Kitchen quotes, Magnet, B+Q...getting confused!

kitchencrazy

Hi, been in the process of looking for a new kitchen and am becoming really frustrated as not really sure what is the best option to go for.

Probably like a lot of people we have a modest budget so we aren't looking for the most expensive kitchen but also not the cheapest.

I've read so many good posts on here already so thanks to all those people who provided information. I'm just finding now that I'm really not sure who we should eventually go with. We have a galley style kitchen with space for two runs around 3.2m long. Really we just want to buy the best possible quality within our budget which is probably around 3-5k for the units and worktops.

We first got a quote for a Cooke & Lewis kitchen which came in at £5914 with real wood counters, which we wouldn't want to pay that much.

Then went to Magnet and they quoted £6800 for something similar which has since come down to £6200 after leaving it a couple weeks. Despite the fact that the first price we were given was a 'sale' price and the sale ended. The counters though are over £3K so when you take that out it starts to look quite affordable if we got a wood counter somewhere else, so we are tempted, but...

I have read so much on here about being able to get much better kitchens elsewhere that I have been looking at places like DIY-Kitchens, National Kitchens and Kitchen Finesse. Had a quote of £6500 from Kitchen Finess for a Cucina Colore kitchen so no luck there.

Have tried to price up a similar kitchen with National Kitchens and it seems to come out around the same price as Magnet, maybe a bit more, although finding it a bit difficult to match the units 100%.

Not tried to price it through DIY-Kitchens yet, but how does their quality compare to Magnet?

I know a lot of people suggest your local kitchen specialist. We do have a couple of local independant shops, one looks in a terrible state, the other is quite big but I drove past the other day and saw a TKC delivery truck outside so I presume that is who supply them. A builder quoted us £2500 for a kitchen from them but I was a bit put off by the fact that it is all flatpack.

Sorry just realised I have written a big rambling post, essentially I'm quite confused now where to go as I had thought it would have been a bit cheaper to get a good kitchen for the smallish space we have.

The_Blue_Hatter

Where are you based?

kitchencrazy

Based in Manchester.

Just priced up the same kitchen with DIY-Kitchens.com and it has come in at £3900 if I opt for the platinum delivery so looks quite reasonable.

ginvzt

Did you have a look at German Kitchens? They have a showroom at Trafford Centre, and I loved some of them when I saw them. I don't have any experience with them, but I am hoping to persuade OH to change our kitchen in a year or two and I keep looking around.

Their website:
http://www.kutchenhaus.co.uk/

kitchencrazy

I have been into Kutchenhaus, looks very over priced though. Didn't read many good comments either on this forum.

Biofox

Hi,

I'm not sure if i'm a little late in responding to this but I am in the process of having my kitchen done. It's all been a bit of a rush really, only decided after coming into some money after xmas to have it done. We originally went to Homebase for a design and quote as they were having one of their 50% off, plus 25% off, plus an additional 15% off extravaganzas! We were relatively happy with the quote and with a 10yr guarentee we were generally quite positive about the quality. Their price to fit was 150% of the cost of the kitchen though- which I couldn't afford. So I looked up a local handyman/fitter (insured) who came over to give me a quote for fitting before I placed the order for the kitchen. As I wanted to have a total budget in mind rather than purchasing the kitchen and realising I would be put into debt by having it fitted!

When the handyman came over we were discussing time frames and tiling, I mentioned that I hadn't bought the kitchen yet and showed him some pictures of the layout. He pulled a face when I said it was from Homebase. When I questioned him he just said that they were "only ok" and not the best quality. Had I considered Magnet? I told him that I thought Magnet kitchens were too expensive for my budget however he mentioned he has a trade account with them. I have been quoted pretty much the same price for (apparently) a higher quality kitchen which comes rigid rather than flat packed- meaning I will save on the fitting too as he wont have to spend a day assembling carcasses.

A long story short- try getting in touch with a local fitter or insured handyman who has experience fitting kitchens. We would never had known it was this inexpensive to purchase a Magnet kitchen!

WOS11

Hi Folks, Just to give you some info about the above companies
1)Kitchen Finesse: I know Paul & Martin who own the company. Both are very knowlegable when it comes to designing and are both friendly guys. As for the product Schuller kitchens are the best German kitchen I have seen (dealt with pronorm,schuller and nobilia) they have endless options for you to maximise your kitchen. Price wise if you are pricing schuller vs schuller from other companies I believe Kitchen finesse is the cheapest you will find. Mereway Kitchens are superb quality too. Same kitchens that John Lewis supply but about a 1/3 of the price.
2)Kutchenhause: I worked for their sister company GDK they use nobilia kitchens which again are good quality(arent all german kitchens) They do aim for the higher end of the market and GDK the lower end. Again they are well priced for the quality you are getting but the salesman might be a bit pushy.
If you want any other info just let me know and I will help the best I can

fraser

we recently had a quote from kuchenhaus - very pushy and bonkers price! £15k upwards

we have having a similar (better) kitchen look and design but with a bigger spec, better appliances and better work surface for signifcantly cheaper with a local firm = well under 7k

WOS11

Yeah thats one of the reasons I left. They wanted you to be selling a kitchen within 45mins - 1hour which I didnt agree with. If you go to GDK I would be willing to bet you get the same kitchen cheaper.
Having worked in a few kitchen showrooms I cant see past the quality of Mereway or Schuller.

samtheman1k

I bought our kitchen from IKEA, the units are 18mm chipboard with 25year guarantee, and appeared to be pretty much identical to those found at magnet, B&Q etc., but significantly cheaper. Doors also seem to be the same quality too if you go for the more expensive ranges, which are still about 75% cheaper than magnet...it all comes flatpacked though...

fraser

WOS11 wrote: »

GDK.

not around anymore? all replaced by kuchenhaus