloured units, it's better to see the thing assembled.

Lally

I was thinking of this one http://www.nationalkitchens.co.uk/images/kitchens/large/Shaker-Warm-Cherry-web.jpg in either that colour or the Sanded Oak option.

Pretani

Lally, if you're going for the foil wrapped kitchens, definately get a sample of the doors. They can be totally different to what you expect, especially if you're going for the wood effect. The man I bought my pvc white kitchen had wood effects, but his wooden range didn't do anything for me. It depends on the quality of the wrap. Also cheak out the quality of that pewter coloured worktop, I would say that worktop needs to be good quality, with a slightly sparkly effect for the whole design to work.

Another thing to consider is the installion of the units. Get professional kitchen fitters in to install your kitchen. Make sure you've seen their work and that they've got the routers to join worktop edges in seemlessly, instead of using plastic spacers (There's nothing looks as bad as a worktop joined together with plastic spacers.) They will also add proper supports to your units if the backs of them are flimsy. B+Q units are made with flimsy backs and I've known fitters to attach supports to the wall in order to hang the units on.

A good team should charge you anything from £250-£350 for that amount of units. It all depends on where you live.

Lally

I wondered about the 'foil wrapped' part, what exactly does it mean?

I also liked this one too http://www.nationalkitchens.co.uk/main.asp?sitepages=colourtest&displaycolours=1&colourcat=Shaker_Kitchens&coloursubcat=Natural_Shaker

Pretani

Foil wrap is a layer which is bonded onto the front and sides of the door, it's usually pvc. (easily cleaned) It's bonds the wrap similar to a vacumm former would work. You're better seeing the quality before buying, as wood effects can sometimes look tatty. Depends on the quality.

Lally

nikkijayuk wrote: »

cheap kitchens www.budgetkitchensuk.com

Do you happen to have anything to do with this company?

Pretani

Lally are there no kitchen manufacturers around your area which make the same pvc foil wrapped kitchens? You might be better looking locally as some of the internet companies don't even provide addresses or have a land line.

majjie

The kitchens are made by Mereway - who have a good reputation:
http://www.merewaykitchens.co.uk/ranges/index.htm

The oak one is oak veneer, not foil wrapped and the cherry one is a five piece foil wrap - so it looks quite convincing (compared with a one piece - where the "grain" of the foil only goes in one direction).

I think you'd get a pretty good idea of whether or not you liked the colour from a sample door.

Martin01_2

I've purchased my kitchen just from door sample i've seen at John Lewis. Try Mint Kitchens www.mintkitchens.co.uk they did my plan and supplied the whole kitchen at good price WITHOUT any pressure sale. They also have a price match policy to beat any genuine quotation by at least 10% kitchen