B&Q Cooke & lewis or Magnet kitchen???

housetohome

Hello,

Hope this info is of use

I have experience and trade accounts with Magnet, Howdens and B&Q, amongst other kitchen suppliers

The best advice I can give would be a cheap kitchen can look great if fitted well, also an expensive kitchen can look cheap if fitted badly.

Magnet are far superior in build quality, however not all their units come pre-assembled (some corner and tall larder units are flat packed (they also don't come with DIY Instructions, ask for a fitting guide)) also you have to secure the legs, doors and drwaer front (however its simple as they are pre-drilled).

I was suprised when I fitted my first C&L kitchen as the flat pack carcass supplied was the same as the cheaper IT Kitchens (this was so the price was reduced apparantly) My customer paid £2.8k for her kitchen and received a free flip down DVD screen as an incentive to buy, when I priced the same kitchen from Magnet it would have been a shade under £2k.

B&Q or any flat packs do take time to build, through experience (with space) we estimate 5-10 mins for each unit however a little longer when you get drawer units as you have to screw on the drawer runners which can be tedious and time consuming measuring accurately, then building the drawers themselves (Magnets come pre assembled with the drawers in position on the runners). All these little things add up to the quality of the kitchen.

Magnet/Howdens are easier and quicker to install and have far superior quality in my opinion, however a B&Q kitchen can look just as good if fitted well.

Howdens should be able to give you a price without coming out especially if you know what you want (have bq or magnet got a list of units?)

You could even try a local installer who may get better rates from whoever you choose as they may receive higher discounts from suppliers.

I think if its down to price and saving some money then you should haggle whoever you go to, you're sure to get a better deal

Hope this helps
Johnny

lynsiloo

thank you for all your info. I am now just trying to decide between them all. Little things about them all that i dont like. Would have gone with the howdens one but saw one of the doors today and it is nowhere near the colour i thought its more peachy than cream! There isnt really much in the price now, just a decision i dont want to get wrong. I probably prefer the B&Q one, but would rather go with magnet or howdens!! decision time

housetohome

I recently fitted a high gloss cream kitchen by b&q and it was stunning when finished, complemented with a matt finished wood effect worktop also under lights and plinth lights.

Whoever you choose you wont get it wrong, as you will still be getting a good kitchen.
Good luck with your decision
Johnny

Chrisjacobs

I'm similarly undecided between a Cooke and Lewis High Gloss Cream kitchen and a Magnet Urban Gloss Creme kitchen. The Magnet kitchen is working out at approx £800 more than the B&Q one, but the Magnet kitchen has a 15 year guarantee compared to 1 year from B&Q. I can't decide whether the Magnet kitchen will be off sufficiently better quality to jutify the extra cost. Also, I've read some horror stories about B&Q kitchen deliveries - damaged doors, items not included and taking another 6 weeks to be delivered etc. Does anyone have any thoughts/recommendations please?

mini

have you tried Screwfix, I believe they are owned by B&Q now, you need to compose your own order but ours was thousands cheaper than anywhere else, you choose your own handles etc, even they were the same but a fraction of the price. Also I had a last minute change of plan and wanted a unit built by the fridge/freezer & needed appliane doors so it all matched, they delivered again in days http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/merchandising_template55.jsp

They were on Quidco too(helped with the tiling cost) with a 10% off voucher from hotukdeals.

HTH not confuses! We had such a tight budget every pound had to do a lot, oh and the sinks were very well priced and taps again designed look, great quality 12 months on we are still happy, units delivered ready assembled we got joiner to cut some units to fit space and support columns we have in our kitchen (silly building regs!) etc, that was the expensive bit!

trumpton

There is a kitchen fitters forum on Screwfix Direct which is well worth a trawl through if you are buying/fitting a kitchen. Most of them seem to use Howdens but seem to think Wickes, Homebase, B and Q are okay, also a web co called DIY Kitchens are quite liked. Ikea kitchen are unpopular because they don't have space at the back for pipes etc.