Best place for a shaker-style kitchen?

irishwench69

Hi

I know there are already several kitchen threads in here, but I couldn't find one answering what I needed exactly - so apologies for another thread, but I would really appreciate any advice / opinions.....

My partner and I are looking to redo our kitchen. We have a good idea of the style (light oak / beech shaker style units, black granite / granite-like worktop, light cream stone (or stone-like) floor tiles). So nothing too earth-shaking!!

We've so far got quotes from a couple of independents (one reccomended by someone, one out of a local magazine / directory we have) - both were ridiculously priced - as in twice the KD price....and this was with laminate, not granite

So we then got quotes from homebase and kitchens direct. I quite liked the design and suggestions from KD and had them as the top choice, but I'm hearing nothing but bad things about them. Part of me thinks they can't be that bad, but I'm not sure I want to take the risk with a few grand....!!

Others I've heard mentioned on here are:

Ikea (no shaker style - really don't like their kitchens - have been onstore and online - is it just me or do they not really have the selection of other suppliers? I'm struggling to find even a shaker style, let alone one in wood and not painted or gloss..........!)

Howdens (but we don't know a reliable kitchen fitter - doesn't that rule these out? I don't know about just picking someone at random!)

So now it's onto B&Q and Wickes. Does anyone have good experiences with them?

Given the style we want, who would you reccomend for us? We're trying to look around and get various quotes but so far it has been pretty soul-destroying seeing just how little distance our budget would take us......

For the record we'd be looking at 5-10k - the upper end only with granite tops, and including money for some works, including moving our boiler out of the kitchen and re-routing to a utility room, and some other plumbing work. However if we can spend less that is obviously good!

But just to say we don't want a complete piece of £$%&&^(*()$£. we'd rather pay mid-range to get a great kitchen than pay really really cheap to get a mid-range kitchen....

So can anyone help? Please?!?

IW x

Ionkontrol

Try these......

http://www.supplyonlykitchen.co.uk/cabinet%20pages/kitchencategory.html

http://www.nationalkitchens.co.uk/

Bare in mind these company sell rigid cabinets, that require no assembly, so will initially appear dearer, but are of much better quality than the sheds sell and will be much quicker and easier to fit, so should save you time and money in fitting.

irishwench69

Thanks for the links Ionkontrol

Anyone else that can help or offer any more advice please?

IW x

toffeegirl

I am assuming that the quotes were for supply and install and that you don't want to go down the DIY route.

In my own kitchen research experience, anyone supplying and fitting a kitchen wanted a LOT to fit it.

Ideally you should find a builder who installs kitchens. I know that this is easier said than done, but you need to be brave and ask people - even if you don't know them. Stick notes through doors if they look like they've had work done or if there is a skip outside - at worst they just won't reply. Ask the window cleaner / milkman / postman (i) if he knows anyone (ii) if any house on his route is having work done.

I found my builder through my window cleaner and several plasterers through people on my street (I did a 'can you help?' mailshot). I even made a new friend further down the road!

As for your choice of kitchen - 'possession' of an independent builder will give you more freedom of choice to supply your requirements from different places. If you are after granite, a separate granite supplier may be your best bet (do a post search for more detailed discussion on this one...).

We have opted to supply our own appliances - from 4 different suppliers and are sourcing (and laying) the tiles ourselves, from 3 different suppliers. There's been a lot of leg work but, once its in, our kitchen will contain exactly what I want (sorry, should that say 'we'?!) and for the best price I could get it.

Go find yourself a builder! Go be brave!

glendam

Just been reading net for reviews on Kitchens Direct and they are appalling any one got anything good to say. Magnet our second choice doesnt do much better. Cant find anything about Howdens but would be interested in them too.

Glenda

Steve_Groves

We've just redone our kitchen in Shaker style and I recommend looking at the Second Nature BroakOak range. They are very competitively priced (cheaper than B&Q etc) and far better quality.

BroadOak doors are made of solid oak with a veneered centre panel so look really good.

The two best places to buy online are www.withknobson.co.uk and www.diy-kitchen.co.uk

I've used both and can recommend them. WithKnobsOn has really friendly customer support who you can ring and query what bits you need to buy. You can even buy sample doors.

The units they supply are rigid built so come ready assembled with the doors prehung so installation is easy and quick.

We spent under £10K for a kitchen (£3K for kitchen units & doors, £1.5K for black granite and £3K on appliances/sink/taps, £1.5K for ceramic flooring). A local kitchen specialist was quoting £30K+ for the same design.

The downside is that you have to do a lot of sourcing yourself if you want to maximise your savings.

I can give you are list of who we used and how to get a good deal if you wish

wannamakeamil

Steve_Groves wrote: »

£1.5K for black granite

Where did u get the granite from for so cheap. Did this include fitting?

Steve_Groves

wannamakeamil wrote: »

Where did u get the granite from for so cheap. Did this include fitting?

I got a quote from one of the Ebay companies and ended up getting a quote from the Granite and Marble Company, Stoke Prior, Bromsgrove who did a price match.

The price was for about 9 metres of black granite with hob cutout, sink cutout, drainer grooves, and 2 curved ends. The worktop was templated, they went away and cut the granite before returning to fit it about 10 days later

I forgot to include the cost of the upstands in the £1.5K so there is another £300 on top.

oilit

take a look at the fired earth factory outlet shop in oxfordshire - i bought a whole load of solid wood shaker units with cherry tops from them - great looking. i was there today - they still have some as well.

Peartree

I'd agree on diy-kitchens. I bought from them last year, on the basis of recommendations from forums and on the price. However, even having read the recommendations, both the quality and the customer service exceeded my expectations. What was particularly welcome, after ordering online, was that a very nice real person rang me up to run through the order and check I'd got everything right (I was refurbing rather than refitting and had ordered a mix of replacement doors and full units). My order was correct but it was very nice that someone had actually cast a critical eye over it to ensure that I wasn't wasting money! And if you are ordering units they come fully assembled with the doors on - not flatpacked.

glendam

Thanks for the replies it will all probably happen after Easter so will check out all links and get people out. I want to get this right as I wont be doing this kitchen again.

Glenda