Kitchen recommendations

devotee

I'm still waiting for the delivery of my Homebase kitchen so I reserve the judgment until then. Had an Ikea kitchen before and I like them, but no service gap.
But I got sink, tap and worktop from ebay for almost no money - Blanco sink for £70, stylish filter tap from Abode for £90 and solid oak worktops 4cm deep 2x3m for 280 including delivery. I think carcasses are same-ish everywhere on high street, but maybe get better quality appliances and fittings. Will buy cupboard fittings and handles from Ikea as so much cheaper!

lisap4123

I bought a MFI sale kitchen originally priced around £4000 but in a january sale was £900 including hob, cooker and extractor fan. It was for the standard units - fine for a small galley kitchen in a terraced house. Over the phone when I tried to order the kitchen they tried to convince me that the kitchen was rubbish and not suitable for my needs and tried to sell me more expensive packages, but finally she took my order.

Had it fitted by local builders. I bought some extra peices such as matching wine rack and end peices from B&Q who sold a practially identical range. It has lasted 5 years and still looks good. However one of the cubboards with particularly heavy items in on the wall started to sag a bit. But for the price excelent value.

Francesanne

sp74 wrote: »

I've installed quite a few IKEA kitchens, and I rate them quite well for the cost. Most of the functional parts being German manufactured (like Blum drawers - soft-close as standard).

Some problems with IKEA stuff...
The lack of void space for pipes etc on the back can be a problem.
Most of the appliances are made by Whirlpool, better brands can be found cheaper elsewhere, and standard size appliances should fit most situations.
The sinks and plumbing are a bit naff. All the steel sinks have no tap hole in them, the finish on them is also a bit rough. And the waste plumbing parts are fit for the bin! Best to buy sinks and plumbing parts from BQ or plumbing suppliers.
Some of the laminate worktops are not great, factory-made edgings are known to start peeling off in a short time.

Basically, buy the cupboards, doors and drawer furniture from IKEA. Appliances from an online retailer (cheaper). Rest of stuff from B&Q, plumbers or possibly Howdens. Solid oak worktops are hard to find cheaper than IKEA as well.

I don't recommend necessarily buying pre-assembled cupboards from Howdens etc, as often have to be dismantled again for modifications when fitting.

Magnet are over-priced for what you get, and Homebase / Wickes are generally rubbish!

Completely disagree on your comments regarding Wickes. We bought a new kitchen & applicances from Wickes last year and the quality was 1st class. We had no missing parts, the finish was excellant and the kitchen fitters supplied on a list of kitchen fitters was superb. I wrote to Wickes thanking them on 3 counts, their 1st class kitchen planner,the quality of their kitchens and lastly my praise for the kitchen fitter.
So here's one very satisfied Wickes customer defending them against unfair remarks.

Sarahb_2

Taking the opinion of my other half who has fitted kitchens for 25 years, have to disagree with the negative comments regarding the quality of Wickes. Rubbish is not the first word that comes to mind, their product is of a high standard, in his opinion far superior to Ikea, B & Q etc and from a fitting standpoint easy to install. Now as a consumer, we're having our kitchen delivered tomorrow (fri), we trawled most of the retailers and some local independents and chose Wickes, price was excellent and for me the kitchen looks great and I can't wait. Customer service has been great so far just hope the fitter's ok!! :rotfl:

CKdesigner

mwilletts wrote: »

Does anyone think it would be a good idea to create a document(s) with regards to advice on buying a new kitchen. There are a couple on the web already, but they haven't been updated for years. I personally think it would be beneficial as it would minimise the amount of posts with regards to who's best, costs, quality etc.

I'm sure if people on here thought it was a good idea, then a few of the posters on here with kitchen experience could team up and put something together

CK - your opinion would be greatly appreciated...

Hi Mr Willetts

Yes, I think it would be a good idea. It would be pretty huge if you covered everything, where to buy, furniture manufacturers, appliance manufacturers, sink & tap manufacturers, worktops. OMG! I could spend all night just listing the topics to cover!

Meepster

CKdesigner wrote: »

Hi Mr Willetts

Yes, I think it would be a good idea. It would be pretty huge if you covered everything, where to buy, furniture manufacturers, appliance manufacturers, sink & tap manufacturers, worktops. OMG! I could spend all night just listing the topics to cover!

Well, I was thinking it might be an idea just to do one on furniture first (so carcase, fascia, internals etc.) and see how successful that one was, as that is the most commonly asked question. It could then go on to appliances, sinks, taps etc. at a later date if all went well?

Would you be up for helping? I know that would mean we would actually have to agree for a change

jkc_2

hi my parents just had a kitchen fitted completed yesterday I wonder if any one can help? They allowed 200 for electrical work in the kitchen for plugs and wiring. any thing other needed doing, we were told negotiate with electrician. When he called he said 250 for a fuse box. On begining the work he told them he required another 150 for a cable to run through to the kitchen then he changed his price again to 200. They eventually paid all in all 600.00. Ok if a good job had been done but I dont know. I am not an electrician. The wire in the kitchen comes down through the ceiling and is not chipped in but boxed to 1/2 meter down, then continues unboxed to a plug for the fridge behind the units on the floor. the two plugs they have got are chipped in but not plastered over as he said we are having the wall tiled and the tiling grout will act as skimming. The wires taken behind the units not covered or chipped in, but he told us will not be a hazard as they are behind the units.Is it just me or is this accepted practice. Any sparkies out there to enlighten my knowledge would be appreciated thanks jkc.

Francesanne

Sarahb wrote: »

Taking the opinion of my other half who has fitted kitchens for 25 years, have to disagree with the negative comments regarding the quality of Wickes. Rubbish is not the first word that comes to mind, their product is of a high standard, in his opinion far superior to Ikea, B & Q etc and from a fitting standpoint easy to install. Now as a consumer, we're having our kitchen delivered tomorrow (fri), we trawled most of the retailers and some local independents and chose Wickes, price was excellent and for me the kitchen looks great and I can't wait. Customer service has been great so far just hope the fitter's ok!! :rotfl:

I think you're going to be very happy with your kitchen. It's almost a year since mine was fitted and I'm still very happy with it. The quality is really great and it was worth every penny. Good luck for Friday and hope it goes smoothly for you.

socrates

Sarahb wrote: »

Taking the opinion of my other half who has fitted kitchens for 25 years, have to disagree with the negative comments regarding the quality of Wickes. Rubbish is not the first word that comes to mind, their product is of a high standard, in his opinion far superior to Ikea, B & Q etc and from a fitting standpoint easy to install. Now as a consumer, we're having our kitchen delivered tomorrow (fri), we trawled most of the retailers and some local independents and chose Wickes, price was excellent and for me the kitchen looks great and I can't wait. Customer service has been great so far just hope the fitter's ok!! :rotfl:

No disrespect - but I have a question - if your OH is a kitchen fitter - why did he not buy a trade kitchen?

After 25 years he must have built up enough relationships to get a kitchen for virtually cost price.

Not meaning to offend - I am sure the kitchen you have ordered is excellent but I am just curious?

Sarahb_2

socrates wrote: »

No disrespect - but I have a question - if your OH is a kitchen fitter - why did he not buy a trade kitchen?

After 25 years he must have built up enough relationships to get a kitchen for virtually cost price.

Not meaning to offend - I am sure the kitchen you have ordered is excellent but I am just curious?

Hi Socrates, yes hubby does have trade accounts including Howdens but also has contacts at Wickes, hence we got a very good deal from them. Apart from that though the quality of the product, although flat pack once constructed correctly is on a par with any rigid kitchen manufacturer in his opinion. He's fitted virtually every make of kitchen including those that have been mentioned within this thread, therefore with his experience and us choosing Wickes it's a pretty good yardstick as to the overall quality of the product. Oh and by the way no offence taken :beer: