Mereway/Sheraton/Hacker kitchens?

notanewuser

So we've gone back and fore and its coming in at £33k (including appliances and Silestone tops, which is better than the Mereway quote).

However, I'm really not happy about paying out that much. There are also some practical sacrifices in favour of design.

Just wondering whether compromising by having cheap units well fitted with fancy tops might be a way to go (if I can find some in the right sizes). How important is symmetry in kitchen design? Current kitchen isnt, but designer seems stuck on it.

ryder72

If you are happy to spend £33k but dont like the kitchen design then get it changed or find a designer who will do a better job.

There is absolutely no reason why you should spend any money, let alone £33k on something you are not completely satisfied with.

There are lots of good designers out there. Find one.

notanewuser

I'm FAR from happy with the £33k cost. £20k all in is more like it..........

suisidevw

Nanu. No wonder you aren't happy. Especially considering its 3 1/2 months since you first visited them!!!

CKdesigner

Hi

I haven't read all the posts on this thread since its beginning but I would have to agree 3 & 1/2 months to get back to you with a design is a long time. But with regard to the pricing, did you not discuss budget with the designer in the beginning? Because more than half as much again does seem rather strange.

At the end of the day there is only really 2 ways to design a kitchen in basic terms. Either to a specification or to a budget. The art is to give the customer as much as you can of what they want for their budget.

Assuming you did have the 'budget' and 'specification' conversation in the beginning with the designer. Have they not designed the kitchen to your specification and its all worked out to £33k and then shown you another design or spoken about where changes would need to be made (quite large ones probably) to get to your £20k budget? This would be the sensible thing to do.

I think though now you have a couple of choices, either say to the designer that they seriously missed your budget requirement you spoke about in the beginning so you are going elsewhere or ask them to come up with solutions to get down to your budget. Or if you didn't have the 'budget' conversation with the designer then be honest with them now and say that you like the design but you really haven't got anywhere near the budget to spend on it, so effectively asking them to start again with your £20k budget. You should still get a decent kitchen but ultimately it won't be the same design and certainly a much lower specification.

Whatever you decide you need to talk to the designer and let them know your thoughts and tell them what you are doing next.

Good luck

CK

notanewuser

CKdesigner wrote: »

Hi

I haven't read all the posts on this thread since its beginning but I would have to agree 3 & 1/2 months to get back to you with a design is a long time. But with regard to the pricing, did you not discuss budget with the designer in the beginning? Because more than half as much again does seem rather strange.

At the end of the day there is only really 2 ways to design a kitchen in basic terms. Either to a specification or to a budget. The art is to give the customer as much as you can of what they want for their budget.

Assuming you did have the 'budget' and 'specification' conversation in the beginning with the designer. Have they not designed the kitchen to your specification and its all worked out to £33k and then shown you another design or spoken about where changes would need to be made (quite large ones probably) to get to your £20k budget? This would be the sensible thing to do.

I think though now you have a couple of choices, either say to the designer that they seriously missed your budget requirement you spoke about in the beginning so you are going elsewhere or ask them to come up with solutions to get down to your budget. Or if you didn't have the 'budget' conversation with the designer then be honest with them now and say that you like the design but you really haven't got anywhere near the budget to spend on it, so effectively asking them to start again with your £20k budget. You should still get a decent kitchen but ultimately it won't be the same design and certainly a much lower specification.

Whatever you decide you need to talk to the designer and let them know your thoughts and tell them what you are doing next.

Good luck

CK

I will be doing. The designs came though at the end of April and the costings a week or so later. I've met with him this week and revised some things, and also mentioned that £33k was far too much. Turns out he thought that, and so downgraded some of the appliances to try and get the price down a bit. Not really the right thing to do!

Have made some changes, and asked him to get closer to £20k. I'm not prepared to reduce functionality in favour of design - it's me that has to live with it!

I've priced up the closest design I can on diy-kitchens and the cabinets (no plinths or ends) come to around £7k. His are £15k. They'd have to be significantly better to justify being twice as expensive!