New kitchen needed - any ideas?

onestep

hi all

I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this but I'm sure it'll get moved if not

We're after a new kitchen to replace our old and tatty one, and I'm after MS tips on how to do it as cheaply as possible! Having said that, I do still want it to look special, so we'll be going for integral white goods. It is a pretty small kitchen, so we won't need that many cupboards. Any hints/suggestions gratefully received!

Many thanks

onestep

rev229

looked at loads recently and for best price and use of space were going to ikea there wall cupboard come in 2 sizes standard and full height which gives loads more storage. if you go to ikea website you can download the kitchen planner and have fun planning your kitchen it even gives you a shopping list so you know how much it will cost. B&Q sell appliances online and are very well prices but do a kellkoo search to get the very best deals. Some appliances the same vary by hundreds of pounds.

Money_Bunny_4

Do you need a full new kitchen or could you just vamp it up with new worktops and new cupboard doors?

worktops can be relatively cheap and you can make new doors from MDF easily and re-use the hinges and/or handles off your old cupboard doors.

Have a good hard look at your kitchen - it may not be as bad as you think and even a quick lick of a specially designed paint might work wonders. I've used that sticky backed plastic marble effect stuff (sorry can't remember it's name) on units and some cheap wooden trim from the local hardware shop before and had dramatic effects, in fact even better than when the original cupboards were brand new!

julybride

Definately try to find a locl handyman who has expereience of fitting kitchens. Get some recomendations or references to check them out and ensure that you know the exact price of what you will be paying.

So much cheaper than paying through a company like B & Q where they take a commission from fitters.

lucyelastic1

Hi, whatever you do - DO NOT USE a company called Kitchens. They are based in Oldham and they advertise in local press and firstly they come across as really professional and competent - do not be fooled by this. We've just paid a fortune to have one of their kitchens and we had our own fully experienced fitter (a friend and an expert rolled into one so we were careful!) try to fit together a badly tooled and badly made kitchen. Hardly anything would fit together which meant loads of money paying for extra bits that were missing and loads of extra hours totted up building the damm thing. On top of which when I wrote to them to complain they didn't even offer the courtesy of a reply and when I chased it up with a telephone call they pretended they hadn't received my letter and yet when I started quoting it (because I was sensible and kept a copy) they suddenly 'found' my letter as if by magic. However, I haven't received an apology let alone any form of compensation. They have even omitted to send me the letter 'H' that I requested as I need to get it put on the hot tap in the kitchen as I have a disabled daughter and she needs to know which is which and when I telephone they start laughing down the telephone at me which I think is even higher ignorance don't you. So, be warned once again - Kitchens - do not use!