Bathroom & Kitchen Refurb

F1001

Hi All, I am doing up my bathroom and kitchen as it is really dated. Any suggestions on where to source bathroom (toilet, sink, bath, taps, shower solution) and kitchen suites (cabinets and appliances)? I am thinking Howdens for the Kitchen, and am looking into Victoria Plum /Plumbing and Wicks for the bathroom but everything looks very similar and it's becoming a bit overwhelming. I may rent out the property in a couple of years so not looking to spend loads, and durable enough to last while I'm here and when it's rented out.  Thank you!

MikeJXE

When I did that I toured the plumbing, bathroom and kitchen centres and made massive savings by buying showroom displays. 

Make sure you have accurate room dimentions with you 

jonnydeppiwish!

For me, depending on your budget, I used DIY-Kitchens.com. I can’t be dealing with Howdens and their 30 different prices depending on who you may or may not be.

F1001

jonnydeppiwish! said:

For me, depending on your budget, I used DIY-Kitchens.com. I can’t be dealing with Howdens and their 30 different prices depending on who you may or may not be.

Thanks - I would be interested to use DIY kitchens but worried that I might get the measurements a little off and Howdens at least come around to measure up.

How does Howdens pricing work? I booked an appointment directly with my local store (giving my builder's details) but my builder actually uses another one a little further out so he suggested I use "his" one so we get a better price. I couldn't book with his store they were always busy but would like to make sure I get the best price - any advice?

Thanks!

ka7e

When you do get a quote from Howdens, it should list all the items they will supply. You can then use the DIY site to price up the items in your preferred kitchen. If it beats Howdens you can either order from DIY or use their quote to see if Howdens will price match.

F1001

ka7e said:

When you do get a quote from Howdens, it should list all the items they will supply. You can then use the DIY site to price up the items in your preferred kitchen. If it beats Howdens you can either order from DIY or use their quote to see if Howdens will price match.

Awesome thanks! Any advice on whether to get appliances from Howdens or to source from elsewhere? Do they price match on everything (incl. appliances)? Does it help to go to my builders preferred store or they would have to price the same across all Howdens stores? I hope that my builder can at least get the referral "gift" .

F1001

Re bathroom stuff - I went to a few independent stores and they have hoards of catalogues from different brands which I am looking through but everything looks the same but different - and its 1,000s of pages! Any advice on which brands are worth sifting through? I have Phoenix, Nuie, Eastbrook, Sonas, K.Vit, Aqwa, GSI, Scudo.... and im sure there's more! Overwhelmed

F1001

My builder is suggesting Topps Tiles - anyone had bathrooms from them and is that a good go-to? And another silly question - rimless or rimmed toilets?! I've always had rimmed but apparently rimless is now the better option?

jennifernil

F1001 said:

My builder is suggesting Topps Tiles - anyone had bathrooms from them and is that a good go-to? And another silly question - rimless or rimmed toilets?! I've always had rimmed but apparently rimless is now the better option?

We have rimless, Ideal Standard with Aquablade flush, very good flush and easy to clean.

I surfed the net and decided what I wanted, visited a few of those big bathroom showrooms to check a few things, then researched the best prices and ordered everything on line, including the tiles and LVT flooring, after getting samples sent.

No plans to change our 36 year old kitchen (beech block worktops, solid oak doors and sturdy cabinets that are still like new, we are careful with things),  but have replaced a few appliances and added a few more cupboards  over the  years.  If we were changing it I would look at DIY kitchens and Ikea.   I like the good depth of the Ikea units.

Albermarle

jennifernil said:

F1001 said:

My builder is suggesting Topps Tiles - anyone had bathrooms from them and is that a good go-to? And another silly question - rimless or rimmed toilets?! I've always had rimmed but apparently rimless is now the better option?

We have rimless, Ideal Standard with Aquablade flush, very good flush and easy to clean.

More important ( for me anyway) make sure they fit good quality toilet seats with good fixings.
Lost count of how many toilet seats we have bought over the years, due to cheap fittings breaking.
Our bathroom fitter put in 2 new toilets in the house, and assured us the fixings would not come loose or break and they haven't !

jennifernil

Agree there!   The seats on our 2 new toilets are very sturdy and well attached, but unfortunately pretty pricey of you ever need to replace them.

We still have 2 of the original toilets, one Armitage  Shanks and one Ideal Standard (now the same company) and both seats are also original, now 36 years old.