Howdens/B&Q/Wickes/Ikea kitchen: smart storage, soft close hinges and other nice touches

timg147

Just a comment to say don't forget to try your local kitchen suppliers as well. We are just about to have our kitchen done. Our guy was able to do what we wanted rather than what the big guys wanted to sell. Plus he is doing everything, electrics, plastering, plumbing etc rather than expecting everything to be in the right place first.

TELLIT01

The pull out for the base unit is one of these.  That is in an 800mm base unit and you will see that capacity is minimal.  For the larder unit I bought an extra 3 baskets but agree with the 5 supplied, there is a lot of empty space.  The new kitchen design only left room for a 300mm larder so the pullout makes a massive difference.  Our kitchen is small so we needed to utilise every inch.  I hope that makes things clearer.

tallac

TELLIT01 said:

The pull out for the base unit is one of these.  That is in an 800mm base unit and you will see that capacity is minimal.  For the larder unit I bought an extra 3 baskets but agree with the 5 supplied, there is a lot of empty space.  The new kitchen design only left room for a 300mm larder so the pullout makes a massive difference.  Our kitchen is small so we needed to utilise every inch.  I hope that makes things clearer.

Ah I see, that does look very limited. Might be easier to put rarely used items into a box and shove it in the corner rather than having something like that. Thanks for the picture, that's really helped.

TELLIT01

tallac said:

Ah I see, that does look very limited. Might be easier to put rarely used items into a box and shove it in the corner rather than having something like that. Thanks for the picture, that's really helped.

A box would be much better value too.

Cash-Cows

We used to have a rotating thing for a corner cupboard which worked ok, if stacked carefully. I would have one again in a small kitchen. We've got a larger kitchen now so the corner can take the bigger items we don't use and more frequently used items at the front. To be honest you get more in without the rotating arms it's just a case of access. 

I did notice when looking at kitchens that when price comparisons are made between themselves they don't compare themselves to IKEA. Perhaps it's because they can't. We went with IKEA. Get a good fitter. 

Rosa_Damascena

Thanks Mutton and telllit, I agree they are a complete waste of space. I can't get over the price for what is essentially a bit of plastic on a rail!




I was thinking of getting the kind of corner tall cabinet you could lock your granny into

TELLIT01

I wouldn't have needed a tall cabinet for my granny, but would have needed quite a wide one.

JIL

I have just had a kitchen from the company mentioned earlier. I know hindsight is a wonderful thing but I would have used my kitchen fitter to get me a discount at Howdens and saved myself the bother of the numerous emails I have been sending to the company chasing things up. 
The kitchen fitter suggested the name says it all, use them if you are doing it yourself. If you are employing a proper kitchen fitter, go somewhere proper. 

Rosa_Damascena

JIL said:

I have just had a kitchen from the company mentioned earlier. I know hindsight is a wonderful thing but I would have used my kitchen fitter to get me a discount at Howdens and saved myself the bother of the numerous emails I have been sending to the company chasing things up. 
The kitchen fitter suggested the name says it all, use them if you are doing it yourself. If you are employing a proper kitchen fitter, go somewhere proper. 

Really? The chap that designed me a kitchen at Howdens took no care over his work. He designed me a kitchen without any "dream" element to it despite having carte blanche with an amazing space, and the styles on DIY Kitchens looked much better. 

Did you have a professional floor plan to go by, or did you design from scratch yourself? And the chasing surprises me because the reviews online are by and large very complimentary. 

TELLIT01

My experience of the Howden designer was very good.  They listened to everything I wanted and also made suggestions which hadn't occurred to me.  I can obviously only speak from personal experience.