New Kitchen purchase - Help please

sanp

Dear all,

I am new to this site and I need help from people in the know.

I am renovating my kitchen and my wife like a Mearway kitchen with the aluminium trim. She has also seen it in John Lewis. A local independent suggested that we consider the Symphony Linear range.

We have a budget that does not stretch to John Lewis/Mearway prices.

Any ideas or suggestions regarding quality and alternatives would be much appreciated.

Thank you all. Sanp

ryder72

You can buy the cheapest John Lewis range (Symphony) or the mid price range (Mereway) from independents for a lot less than what JL charge for it.

If you budget stretches to Mereway purchased through an independent, you will probably be able to afford a better kitchen than Mereway for similar money.

IMO Mereway is a very average product.

cddc

Mereway is average for the money, but JL's service and backup is very good. Independents vary, but the best of them would provide as good a service on the same kitchen for a fair bit less.

From what I have seen of Symphony kitchens, they do not represent value whoever you buy them from. Your local DIY shed would do you a better kitchen for less.

oddjobong

Am currently looking into kitchens as part of redoing my house, and it definitely pays to shop around. Two independent shops quoted me with a difference of £15k for the same model kitchen with very little differences.

With kitchens, is not just the brand, but the quality of installation. you can have a benchmarx kitchen fitted well that looks better than a poorly installed German kitchen.

Shop around and get an indepedent who knows what they're doing, but also get yourself a good installer.

maintenanceman

I am surprised Mereway is classed as average for the money. Has the O.P tried D.I.Y kitchens?
The only reason I haven't bought from Mereway is because of having to order the doors separately from another company.

ryder72

@maintenanceman - If you look at buying prices of Mereway kitchens and compare it to others you can buy similar quality for maybe 30% less or buy far quality for similar money.

@cddc - I have seen JL designs and I thought they are amateurish at best. They are a competitor as far as I am concerned and my feedback comes from clients who have also been to JL. Their ways or working didn't impress our clients.

cupoftea1234

hi all
is anyone else having a problem with a kitchen company called Oakwood Bespoke in Camberley? they installed a kitchen for me and left it in a right mess: falling apart and they don't want to know! I therefore withheld the final payment to compensate for their mistakes and they're taking ME to court!! avoid.

cupoftea1234

hi all
is anyone else having a problem with a kitchen company called Oakwood Bespoke in Camberley, in Surrey on the high street? they installed a kitchen for me and left it in a right mess: falling apart and they don't want to know! I therefore withheld the final payment to compensate for their mistakes and they're taking ME to court!! avoid.

cupoftea1234

hi all
is anyone else having a problem with a kitchen company called Oakwood Bespoke in Camberley? they installed a kitchen for me and left it in a right mess: falling apart and they don't want to know! I therefore withheld the final payment to compensate for their mistakes and they're taking ME to court!! avoid.

MoneyMate

sanp wrote: »

Dear all,

I am new to this site and I need help from people in the know.

I am renovating my kitchen and my wife like a Mearway kitchen with the aluminium trim. She has also seen it in John Lewis. A local independent suggested that we consider the Symphony Linear range.

We have a budget that does not stretch to John Lewis/Mearway prices.

Any ideas or suggestions regarding quality and alternatives would be much appreciated.

Thank you all. Sanp

Have you considered IKEA ? we have now fitted 2 kitchen conversions, over 4 years great value currently £100 back in vouchers for every £1000 spend. :money:

http://www.ikea.com/ms/en_GB/campaigns/kitchen_plan_3d.html :beer: