New Kitchen suppplier vote please

leveller2911

I have a small joinery workshop and make kitchens ,quality wise bespoke can't be beaten but it does come as a price.
From my experience most so called "kitchen specialists" just buy carcases form one company and the doors from another and charge a premium for it.Most of them can't supply non standard sizes ,you can have any size width unit as long as its 300,400,500,600,800 or 900mm.
I don't think theres much between Howdens and Wickes apart from Howdens being supplied assembled and from my experience very good service.The problem I have with Wickes is that when there is a problem with either parts missing ,broken or wrong it takes ages to get things sorted, Howdens seem to get it sorted within a day.
I fitted one Howdens kitchen and the taps were missing, the rep drove 45 miles to deliver them within 2 hours....Only one word of warning Howdens worktops are c r @ p .....(just my opinion )

dld2s

Andyhop, I don't know the full ins and outs of it all, but i'll tell you what, if a designer from a company designed a kitchen for me, I would expect them to get it right and that the units actually fitted in the space they measured (being shorter than the space I can understand, but being to large for the space I can't)

CKdesigner

andyhop wrote: »

The howdens designer is not at fault. Afterall there just the retailer, The kitchen plan should have been checked by the installer before order was placed

That's one of the problems with Howdens - who's fault is it?

As a proper kitchen designer I would say if something didn't fit properly then its the designer's fault as he is the one that measures up. You can't really blame the fitter, he can only work with whats been supplied.

andyhop

dld2s wrote: »

Andyhop, I don't know the full ins and outs of it all, but i'll tell you what, if a designer from a company designed a kitchen for me, I would expect them to get it right and that the units actually fitted in the space they measured (being shorter than the space I can understand, but being to large for the space I can't)

The designer has no fitting experience, Its like B&Q most are salesmen. It clearly states on all there plans and documents that the plan must be checked by the installer. If the designer and the installer cant measure then your in serious poo!

leveller2911

andyhop wrote: »

The designer has no fitting experience, Its like B&Q most are salesmen. It clearly states on all there plans and documents that the plan must be checked by the installer. If the designer and the installer cant measure then your in serious poo!

I agree with you, they are salesmen but they should be taught/qualified to do the job.It is not down to the installer at all, his hands are tied,he can't make a "silk purse out of a sows ear" so to speak.I had one "designer" not so long ago who as an infill above a hob planned 2 wine racks, not really the best place for your decent bubbly above a hob...:D

andyhop

leveller2911 wrote: »

I agree with you, they are salesmen but they should be taught/qualified to do the job.It is not down to the installer at all, his hands are tied,he can't make a "silk purse out of a sows ear" so to speak.I had one "designer" not so long ago who as an infill above a hob planned 2 wine racks, not really the best place for your decent bubbly above a hob...:D

As a installer we always check any plans, We are only human and people do make mistakes!

Howdens are designed for trade only so your installer is responsible as he is supplying and fitting the kitchen within the space given. It takes minutes to re-check the plans and dimensions so if your installer does not do this give him the boot!

skinback69

try wren kitchens i just got one from there had a great experiance and the kitchen worked out around the same price as a bnq it kitchen but wrens are all soft close doors and draws better carcases and come fully assembled all you need to do is put feet and handles on them have a look at my photos which are on a silly wren thread beetlebum posted them for me as im a new user
hope this helps

leveller2911

andyhop wrote: »

As a installer we always check any plans, We are only human and people do make mistakes!

Howdens are designed for trade only so your installer is responsible as he is supplying and fitting the kitchen within the space given. It takes minutes to re-check the plans and dimensions so if your installer does not do this give him the boot!

Without wishing to get any "designer" the sack in these hard times what is the point of their job???... I to check plans and yes we are all human, as an installer you are expected to install not design.As for Howdens being "designed for trade only" I totally dis-agree most competant D.I.Y ers can fit a howdens kitchen along with Wickes,B&Q etc the only part they would probably stuggle with is the worktops and electrics certs.....Howdens will sell to Jo public I know from 1st hand experience ,all branches are out to undercut each other.

andyhop

leveller2911 wrote: »

Without wishing to get any "designer" the sack in these hard times what is the point of their job???... I to check plans and yes we are all human, as an installer you are expected to install not design.

To get the sale

If they where skilled they would be fitting and not designing

CKdesigner

leveller2911 wrote: »

Without wishing to get any "designer" the sack in these hard times what is the point of their job???... I to check plans and yes we are all human, as an installer you are expected to install not design.As for Howdens being "designed for trade only" I totally dis-agree most competant D.I.Y ers can fit a howdens kitchen along with Wickes,B&Q etc the only part they would probably stuggle with is the worktops and electrics certs.....

Completely agree. A designer designs or should design and a fitter fits. 2 very different jobs but the 2 people have to work together to get it right.