New kitchen nightmare's

Rich_Z

Hi there, please be gentle new forum member here!

We have gone from having no kids, to three in a little over 2 yrs after twins recently came along. This is a wonderful thing, but putting it simply, we no longer have enough space! Therefore we are having an extension built (4m x 8m ish), starting in the next few weeks as we have no plans to move and are happy where we are. But with the dog to look after as well at the kids, and me and the misses both working there are just not enough hours in the day to organise anything!

So I was hoping for a little advice to help stop wasting my time looking at kitchens I can't afford, or being messed around by kitchen designers quoting me way more than I can afford, for their benefit and mine! I've seen kitchens at 2K going onto silly money of £10+K, which is some difference! I'm finding it all a nightmare and don't really have the time to trek from showroom to showroom, especially with three kids in tow, as the misses works weekends to help cut child care costs. (Lets not go there-another nightmare!)

Anyway I priced up (on the internet) a B&Q kitchen the other day, which included around 20 odd cabinets with all the extras, work-top, with 2 ceramic sinks and taps. The only appliances I sought with the kitchen was a new cooker, 5 burner hob and hood, which is all going into the existing kitchen and half the new extension. This came in at £4800. On to of that I need flooring, and the cost of a fitter, who probably will be the builder as well. So I'm guess by the time its finished I'm going to be looking at £6K ish. TBH I can't afford any more than this.

Baring this in mind anyone with any tips / advice etc of where else I should/could be looking? My builder has mentioned Howdens and states he will get me a discount, but with no price guild on there website, is this something comparable with B&Q? Like I said £5 or £6K is really tops of what I can afford. We have looked a Homebase, and Wickes, but the misses doesn't really like anything they have to offer. Magnet is another consideration (but I'm slightly been put off by folk saying avoid). But they do have a range the misses likes - Juno with curves and planer cream, but typically of my misses they are more top end as appose to reasonable/middle of the road. Decisions decisions! Pls help?

Thanks
Rich Z.

penguingirl

I don't know if it's of any help, but we are planning on getting our kitchen from diykitchens as we think they are better quality than b&q etc. and work out much cheaper. They have a showroom in Yorkshire which we visited, but later found out that the doors they use (Second Nature) are stocked in a supplier locally so we've looking in their showroom too for ideas etc. Might be worth having a look? Also people rave about IKEA kitchens being excellent value for money.

phill99

I fit quite a lot of kitchens for a living. I would concur with your builder and encourage you to get a design and price from Howdena. You wont find prices on their website as they are trade only and put would have to buy through your Builder. They are a rigid carcass as opposed to flat pack so are a stronger product and as you don't have to assemble them they are much quicker to install. Also, as everything is held in stock in their depots, exchange is easy in the event of a faulty item or missing parts. Don't expect B & Q to rush if something is missing.

Ikea are nothing but a nightmare and the curse of all professional installers. For instance they have no service ducting on the rear of their units which means any pipe work etc needs to be cut into the back of he unit. I would avoid them at all costs.

Magnet Trade are worth a try and work in the same way as Howdens.

evokit

Kitchen_DesignR wrote: »

Howdens would be compatible to B&Qs Cook n Lewis range. As your looking at Gloss Cream in Magnets, Howdens would be able to do exactly the same

Howdens dont do cream carcass do they?

evokit

i was meaning Magent

evokit

shocking that....they use to
its odd they portray themself to be good yet like of wickes off more more selection

martinthebandit

Talk to your builder would be my answer.

Tell him what units you want and let him quote you for supply and fit.

Source all the appliances yourself from the net.

Job done.

Its how we did it and it was a lot (and I do mean a lot) cheaper than any kitchen design place.

Failing that get your units from ikea and get your builder to fit

evokit

well i think personally any compaines offering low selections on carcass colour like that is crazy in this day n age considering the possibilities of doors/colours/textures

Rich_Z

Thanks for everyones comments. I'm more hopeful I can come in on budget, and if Howdens is comparable to B&Q I can live with that. Sort of. Interesting comments about sale prices as well! Nothing is ever straight forward is it!

I'll see what the builder can do, and I think he said he could get trade prices on B&Q as well. It will certainly be interesting to see what he can get off £4800 I was quoted on line. If I'm still not happy I'll try and go independent locally, then IKEA as last resort!
I won't bother with Wickes, Homebase and several others from what I read.
I know it's difficult but does anyone know what a fair ball park figure would be for fitting, for say a fairly straight forward £5k kitchen?

evokit

Rich fitting will really depend where in the country you are nrth is fairly good rates london is silly and south west is a littlle high also.

Kithchen designeR - you can now see why the german suppliers on here kick the uk shops.......Magnet try and fly the flag yet....if thats all a uk leading uk company offers its a joke.
But thats why id always tell people not to go to big chains - the buy on ease to supply and cost not quality and then stock it, then mess up the delivery
Most decent independents dont have these limitations unless they supply a brought in product like your mereway, shearton package etc

evokit

i wasnt meaning the maufactured side - all board colours are imported as in alot of the doors and other bits.
i was meaning more along the lines as selling as an english company and so little to offer.
The germans on here always say they supply options - yet all there product i doubt is 100% german through n through but you get where im going.... its options.
eg.. howdens offer how many oak colour/veneer doors? 6/7? yet all different colours and tones yet one oak carcass colour to go with this, so its hit n miss if will be a match a half decent or look silly.
white carcass and cream door??? aint good.
would you have it or want it as a kitchen designer??
this is what im trying to say, the uk side have the option to do so but dont.