Is our kitchen budget too small?

kirstypea

I've been admiring German kitchens online this morning. Does anyone know if something like that is way out of my league? If you want a kitchen that isn't B&Q, Ikea, Homebase etc etc does that involve going to a designer who then sources it for you?

I don't really trust myself to design my own kitchen! I'm actually a designer myself (graphic design though, not kitchen design ) and so I know the difference between having a go yourself, and paying a professional to do it.
On the other hand, perhaps it makes little difference unless you have a huge budget to play with as presumably a kitchen from a DIY store isn't that customizable anyway?

sethsgran

Lisa love your kitchen. Sammy a young friend of mine in the design side said buy an average unit then try to buy a good worktop as they get all the wear and tear. What part of the UK as someone might know of somewhere that does good deals. My son got a good deal a few years ago from Kyme kitchens in Bradford. They fit or supply only so worth checking them out if you live in West Yorkshire.

becs

I love your kitchen Lisa, it looks fab! I always think it's amazing to see how different Ikea kitchens look when you put your own staamp on them with worktops, appliances etc.

Meepster

kirstypea wrote: »

I've been admiring German kitchens online this morning. Does anyone know if something like that is way out of my league?

You should be able to get a Hacker German kitchen to fit into your budget quite easily...

CKdesigner

mwilletts wrote: »

You should be able to get a Hacker German kitchen to fit into your budget quite easily...

Or Schueller.

kirstypea

Thanks, that's really useful info.

There's a gorgeous blackberry/zebrano kitchen on the Hacker website.. wonder if I can convince OH that purple is the way forward?

Lisa & becs - lovely kitchens, thanks for the pics. I just don't trust myself to do as good a job as you ladies!

brians_daughter

you can buy cheap units from b&q or wherever and get doors to fit from somewhere else. No one sees the units do they! Thats what we did. cost us £5k my kitchen is 20ft x 12 so it is massive. Saying that tho my dad is a joiner and put ours ina nd made sure doors and units fitted etc

i shopped around for oven/hob and luck was on my side as i got a £600 hob for £90 there was a scratch on it - i am still yet to seee where the scratch is tho, and it is smoked glass.Also, i got some solid oak butchers blcok worktops for a steal off ebay - saved over £700 there

Have you tried bernsteins? they have/had online site, they are based in the NW but have a factory bit where you can go and look and they are reasonable if purchase from them directly - they usually sell in bulk

kirstypea

Are the cheap units lasting ok? I see your point, but I wonder if perhaps the actual units are the bit that takes the most abuse in the long run? I'd rather replace cheap doors and have units that last, than have to keep replacing the units, if you see what I mean? Or are the cheap ones of equal quality, but cheaper cos they don't have a fancy finish? I'm a bit clueless when it comes to kitchens!

CKdesigner

kirstypea wrote: »

Are the cheap units lasting ok? I see your point, but I wonder if perhaps the actual units are the bit that takes the most abuse in the long run? I'd rather replace cheap doors and have units that last, than have to keep replacing the units, if you see what I mean? Or are the cheap ones of equal quality, but cheaper cos they don't have a fancy finish? I'm a bit clueless when it comes to kitchens!

Hi Kirsty

You are spot on - its the carcasess, drawer boxes and hinges that need to be of the best quality to make the kitchen last a long time.

I always say you are far better off having expensive carcasess and cheap doors rather than cheap carcasess and expensive doors.

CKdesigner

brians_daughter wrote: »

you can buy cheap units from b&q or wherever and get doors to fit from somewhere else. No one sees the units do they! Thats what we did. cost us £5k my kitchen is 20ft x 12 so it is massive. Saying that tho my dad is a joiner and put ours ina nd made sure doors and units fitted etc

i shopped around for oven/hob and luck was on my side as i got a £600 hob for £90 there was a scratch on it - i am still yet to seee where the scratch is tho, and it is smoked glass.Also, i got some solid oak butchers blcok worktops for a steal off ebay - saved over £700 there

Have you tried bernsteins? they have/had online site, they are based in the NW but have a factory bit where you can go and look and they are reasonable if purchase from them directly - they usually sell in bulk

The Bernstein Group went bust and then has been resurected by some of the old employees as Bersteins Kitchens. I don't know about the new company but they certainly only really supplied to the cheap house builder, so their quality was not good.