New kitchen

jimjam83

Hello all - we've just bought our first place and you have all helped me to no end....so here I am again!
We need a new kitchen and have just visited Wren, as we wanted them to design it for us. They've done a great job. Now - how do I play the game? I understand I'd be very foolish to simply accept their offer, but how do I shop around?! We will be buying our worktops elsewhere (quartz - welcome any suggestions) and will have our own fitter do everything. I'd really appreciate any feedback!!

FreeBear

Tout the plans round places like Howdens, Magnet, and Wickes (they do retail for Benchmarx). Then pay a visit to a couple of small local independent showrooms - The locals may well suggest some design features that the national chains missed out and undercut the price.

madlyn

jimjam83 said:

Hello all - we've just bought our first place and you have all helped me to no end....so here I am again!
We need a new kitchen and have just visited Wren, as we wanted them to design it for us. They've done a great job. Now - how do I play the game? I understand I'd be very foolish to simply accept their offer, but how do I shop around?! We will be buying our worktops elsewhere (quartz - welcome any suggestions) and will have our own fitter do everything. I'd really appreciate any feedback!!

Why did you choose Wren to design your kitchen and how did you manage to leave the showroom without committing to buying from them?
I was pointed towards a chap called nick morris, he has various videos on youtube about kitchens.
I have heard DIY Kitchens rated highly too

Cash-Cows

I couldn't see that the big sheds were any better quality than IKEA. If they are better quality they certainly didn't seem worth the double cost of IKEA. 

jimjam83

madlyn said:

jimjam83 said:

Hello all - we've just bought our first place and you have all helped me to no end....so here I am again!
We need a new kitchen and have just visited Wren, as we wanted them to design it for us. They've done a great job. Now - how do I play the game? I understand I'd be very foolish to simply accept their offer, but how do I shop around?! We will be buying our worktops elsewhere (quartz - welcome any suggestions) and will have our own fitter do everything. I'd really appreciate any feedback!!

Why did you choose Wren to design your kitchen and how did you manage to leave the showroom without committing to buying from them?
I was pointed towards a chap called nick morris, he has various videos on youtube about kitchens.
I have heard DIY Kitchens rated highly too

I chose wren for design as they offer it as a free, non-obligatory service. I told the designer we wouldn’t be purchasing anything on the day...I’ll have a look for nick Morris!

pinkshoes

We used DIY kitchens after Magnet had designed us one but we felt their price was still too high.

DIY kitchens was SO much cheaper and we fitted it ourselves. We even used their quartz worktops as they offer a special price if you buy the kitchen from them. We tried 3 other quotes and couldn't get anywhere near the quote.

SuzieSue

Do a search on DIY Kitchens on this forum.  Lots of people here have used them including me.  They supply good quality kitchens at a good price.  I wouldn't touch Wren with a barge pole.

SuzieSue

Just read that you have your own fitter.  He will be able to measure up and order the kitchen from DIY Kitchens if you don't feel confident enough to do it yourself.

HampshireH

We gave Wren a 10k budget. 6 hours they wasted of our time saying it would come under budget only to provide me a quote for £24k down to £10.9k with their various "discounts" for a spec hat didn't match what I wanted.

That was supply and fit.

Ended up getting a 6k B&Q kitchen including appliances, it looks nice (we think so I'm sure many would disagree) but as we needed rewire, boiler, new ceiling, new floor tiles, splashback and decor we got the lot done for £15k rather than the £20k+ we would have ended up paying if we had gone with Wren

We got a quote from Howdens and took their plan to B&Q. Wrens plan didn't make best use of our space unfortunately and they couldnt do anything more within our budget.

We were recommended DIY kitchens and if I had had more time/ ability to design in on their website we probably would have gone with them.

Working_Mum

Another vote for DIY Kitchens here too - I designed the space myself and they looked over my plans and suggested tweaks here and there. My joiner fitted it for me and he said it was good quality - I chose a mid-range MDF thickness etc in navy blue with over-sized brushed gold handles..
There was an issue with one drawer unit being damaged during delivery but that was soon rectified. 
I have a large long kitchen and have gone for having pan drawers only - I think it cost me £4300 (inc VAT). My quartz counters are being fitted today by a local company.
I have to say the kitchen looks gorgeous and I am really thrilled with it.

FreeBear

HampshireH said: Ended up getting a 6k B&Q kitchen including appliances, it looks nice (we think so I'm sure many would disagree) .

The Cooke & Lewis range were OK. I've not had any issues with the cabinets I've purchased from B&Q - The fit isn't always perfect, so sometimes a tweak is needed. At the end of the day, you get what you pay for.

The current GoodHome range on the other hand... Not heard any good comments about them yet. The base units appear to be a bit on the flimsy side, and only time will tell if they last.