New Kitchen - Recommend an approach!

Angie_B

SuzieSue wrote: »

Has anyone used the Duropal laminate worktops form DIY Kitchens?

I replaced my entire kitchen from DIY Kitchens earlier this year and can definitely recommend them. I bought my Duropal worktops (Natural Oak Block) through them as well and am very pleased with the whole thing. Really good quality and unbeatable price for what you get.

One word of warning regarding delivery though. I had booked a day off work and paid extra for named day delivery from DIY Kitchens but my Duropal worktops did not show up with everything else. I was not informed that this would be the case prior to the delivery guys showing up at my door so had to then phone DIY Kitchens to find out what was going on. They then told me the Duropal would come direct from their suppliers, which meant another day off work for a separate delivery. I ended up delaying that delivery until the kitchen fitters were due to start which, to give DIY K their dues, they were fine about and organised for a day and time which was convenient for me.

Everything else with them was spot on and they were very helpful when I forgot an end panel off my order - added it on to the order and got it delivered no problem.

SuzieSue

Angie_B wrote: »

I replaced my entire kitchen from DIY Kitchens earlier this year and can definitely recommend them. I bought my Duropal worktops (Natural Oak Block) through them as well and am very pleased with the whole thing. Really good quality and unbeatable price for what you get.

One word of warning regarding delivery though. I had booked a day off work and paid extra for named day delivery from DIY Kitchens but my Duropal worktops did not show up with everything else. I was not informed that this would be the case prior to the delivery guys showing up at my door so had to then phone DIY Kitchens to find out what was going on. They then told me the Duropal would come direct from their suppliers, which meant another day off work for a separate delivery. I ended up delaying that delivery until the kitchen fitters were due to start which, to give DIY K their dues, they were fine about and organised for a day and time which was convenient for me.

Everything else with them was spot on and they were very helpful when I forgot an end panel off my order - added it on to the order and got it delivered no problem.

Many thanks Angie. I've been looking at their website today and it does seem quite complicated. Did you work out what to order yourself or did your fitters help you?

Also, which kitchen did you go for?

Angie_B

SuzieSue wrote: »

Many thanks Angie. I've been looking at their website today and it does seem quite complicated. Did you work out what to order yourself or did your fitters help you?

Also, which kitchen did you go for?

I had done a fair amount of research first, played with the online Homebase and Ikea kitchen planners and spoken to an in-store designer at Homebase as well before deciding to go with DIY.

I knew basically what I wanted in terms of drawers vs cupboards and where I wanted to move the appliances to, so it was a matter of researching what dimensions of units were available and how these would fit in my kitchen.

My kitchen fitter offered to go through my order before I placed it and DIY-kitchens also phoned me up and talked me through everything to check before they started manufacturing anything. They actually made me two bespoke units to fit in the spaces I needed, for a minimal additional cost (i.e. about £18 extra).

I went with the Milbourne Chalk in the end and am very happy with it (I ordered various sample doors before making my final decision, rather than travelling to their showroom). Photos are before the finishing touches (olive green paint on the walls, etc) but they should give you a good idea of the finished look.



The unit over the top of the fridge is bespoke, made to fit in the space between the tall oven unit and the wall to box in the fridge/freezer.



The under-cabinet lighting is from DIY-kitchens as well.

SuzieSue

Thanks again Angie, that looks great.

I couldn't see a kitchen planner on their site, so I will have to use another one.

Did you buy any of the appliances from DIY?

Can you get upstands for the Durapol work surfaces?

Angie_B

Hi Suzie. I didn't buy any of my appliances from DIY. I used ao.com for the oven, hob, hood and dishwasher as they had the best price for what I wanted. Washing machine and fridge/freezer I already had and were fine so I kept them.

I bought a Franke sink and tap online, I think from Kitchen Appliance Centre.

Tiles were from Topps Tiles.

I believe Duropal do matching upstands for their worktops but I'm not sure if DIY stock them.

SuzieSue

Angie_B wrote: »

Hi Suzie. I didn't buy any of my appliances from DIY. I used ao.com for the oven, hob, hood and dishwasher as they had the best price for what I wanted. Washing machine and fridge/freezer I already had and were fine so I kept them.

Thanks, so are all integrated appliances a standard size eg will all integrated dishwashers fit the DIY units.

Angie_B

SuzieSue wrote: »

Thanks, so are all integrated appliances a standard size eg will all integrated dishwashers fit the DIY units.

Yes. Most integrated appliances are 600mm wide (although obviously you can get slimline dishwashers) so typically you just need a 600mm appliance door from DIY to fit to the front.

Xeorix

Interesting. Not to hijack the thread, however we have a joiner in the family who is going to fit the kitchen for us.

Has anyone got suggestions whats the best way to go about it. We were originally just going to order the lot from Benchworx or Howdens and fit it ourselves, but looking on here, might reconsider...

kah22

Anyone come across this idea before; look left, a built-in herb trough between a sink and a window.

What I like about it is that it allows the sink to be placed at the window without leaving an ugly space between the back of the workbench and the window

cyclonebri1

And you then have an excuse to be "sloppy" with the washing up.




I can only give an opinion, but I don't think you'll like it.


It looks to me like an attempt to cover up a botched fitment, and it's pretty permanent.


Of course it may appeal to many, just not me inspite of my love of gardening.