DIY Kitchen

momo1111

Saw great reviews for DIY Kitchen. But I am a complete novice. Not entirely sure if I can make the exact measurement / buy all the pieces right.
How to benefit from using DIY Kitchen, while making sure I've done the planning right? Is kitchen fitter supposed to support in this phase? Can I go to Howdens and ask for measurement, and use the measurement and quotation to buy stuff from DIY kitchen?

gaz_moose

have a look to see if any of the big chain stores have a 'planner' on their website.

MarcTJTD

If you go into a B&Q and ask at their showroom desk, they'll set you up on the SPACES software that they use to plan their kitchens.

It's a very simple and easy to use (for a novice) system, however it does only have access to the doors and cabinet sizes that they sell so it's of limited use if your design involves (for example) a corner larder, butlers pantry, Euro/Low height appliance housings, 350/700/1200 units or low height wall units.

If in doubt, DIY Kitchens does have a Kitchen Planner PDF on their website; plot your kitchen out on that, upload a pic and post it here for people to view and give you pointers on.

missile

Visit a.n.other kitchen fitting showroom and ask for a quote. They will measure and supply a design to your specification.

But I am a complete novice.

Fitting a kitchen is not a job for a DIY novice.

allconnected

DIY kitchens were also happy to take back and refund a few bits and pieces I ordered in error when i “planned” (I use the term loosely) our kitchen last year, including an external corner post in a kitchen with no external corners - they won’t do this for bespoke items but “off the shelf” units are fine.

I would recommend a professional plan, or at least planning out on commercial software - it’s all too easy to plan a kitchen which looks loosely but where half the doors can’t open because room for them to open into has been overlooked!

And the kitchen is still perfect despite 18 months hard use.

ka7e

DIY do have a kitchen planner with 3D rendering on their site - it's just "hidden"! You need accurate measurements for your room and fixtures but I found it quite easy to use. It red flags things like sinks too close to hobs, height issues, door clashes etc and automatically adds end panels, fillers and cornices. Queries are dealt with through an online ticket system, which is now quite responsive, I was getting answers within hours. I used it to plan my kitchen...which is currently sitting in boxes awaiting the fitter!
https://planner.diy-kitchens.com/


I did get plans made by 2 kitchen outlets, but they were almost identical to my own plan and £4k dearer!

cranford

DIY Kitchen do have a PDF planner on their web site plus other advice guides.
https://advice.diy-kitchens.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/paper-planner-diy-kitchens.pdf

My kitchen from them is 10 years old now and as good as new although it does benefit from having solid wood doors which they no longer do.

At the time they did cabinets in multiple colours which meant I did not need to use end panels, their pelmets, cornices and plinths also matched and were a good price.

babyblade41

Just had all mine delivered.

One thing I would say being the one who works in the kitchen most is before even planning think how you work and where you need things.

I have had a few kitchen planners in over the years and it never works out for me so now use diy kitchens

I know before I order what should go where so for me I can just work from there on in

I position the white goods where they should be first and the ones I really want are put in place

I like the side by side fridge freezers so got that first and put it exactly where I wanted , then I saw a free standing island that I loved and worked the doors round that one item.

The island got shifted about 4 times in a month finding the best place for it ..then I was ready for the actual kitchen units.

The oven housing was positioned next as I wanted rid of the range ovens , as I'm getting older and cook quite a bit a built in eye level oven was important, so that went next .

In the past I have had multi ring hobs and to be quite honest I never used all of them at one time so opted for a 4 ring ceramic hob freeing up the work top space

I buy the appliances on line from different retailers and the same with work tops.

I like oak this time instead of granite and had a good deal on some from elsewhere

My husband and I have pretty much fitted it ourselves inc sink but getting a pro in to cut the work tops

DIY answer you very quickly and ordered an extra unit after my main order

TerracedHouse

Good info, thanks

sussie

I cannot believe I have never read on any site a negative review about DIY Kitchens.  I did read one lady I think on Mumsnet, who said she posted a negative review and it was immediately removed.  Makes one very suspicious !  

Doozergirl

sussie said:

I cannot believe I have never read on any site a negative review about DIY Kitchens.  I did read one lady I think on Mumsnet, who said she posted a negative review and it was immediately removed.  Makes one very suspicious !  

I read a few on trustpilot about delays in deliveries and missing pieces - nothing scathing though - and I've provided my own negative review on here of trying to conduct a simple conversation with them.  It takes weeks.    I gave up with them - I took the plan and quote for the kitchen I'd designed  to Howdens and got them to price match it, which meant the benefit of the better price plus near immediate delivery.  That's my method of choice if I need to design and buy anything from Howdens now 😬.  

There is a way that companies can encourage good reviews, but they do need happy customers.   If you email the customer directly and ask them for a score of your service, you direct the happy customers only to the review website. 

They've always had good reviews from people on MSE who have better experience or more patience in getting to the actual purchase than I have.   I don't think there's anything particularly suspicious.