Advice Needed for kitchen with the 'wow' factor

bigg2001

Ok so an update:

Spoke to Howdens - won't give me a printout as not sure what prices my builder has quoted!!?? lo and behold, my builder contacted me this afternoon and price is now 1182 for utility and 4885 for main kitchen so just over 6k instead of 13k!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That does not include sinks, taps, worktops, appliances or fitting tho but is for about 20 units including a curved island.

I went to Magnet and they have quoted me 12k for all cabinets, quartz worktops, sinks x 2, taps x 2, integrated dishwasher & fitting & the units are spray acrylic and not wrapped as Howdens are. Also lots of storage solutions within the Magnet units and soft close as standard with a curved worktop overhang but square units underneath. When worked out difference between 2 when add extras to Howdens, there is only 1k in it in Howdens favour so is it worth spending extra on Magnet ??

My builder is trying to persuade me to go for Howdens and is saying that he will not touch job if I get Magnet to fit the kitchen, however he has said that he would fit the Magnet kitchen, but it will be me that has to do everything if there are any issues, whereas if I go with Howdens, he will project manage the entire thing. Assuming my builder charges the same as Magnet to fit it, his remaining labour charge for the building works would be 4.5k which seems like a lot to me for blocking in 2 doors, changing an arch to a doorway, building new wall and doorway and replastering room.

Should I get Magnet to fit kitchen and project manage rest of work myself with my husband - I have had a friend who is renovating her property give me the name of a plasterer and chippie and another friend has an electrician and plumber so have all the people I need to do the job - would I get the work above for less than 4.5k labour?? I think so but maybe I am being naiive as never done this before? Or is it worth paying a builder a premium to project manage?

Any advice???

Innys

Big - I wouldn't trust that builder any further than I could throw him. You are considering to allow him to project manage the rest of the work when he couldn't even tell you if the original quote included appliances or not. Sounds like he cannot read.

If you know others who could do it on a piecemeal basis, and you trust those recommendations, I don't understand why you're still deliberating.

Doozergirl

God they make it hard!

Your builder shouldn't be charging as much as Magnet to fit the kitchen. And Magnet Retail should be considerably more expensive than Howdens, they just are although the quality is much of a muchness.

I think that you should be able to get a Howdens kitchen for considerably less than a Magnet one, so I think your builder is pushing it really. I also think that the Howdens quote is still too high. Nearly £2000 is just not on for five cabinets in the utility. A good trade price should be less than half that. You might be happy with the price, but I'm not! There is no genuine reason for your builder to refuse to fit a Magnet kitchen unless he is making extra on the Howdens units, which I think is pretty unfair.

A bit of internal rejigging wouldn't be the hardest thing to project manage as long as you have time and understand the order in which to do things and you have seen the work that each of those tradespeople have produced. If you're brave enough to do that then you could organise the fitting yourself as well. It's almost all down to the chippie - and as long as you have a good one!

I'd consider at least buying the quartz separately it's something that none of the retailers offer any discount on.

bigg2001

Sorry for the delay in replying but been really busy at work and home with ill children etc.

So have decided to go with Magnet and organise building work myself - however, Doozergirl - you have suggested getting a fitter / chipie independently to Magnet?

Magnet are quoting 7865 for units, integrated Neff dishwasher, plinth lights, undermounted sink and flexitap - this is with discounts of 60% on units , 50% on tap, sink and lights and 25% on plinths/endpanels. They have quoted 12k all in with 2k allowed for quartz and 2k for fitting - how much could I save on this do you think? If it's a few pounds then I would rather Magnet did it as they offer a 12 month check etc and I think they would give a better service all round if they fitted it as well as supplied it.

And the quartz/ granite which is for a length about 3600mm with undermounted sink and drainer grooves and a cut out round a waste pipe and an island of about 2000mm by 1200mm with a hob cutout and 2 rounded corners - so is £2k expensive including fitting?

Also they have suggested building a unit around the waste pipe and my husband is not sure what would happen if we ever needed access to it? Anybody any thoughts on this or had experience of this being done?

Help as ever gratefully received xx

RX-78

Hi Bigg2001,

We've had deliverly of howdens units (not fitted yet, our appliance isn't here and the kitchen fitter is 3 weeks away!) and our builder was happy to let us look at the full quote from the Howdens (including 80% discount on units) and the Howden's kitchen guy was great - he was very frank with prices, and was happy to advice on price & design. Only con is he is not really a "kitchen designer" as previously mentioned - he will measure up, advice on unit sizes and whats feasible and what isn't but didn't really add much on new ideas.

Have you compared the price of the appliance/sink/taps from magnet with independant? From Howdens even with their "discount", the appliances were no where near what I could get on internet. Try looking for sites that supplies the appliances you want and if you have a few, call them up and ask for discount if you are placing a large order - we did and managed to get further 6% off (doesn't sound much but it was £150!). I cant really recommend them yet as we haven't recieved the product yet.

Also be very careful about accessories & tall units - this is where they seem to make the most money and very expensive!

CKdesigner

Hi Bigg2001

I must say I haven't read all of the posts from the beginning so I may be repeating what others have said. Have you looked at any independent kitchen specialists that do German made kitchens? I am only saying this as I had a customer today bring me their kitchen plan done by the local Magnet shop and I priced up the same kitchen using our main German brand and it was virtually the same price for a much better quality kitchen. Also I was able to improve on the design as generally a German made kitchen is much more versatile. I must also say that this customer today said that she didn't come to us first as she felt we would be more expensive than a national company but as she was feeling that the Magnet design wasn't right she decided to come and talk to us, so I think she was really pleased to find we could do a better job than Magnet for a comparable price.

Anyway, if you haven't visited a local independent yet it might be worth a look.

Good luck.

CK

bigg2001

Hi - thanks for that - can you name some German kitchen manufacturers so i can try and find someone in Taunton area??

most independent shops seem to build from scratch in this area and are all painted wood kitchens which is not the look i want!

Thanks in advance x

pinotmonster

Its a minefield isn't it??

I am almost decided on everything, units ordered, I really want glass splashbacks and I like Decoglaze but could I get the same quality but cheaper? Is Decoglaze the best????

I am also going for Silestone stellar negro but just now worrying that it may scratch?????

Last thing to choose is appliances, going for a Range Cooker was going to go for a gas hob but now thinking induction??

Decisions, decisions!

ryder72

bigg2001- There are a number of retailers selling very basic German kitchens so its worth being careful. PM me for details of a highly recommended retailer in your area.

bigg2001

Pinotmonster

so is silestone stellar negro - black with silver flecks as I think that is similar to the quartz that I have chosen and if so, i'm not convinced by coloured deco glaze - think same colour as worktop looks better - eg black (but then seems a little boring and a waste of decoglaze when so many pretty colours!!) and then I see other people add colour with deco glaze and loe it - but mainly daring colours like earlier post!

Also on the subject of appliances - they do fantastic induction ranges now don't they??

I have a question for anyone - my appliances cost is coming in at 5k - does anyone think I could cut costs a bit by not having a Neff hood or since cooker and hob are Neff, should the hood match? looking at this from money saving perspective!!