New Kitchen - Wickes vs others + prices

abankerbutnotafatcat

rustybucket wrote: »

We looked at granite, sourced from a local company, to be honest we like oak so have gone for oak worktops and a white enamel sink which is over the wood, so hopefully won't get ruined by water.

If that part does then we will get that part of the worktop replaced with granite etc.

We like the look of wood to be honest

We went with different handles to the tiverton type just to make it look a bit more traditional.

Thanks, Rusty. Looks like we're going for very different looks with the same kitchen cabinets as we're 'moderning up' ours with glass splashbacks etc. I wondered on the worktops as we haven't decided yet - we're talking to a local stone co. too but are unsure if white quartz woud work.

Not sure if yours is in yet but hope you love it:)

isofa

Great discussions and tips - thanks v much.

We are too looking a Tiverton from Wickes! We've been put off natural wood worktops as Wickes say they need oiling quite a lot... We did like the idea of quartz, but were put off by the 3-4K quote for this from Magnet. (Magnet definitely off the shortlist btw!) Ideally I'd like a solid worktop not laminate with a built under sink, but want to work around a tighter budget.

I appreciate the info and looking for independent designers/installers. With that in mind does anyone have good recommendations for such in and around Cambridge (or even Peterborough)?

There are several 300mm units at the end of runs and to box in a boiler. It's quite a decent sized kitchen, but not the most useful space unfortunately (a bit narrow, but long), we are keeping our dishwasher and washing machine, because they are high quality and it seems wastful to replace with built-in. We are having a new hob/oven/micro and potentially a built in f/f.

Do both a ceramic/halogen hob and oven need a separate 30 amp feed from the consumer unit? We only have one 30 amp into the kitchen at the moment and the cons.unit is about as far away from the kitchen as possible in the hallway. Looking like a lot of chasing walls for the additional supply.

abankerbutnotafatcat

isofa wrote: »

Great discussions and tips - thanks v much.

We are too looking a Tiverton from Wickes! We've been put off natural wood worktops as Wickes say they need oiling quite a lot... We did like the idea of quartz, but were put off by the 3-4K quote for this from Magnet. (Magnet definitely off the shortlist btw!) Ideally I'd like a solid worktop not laminate with a built under sink, but want to work around a tighter budget.

I appreciate the info and looking for independent designers/installers. With that in mind does anyone have good recommendations for such in and around Cambridge (or even Peterborough)?

There are several 300mm units at the end of runs and to box in a boiler. It's quite a decent sized kitchen, but not the most useful space unfortunately (a bit narrow, but long), we are keeping our dishwasher and washing machine, because they are high quality and it seems wastful to replace with built-in. We are having a new hob/oven/micro and potentially a built in f/f.

Do both a ceramic/halogen hob and oven need a separate 30 amp feed from the consumer unit? We only have one 30 amp into the kitchen at the moment and the cons.unit is about as far away from the kitchen as possible in the hallway. Looking like a lot of chasing walls for the additional supply.

A lot of what you've written sounds very familar to us!!

Re the worktops, we were quoted £4k including installation at Wickes and then went to our local independent as recommended on Alan M's 'Granite: Truth and Lies' thread on this very forum where the quote came in half the one from Wickes!!! So I'd have a look at that and don't be put off by the Magnet quote.

We too want the solid worktop so we can have an undermounted sink - I love the clean lines as the one we have at the moment has years of silicone sealer around it and is horrible to clean.

We too have 2 300 units but the Wickes designer put those in at the second version stage not originally as we requested a change to his original design so I'm confident he wasn't just trying to flog us pricey units. He also checked for each base unit if we wanted drawers or cupboards.

We too are keeping our freestanding w/m and d/w and also our f/f. We always intended to as there is much more choice in freestanding ones, they are cheaper and easier to 'get at' and I presume you lose some space for the integrated element and I don't even mind the way they look. But like you're we're buying built in hob, oven and micro. I can't comment on the electrics (our electrician, who is currently rewiring our house, asked for details of our intended purchases so he can do all the set up) but I would recommend an induction rather than ceramic hob (not sure if this is what you meant by halogen?). Not much more cost these days and much more responsive.

Good luck. Exciting isn't it but lots of hard work and tricky decisions!!:)

CKdesigner

isofa wrote: »

Great discussions and tips - thanks v much.

We are too looking a Tiverton from Wickes! We've been put off natural wood worktops as Wickes say they need oiling quite a lot... We did like the idea of quartz, but were put off by the 3-4K quote for this from Magnet. (Magnet definitely off the shortlist btw!) Ideally I'd like a solid worktop not laminate with a built under sink, but want to work around a tighter budget.

I appreciate the info and looking for independent designers/installers. With that in mind does anyone have good recommendations for such in and around Cambridge (or even Peterborough)?

There are several 300mm units at the end of runs and to box in a boiler. It's quite a decent sized kitchen, but not the most useful space unfortunately (a bit narrow, but long), we are keeping our dishwasher and washing machine, because they are high quality and it seems wastful to replace with built-in. We are having a new hob/oven/micro and potentially a built in f/f.

Do both a ceramic/halogen hob and oven need a separate 30 amp feed from the consumer unit? We only have one 30 amp into the kitchen at the moment and the cons.unit is about as far away from the kitchen as possible in the hallway. Looking like a lot of chasing walls for the additional supply.

Dear Isofa

I have send you a PM with details of a good independent I know in Dry Drayton.

Good luck

CK

CKdesigner

abankerbutnotafatcat wrote: »

We too have 2 300 units but the Wickes designer put those in at the second version stage not originally as we requested a change to his original design so I'm confident he wasn't just trying to flog us pricey units. He also checked for each base unit if we wanted drawers or cupboards.

Hi Ab......

Sorry the point I think about using 300 mm units is that typically they are used by designers in DIY stores as the amount of base unit sizes available to them is very limited, so they have to use the 300 mm wide units effectively as fillers. Where as I can't remember the last time I used a 300 mm base unit in a design as our suppliers make base units in every 100 mm width from 300 to 1200 and including 450, and if I ask really nicely they will do completely 'made to measure' sizes for just a small surcharge.

CK

getcarter

Thanks everyone who's written in this thread, am looking around for a kitchen at the mo and this has given me food for thought!

Gtee

Hi,
We had a similar quote from Benchmarx £9,000.00 for units, ( same as you I think, wood?) no appliances, after posting here went to an independent and purchased German kitchen, quality is so much better, and interior fittings far superior, cost only slightly more about £300, but we changed design and included many more extras! price inclued sink and taps too. pm me if you would like further info. I would highly recommend taking the advice you have received on here. Our designer worked with us and was extremely helpful and knowledgeable.

OMFG

Gtee wrote: »

Hi,
We had a similar quote from Benchmarx £9,000.00 for units, ( same as you I think, wood?) no appliances, after posting here went to an independent and purchased German kitchen, quality is so much better, and interior fittings far superior, cost only slightly more about £300, but we changed design and included many more extras! price inclued sink and taps too. pm me if you would like further info. I would highly recommend taking the advice you have received on here. Our designer worked with us and was extremely helpful and knowledgeable.

We went to two independent and they was rubbish.
I went to a Company that supplied UK based products, much better and saved me money. I felt patriotic too.
The first company wanted £12000 for my kitchen, we paid 8000.
Money saving expert in the making... :cool::cool::cool:

Jaynne

We've had mixed results with independents vs benchmarx. One independent was great and helpful however they were over twice the price both for their german kitchen range and their "own brand" supposedly cheaper Symphony kitchen.

Benchmarx in comparison have so far been great in doing a design we want and the units seem pretty solid. There are some things we'd stay away from particularly their carousel looked like it would fall apart but the general drawers and doors were fine. I simply couldn't see where there was a 2x difference compared to the independent.

evokit

Very surprised that there symphony kitchen was twice the price.
My ex partner use to sell these and i would say benchmarx are better.
Symphony is based in Leeds - they battle with howdens on the council side of things - there both the biggest couuncil contracts.