Just completed on my first property! Best places for a new kitchen and furnishings?

MoneySaving_Newbie_2

Today is the day I go and collect the keys to my first property - a two bedroom flat. The property needs decorative work right the way through, including a new kitchen and bathroom.
I've never had any involvement with getting a new kitchen fitted; how should I go about getting one? Do a lot of places stock the same sort of units and what sort of things should I look out for? The flat is on the second floor with no lift; kitchen in about 11m2; there's gas into the block; windows do not need replacing; floor and walls will need to be tiled; artex needs to be removed from the ceiling.

phill99

Avoid Wren and Bettaliving like the plague.

B& Q are overpriced.

You may be better to find a local fitter that has accounts at Howdens or Magnet Trade will give you better value for money.

Make list of what you want in your kitchen, then decide the 'must haves'. With most kitchens its about a compromise.

If you say where you are based, someone maybe able to assist with recommendations.

paddypaws101

try local Facebook 'Recommends' pages for good local kitchen fitters. The kitchen itself depends on budget....I have Ikea but some fitters don't like their range.

A_Frayed_Knot

My joiner told me to buy base units from ikea and doors from BQ - worked a treat and saved loads.

Another way you could try would be the bay of e, and tree with gum. Bought worktops, black sparkly from a local company.


Tip - if you have low ceilings in your kitchen, then you could consider normal sized wall units but the higher doors, if you measure right, then they can go up to the ceiling, and once you open the door the top of the unit could be another storage shelf. If you get what I mean.

Davesnave

Removing Artex might not be the best/cheap option if it contains asbestos.

You can have it tested and decide once you know, or just assume that it shouldn't be disturbed and have it skimmed. I've just done that with one room.

redmalc

We are slowly going through the house from top to bottom skimming all the art ex ceilings.
What a bloody mess this causes,half way now and discussing if we are going to continue or just live with it

Davesnave

It's a whole heap less messy than taking them down to replace, which we have done in 50% of the rooms!

hels234

We have just fitted a kitchen from diy kitchens, they're internet based but have a showroom near pontefract. The kitchen cam ready built with doors on, all we had to do was lift and secure into place and put handles and worktop on, it's been great. A lot cheaper than everywhere else we looked eg b&q, ikea, magnet and the locals. We also bought our worktops from worktop express, I wanted solid wood and again they were one of the cheapest with good reviews. Both companies were really helpful with good customer service, we had to change our order, delivery dates etc and they were both great. Hope this helps.

Furts

Scrutinise kitchen units very carefully.

I recently looked at a B&Q IT range kitchen. The quality was abysmal. The hinges were flimsy, the carcasses flexed, the handles were not capable of being properly gripped, the doors were vinyl wrapped and the whole kitchen was shoddy.

It was well fitted which is vital on any kitchen. But this was a show kitchen so it would be well fitted. Ordinary customers are unlikely to fare as well.

But I also drove past a local kitchen showroom where they advertise "Quality German Kitchens - prices start from £9999". It follows that this will be for the smallest kitchen that one can imagine and may be without any appliances. For the vast majority this is as ridiculous as the quality issues with B&Q.

Joanthebone

I agree with Davesnave, skimming over artex is way less messy (and safer) than trying to take it off!


If I were you I would get recommendations for a good tradesperson first, a carpenter/joiner. They will be able to fit a good kitchen for you and will know any other trades you will need.


As for bathrooms, don't skimp on the bath/shower tray, get a good solid one, cheap ones can flex and give you problems with the seals after a while.

catterlen

We've had a couple of kitchens fitted from how dens and B&Q- the kitchen fitter made a huge difference in the final quality.
I prefer the howdens ones on price and general quality, our fitter didn't like idea as our house is older and his comment was that the walls need to be good (straight.) for the ikea ones... However he did say he thought the quality was decent, just didn't enjoy fitting them?

We sourced tiles, sink and appliances from the Internet to get a cheap kitchen deal, and paid a fitter as recommendation from a family friend- he was actually a joiner by trade- and he did a fantastic job with what were probably ok quality materials and really put the effort in to make them look good.

Bathroom- we went local as a local store had a sale on and came recommended by a few people I work with. They supplied their own fitter, and whilst the materials were decent price/quality, the fitter was supplied by the company and I didn't rate him as much as our kitchen fitter...
So, always get a recommendation I think for supplier and fitter, but have a look to see what's on the Internet. Most places will send you samples so you can see the tiles/floors etc before you commit if there isn't a showroom.