Kitchens

ItzClare

Hi,

We are looking to have a new kitchen and was wondering which kitchens people would recommend for quality.

Thanks

Clare.

suisidevw

Smallbone of Devizes.

Alternatively a search will give you many helpful threads on this.

CKdesigner

Hi

It really depends on what you want.

Kitchens are very much like cars in that you can spend a relatively small amount (£5,000), up to a huge amount (£100,000's) yes hundreds of thousands! And at all the different price points you will find good value, but you will have to search for it wherever you are budget wise.

Good luck with your search.

CK

forgotmyname

You maybe the sort of person that will spend over £20k on a kitchen with shiny gloss everything. When told these items are likely to get scratches in use. The reply was.. Oh its for show only we wont actually use it....

Utility room had the main cooker etc...

How the other half live eh...

Jenniefour

Kitchens are indeed like cars! If you're looking for high quality and have the money then German kitchens like Schuller, Alno are brilliant. Had two German kitchens in different properties and equally thrilled with them. But they have a much wider range of options, high quality construction and beautiful finishes - which, contrary to the suggestion above are no more likely to get scratched than any other kitchen.

Only kitchen suppliers to definitely avoid are most of those who sell internet only - like complete kitchen £1500. Equivalent of the 200 quid old banger.

If you're looking on the high street at the likes of B and Q, Wickes, Howdens (trade only, buy through your kitchen fitter/builder) - all pretty decent kitchens, they've upped their game in recent years. What to beware of with the high street kitchens is their design/planning. It's pot luck whether you get someone who knows a bit more than the bog standard basics and sometimes not even that. It's all about sales - emphasis is definitely not on good function and planning, unless you hit very lucky. So, unless you're already a kitchen planning expert try and get someone (knowledgable friend?) to look over any such plans before making any commitments or do some research of your own.

Kitchen planning/design is one of my long time passions and a quick internet search will tell you how many people are dissatisfied with something in their new kitchen after they have shelled out all the money to get it in and been through all the hassle.

If you're happy with how your present kitchen works and just want to replace it as is then only thing to consider is whether to replace some base cupboards with drawer units and to perhaps eliminate those blind cupboards (the ones you have to empty everything out of to get to the stuff that's to the side without a door) to get more efficient and use-able storage.

rustyboy21

IKEA is always worth a mention. Ours is IKEA, I designed it, but had a mate buy it and fit it for me, when I disappeared for a fortnights holiday ! The only issue is that EVERYTHING is sold separately, that means door knobs, screws, legs, kick boards everything, so unless you are good at DIY, don't attempt to do it yourself. Their Kitchen designers are supposed to be OK in the main. May save some money to buy that fancy Cappucino machine for one of the units ! lol

neneromanova

Which model IKEA do you have rustyboy21? The METOD or FAKTUM?

Is it any good as we're looking at getting the METOD in the next few weeks.

rustyboy21

It must have been a FAKTUM one that was fitted. All I know is that I went in the my mate, chose the style, where I wanted bits going on a drawing and left him to it. I know he called me at 8pm one night and told me to get to IKEA, as they would not fit anything else in the van and needed my estate car for everything else. lol


It is a really good, quality kitchen, chose oak doors and dark tops, in Hindsight I would have now gone for cream doors, to lighten the kitchen up, but can do that again. Not had one ounce of trouble from it, no warping, blistering anything.


Nice thing about them, is you can get panels to cover any ugly areas, just cut them to size.


Well worth the money, we bought in a sale, so he surprised me with a double sink and a shower tap in the price we agreed.

Cully25

Hi,


Has anyone ever used theusedkitchencompany.com? I'm doing my flat up on a tight-ish budget.. I have also had IKEA around to quote but budget is tight and if I can get an ex-display model anywhere I'd be more than happy!


I'd also be keen to find out if there are any sales/discounts on IKEA kitchens..


Any advice greatly appreciated

Jenniefour

Used kitchen company exactly what it says and some high quality kitchens for sale at good price and some ex display.

The only problem is finding a kitchen there which will meet exactly what you want and have on your plan, so better to buy one that has much more than you need in terms of units and ditch the ones you have left over (or put to another use). Saves you the cost (often expensive) of getting the one or two units you need to finish the job.

Worth looking on ebay as well. A friend of mine once got a complete brand new Ikea kitchen about to be put in a skip!! Happened to be driving by as builder was bringing it out. Amazing how many new kitchens get taken out by new owners.

vansboy

Ikea fan here!

Have fitted three in each of my properties, in past, all very good!

Will be on fourth, for next project, which will be their new Metod model.

Use their free planner, on their site for ideas. Bit clunky at first, but works well. Prices it for you, as well.

If you do a Google images search, vansboys kitchen, there are a couple of pictures of mine and other Moneysavers examples.

VB