Ikea - Wicks - B&Q ... affording a new kitchen after the expense of moving!

CatFlap1_2

Hi again MSE...

Does anybody have super saver tips on buying a new kitchen appliances and all for my first house....

I don't want the handles to fall off within a year and yet I don't need it to be a show home - 60% durable and 40% stlye...?

I have discovered a fantasic template on the Ikea website that lets you build your kitchen online within the parameters the real thing. I am worried about Ikea's quality - anybody opted for Ikea recently?

Doozergirl

Lots of people seem to like Ikea. I don't really.

I would always get a kitchen designer to do the plan for you. They almost always have good ideas. I've only once had a bad one where I'd have been quicker doing it myself. B&Q will come out to the house, MFI you can pop instore. Then you take the plans to other kitchen places and get them to put a kitchen together from their range that will match the plan that you like.

Howdens are very good, B&Q and MFI can be played off against each other. If you don't like blatant haggling, it's the best way to do it

Don't buy kitchen appliances from kitchen places! Shop around the superstores but go home and use www.pricerunner.co.uk or similar to find the best prices.

Find your own kitchen fitter; one Ikea kitchen I saw was more than the cost of the kitchen to fit!

vansboy

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=488608

Loads in the DIY forum - mods'll move this soon. I guess!!

I'm IKEA kitchen fan!!

VB

Snow_Dog

Wicks units are better made than B&Q for the price.

Usually even the cheapest wicks units have more solid bases to the drawers, thicker conti for the carcases. Even the very cheapest units used to have proper runners.

For a good carcase go for 18mm, 15mm tends to bow like a tea clippers sails in a stiff breeze.

If you want some fancy pelmets and stuff, dont buy the standard stuff with the kitchens, it can cost a large fortune, what you can do is find decorative wood lengths that pretty much match the other expensive stuff for 1/4 of the price. They even sell it in B&Q in the timber section.

RAS

hi

How about waiting a few months or a year, while you find out how you use the house? And give yourself time to research what you want long term and to save up for it.

In the mean-time, paint the doors if you cant stand the style or have a look on freecycle.

CatFlap1_2

Thanks all really helpful!

I do need to make my way into the DIY forum to continue this good advice!

I am going to do the rent a room scheme so I need the kitchen to be nice enough to keep my friend happy to continue living there and durable for future tenants.

Wicks sounds good, I have a friend whos sister (one of those stories!) made friends with a polish family recently moved the UK. They put her kitchen together and tiles included, they did a fantastic job cheaply ...cleaned up until it was sparkling afterwards . Not sure how easy it is to know whether the Polish qualification certs are the same as UK...?????

Thanks all :-)

benjdr

What about Howdens everybody?
Yes it's trade only but if you find a nice "tradesman" to do it for you, well, bob's your uncle.