I need a new kitchen - where on earth do I start?

GlynD

We had our new kitchen and utility room designed by B&Q's one stop kitchen shop. They do everything. The price was considerably cheaper than previous quotes we'd had and the guarantee system is very good. Installation is on the week commencing 14th Jan. In fact, we've been so impressed with them that we're now going back to have our bathroom done by them.

Owen_Clark

We used Howdens near Dewsbury and they were OK, reasnoble quality and not insane prices, it is incredibly difficult to get decent quotes and any kind of consisitency. However I think many of these places can vary depending on the branch and fitters.

My advice is:

DO talk to lots of companies, don't limit yourself to just a few, prices vary HUGELY for very similar things.

Decide what YOU want before talking to anyone, they will do a design which is best for them most of the time. Break it down into simple individual items or styles which you like and want and stick to them.

I would beware of anyone who isn't prepared to do a free quote in detail with all everything required and prices for the lot.

HAGGLE! No matter what they say all these guys have a lot of flexibilty on price, play one off against the other, if they won't go down and you have a better quote tell them that and see if it changes their mind. Don't believe any claims on quality unless they can back it up with real,solid facts.

Don't let them leave or pay them until you are 100% satisfied, we had to bring Howden's back three times to fix issues all of which were significant. TEST EVERYTHING (taps, cooker with all rings/ovens, sockets, sinks, everything). The job they did in the end was fine but if we had just "left it" with their original job we would have had a lot of issues.

Hope that helps.

cddc

I guess so KDR, but in general I think we are both fair, and more defenders our companies when others post lies about them. Both of us also aim to give impartial help to those who are deserving of it, rather than being outright promoters of our own companies. Would certainly put Meeps in that category too.

Outright spammers are annoying though, and it irritates me that we saw them from both our companies yesterday. That is not what these boards are about. It is sooo obvious too...do they really think that no one is going to see through them?

Both our companies should leave it to Wren;).

fimonkey

Bournemouth - thanks

Kitchen_DesignR wrote: »

Fimonkey, what part of the country are you in, there might be a designer on the board that could help you.

fimonkey

Very difficult to do when you have no idea of what is needed in the first place. Just had my bathroom re-done and I was WAY OUT on my budget (I thought about 1.5K, in all it was 2.75K and that was 'on the cheap').

Russe11 wrote: »

work out your budget must be step 1?