New Kitchen Suppliers--Advice Please

daveoc22

We live in Southampton, our present kitchen was fitted around 25 years ago and 2014 has been designated as the year we get a new one.


As it's been so long since we last looked we are out of touch and comments and advice on the following would be appreciated before we start to process of looking:


John Lewis---Expensive, ready made units(?) sub contract fitters(?),good quality.


Magnet---between medium and expensive price, ready made units(?), sub contract fitters(?), good quality.


B&Q/Homebase/Wickes---Medium price, flat pack units, sub contract fitters, medium quality with the standard of the fitter being important (but down to pot luck).


Wren---don't really know much about the though there is a showroom in Southampton.


Howdens---medium price, ready made units, good quality. Get good reviews but you don't seem to be able to buy them direct and have to go via someone with a trade account.


Checkatrade---There are several 'kitchen fitters/installers' shown in my local area, some do a complete design while others just seem to fit.




As I said I'd really appreciate some comments on these along with any other places I should consider.


Thanks

Nessynoo

Hi, daveoc22. I'm also in Southampton and in the market for a new kitchen!

I've used the Ikea kitchen planner to design my kitchen, and it also gives a price list of all the items as you build it. I'm unlikely to go with Ikea though, because of the lack of service gap at the back. I would prefer pre-made units becuase they will be quicker to fit.

I've set my budget for £5000 all in, including fitting, some kind of splash back and flooring.

I'm yet to find out if thats realistic, though. All units, workstop, sink, tap, washing machine, oven, hob and fridge freezer come in at £2176 at Ikea.

I applied to tesco for a kitchen visit. (Their reviews are fabulous, compared to a few years ago). They wouldnt come out because "our kitchens start at £7000". Wickes' reviews are pretty bad.

Please let us know how you get on.

I'm going to a showroom in Hedge End tomorrow. My OH has had a receommendation. i dont know the name yet!

At the moment, Magnet are doing an instant quote thingy if you go in with your measurements.

cattie

I used Benchmarx for my new kitchen, they are exactly the same as the kitchens supplied to Wickes and are part of the Travis Perkins group.

I had quotes from Magnet, Howden's & B&Q, all for a similar style & price range (mid to high). Benchmarx beat the others hands down on price (Magnet refused to budge an inch on price) & I found the service from Benchmarx excellent.

When a supplied drawer front was found to be damaged by the fitter, they sent a van driver out with a replacement one just an hour or so later.

It is important to ensure that you use a kitchen company that can supply from stock should anything go wrong. Nobody wants to wait say 6-8 weeks while a defective or missing part is ordered from the manufacturer.

This was my first time buying from Benchmarx. I've had kitchens from both Magnet & Howden's before & would most certainly recommend them & use them again.

I'd advise against using a fitter from a place such as checkatrade. Ask around for recommendations as a good fitter can make a cheap kitchen look like it cost a lot & a bad fitter can make an expensive kitchen look as if it's the cheapest flat pack on the market. Using a fitter supplied/recommended by the kitchen company will always be more costly than finding your own fitter.

Don't be afraid to shop around for appliances etc. & things such as handles, sink & so on. You can save a fortune by sourcing such things yourself & you get a much wider choice & not have to stick to only the brands that the kitchen companies supply.

teddysmum

My present, soon to be replaced, kitchen is from Magnet. It's been here for 14 years and is still intact, but after only a few years the edges of the cabinets (not the doors) became discoloured, even though they weren't exposed to light, due to the doors closing over them.


My son's mother-in-law had the same problem with hers; also from Magnet.


I'm going small company bespoke this time and considering the time scale between , the price is competitive.

daveoc22

Thanks for replies.


Not heard much about Benchmarx---do they have showrooms we could visit?.


Also, on another running thread there is mention of Cooke and Lewis kitchens from B&Q being a step up in quality?.

southcoastrgi

Benchmarx are inside City Plumbing, Oakley Rd, Millbrook

premkit

You have a good understanding of all the major players there, whoever you pick the biggest consideration is the fitter. A bad fitter will make a high end kitchen look like a budget happy shopper kitchen.
So put your major research into the fitter who will be installing all that expensive product in your home.

If you go for a shed then ask to see the fitters work or phone no's of recent fit 's.

CKdesigner

Hi OP

Before you worry about what make of kitchen or where to buy it from I think the first thing you need to do is go and talk to 1 or 2 proper kitchen designers. With all due respect I don't mean a 'design consultant' in a DIY store or the like, I mean a proper kitchen designer with years of experience and who keeps themselves up to date with the latest techniques and information about products in the industry.

As you said in your opening post the last time you replaced your kitchen was 25 years ago, so things have moved on a bit since then, and a design lead kitchen designer should be able to advise you properly.

Purchasing a new kitchen is one of the most important purchases in life so I believe should only be entrusted to someone that truly knows what they are doing rather than someone who is only really motivated by trying to sell the customer a bunch of boxes.

CK

Nessynoo

I visited this company in Hedge End at the weekend.
http://www.allsortsofkitchens.co.uk/

I will probably go with them. Huge range of kitchens and in-stock appliances. Their fitting price is outstanding. I still need to decide on worktop colour, tiles and flooring. Hmmm.