New Kitchen

Jay-Jay_4

We got a B&Q kitchen.

The designer came around to our house and we were (and still are) really happy with the design that he came up with. Ours is a weird shaped, long, thin kitchen and we were really struggling to fit in all our appliances..... the B&Q guy was realy good.

Then....they couldn't deliver on the day that we wanted.... loads of phone calls and we eventually got our delivery with lots missing and lots of wrong bits. Several trips back to B&Q and 'heated debates' with the sales staff and we eventually got all our bits. It was a bit of a nightmare because the kitchen fitters were there, waiting for the missing bits.

We paid £1400 for the kitchen (minus appliances) and paid a further £700 for the fitters who gave us a quote and completed in 2 days (inc plumbing...electrician came seperately and charged £8 per socket). According to these fitters, B&Q are notorious for not delivering all the bits. They said that out of all the kitchen suppliers they worked with, Ikea were best for delivery and for quality, they plan kitchens too.

JayS_3

deedums wrote:

We were told that Howdens Joinery makes MFI kitchens and, apparently, you can order units from them & get them fitted by an independent kitchen fitter but I don't know how accurate this information is. Sorry I don't know any more than that about them.

Does anyone know anything about Keller Kitchens?

We've just had another quote from a different local company (still double MFI) but they only charge £850 for fitting plus 'plumbing and electrics'. So that's £1175 in MFI plus p+e; £428 plus £600 for p+e (provided we don't want too much done!) - local company or £850 plus p+e - local company.

I'm going to lie down in a darkened room!!

Yes, that is true about Howdens Joinery, we had a joiner hang some internal doors for us. He had the Howdens' brochure, we choose what we wanted, he ordered and delivered. He said they did the same with all their products, but I don't know how good (or not) the kitchen units are.

Best wishes
JayS

BlondieE

Deedums,

I am in the process of ordering kitchen from Howdens. They are suppliers of MFI but fraction of the price. All the carcasses are ready built and shreiber. We got kitchen fitters through Howdens and hopefully work starting next week - I'll let you know how we get on.

deedums

Blondie, Thanks I look forward to hearing how you get on. Hope everything goes ok.

stevewilliams_2

I'm glad I'm not the only one struggling to make a decision over a kitchen!!

We have narrowed it down to 2 (at last). Wickes - all their kitchens come with the soft close doors and draws, and Jewson - their carcass are colour co-ordinated to the doors.

Has anybody any experience of kitchens from either of these??

They are both of a similar price to B&Q, MFI, Currys etc, and are very helpfull (whether or not this will continue once ordered time will tell)

Thanks

firrybabe

I too was struggling for a while deciding on a new kitchen. Narrowed it down to a choice between

Betta Kitchens and B&Q.

Have decided to go with Betta Kitchens, but using the B&Q plan as it was the best plan of the bunch.

I'd also looked at Howdens, Ikea, MFI and Focus.

My parents have had a wickes kitchen for years now and the units have kept their condition really well, as have the worktops.

Pegleg2001

FYI: All kitchen cabinet components are now made in factories that are use 'computer numerially controlled' cutting machines. This make the precision of manufacture highly accurate. You will notice that today most flat pack assembles very well assuming no fixings are missing.

Also notice that this metjod of manufacture has lowered the relative cost of purchase over the last 15 years or so as the woodworking industry has moved from a heavily manual to highly automated industry.

The materials used - chip board, MDF and laminate - actually vary little from manufacturer to manufacturer as there are a set number of suppliers to the cabinet manufacturers. In my experience, MFI kitchens are as good as anyone elses. Handmade are obviously still expensive. Buying flat pack and self assembling is the cheapest way to go if you have the time and energy to. Pre-assembled cabinets are more expensive, of course.

Also check for the quality of the drawer runners etc. I would suggest that you look for all metal drawers with metal runners. Avoid wooden drawers with cheapo thin metal runners screwed to the sides as they are not as sturdy.

JeNjEn_3

Firrybabe - let us know how you go on with Betta Kitchens - was thinking about using them.

I have seen a fantastic kitchen in John Lewis - out of my price range!!!! Does anyone know who makes Jonelle Kitchens for John Lewis.

Thanks

JeNjEn_3

Sorry meant to ask if anyone had a website address for Howdens Joinery please?

scottyedhow

My advice would be to find an independent kitchen fitter who can show you a portfolio of previous jobs he has done. Then ask him to source a kitchen from Howdens Joinery (trade arm of MFI). They do the main MFI kitchen ranges but only supply to traders at a cheaper price. The key to a quailty kitchen is the fitter, if you rely on a company supplying the fitter you could get a duff one. At the end of the day, no matter who you use there will often be problems, but nothing that can't be sorted. By the way, the fitter will get a Howdens designer round first to do a 3D plan.