New fitted kitchen - any recommendations please?

[ispywithmylittleeye59]

So I have decided to take the plunge and re-do my kitchen this summer.

I was thinking of getting units and worktop from Wickes and finding a fitter, but will also check out Howdens, Magnet and a place local to me. Maybe IKEA too but I’m not so keen on their cabinets.

Before I start to trawl around shops, has anyone done their kitchen recently and have any recommendations for kitchens and also appliances?

It’s a really really small kitchen - 2 cupboards and 3 drawers on the bottom and 2 wall cupboards so I don’t need anything extravagant! I was hoping to do everything for £3,500..

Thanks!

 

[discolisa]

We used magnet trade and we're not in 'the trade'. I would definitely recommend.
Tiny kitchen but it's beautiful. They knocked loads off without us asking. Free handles, free good brand of integrated dishwasher, the dishwasher wood protector sheet thing, free cutlery thing, free drip thing for under the sink, every item discounted. They even told us where to get the exact same solid wood worktop so we went direct to worktop express. It was cheaper. They didn't seem to mind, all the wood samples had worktop express stickers on anyway. We also sourced our own sink from a local company as we needed something very specific due to size limitations. We fitted it all ourselves tho, so no cost there (bar plumber for gas).

I think it was around 1k, shaker grey doors, 2 tall wall units (800?), 2 wide deep drawer units (800?) (amazing! 2 drawers with the secret cutlery drawer), 3 normal sized cupboards, the dishwasher and door and two small width (300?) cupboards plus kickboard and ends panels and plinth stuff etc. The worktop was about the same price about £1k, lots of waste unfortunately due to size and shape. Then sink (£300?) With glass sliding covers (clearwater glacier, amazing to hide washing up etc and additional worktop space too), taps, pipes and bits for drills and jigsaw/router.

Our Howdens quote was still ok-ish but limited choice of colours and limited wood options for worktop. They also didn't do the big drawers I really wanted in our width so for the price there were too many compromises. My friend used them and her dishwasher which was part of the deal was a really really poor 'brand' and has just died after only 3 years. Our Wickes quote, design and option were also poor even in one of their regular 'sales' - about 4.5k I think.

Another friend has just bought a wren kitchen and is very happy.

I'd avoid IKEA, another friend (I know!), Waited like 20 years for a new kitchen and they're so unhappy. Things didn't arrive etc and the IKEA fitters were not bothered. The worktop has also 'blown' and crumbling around the sink and dishwasher after only 6 months. Or maybe avoid their fitters and worktops!

Personally, I'd shop around, I mean get things from different places and don't get sold on fake deals and fake sales.

Good luck

 

[ElliotM]

Recently I've got a bespoke kitchens petersfield . Before that I had an Ikea kitchen, it was good but the time has come to buy a new one. I am in love with my new kitchen even it cost nearly 20k but its hand painted and the design was made exactly as we want.

 

[Lola123]

We have a Howdens kitchen as my dad is trade, we have 70% discount apparently. We did fit it ourselves, but howdens do usually have a list of local traders on file. You would need to register as trade or use someone’s trade account to get the discount.

My parents are having a new kitchen and using benchmark, who are part of travis Perkins but again trade only and they will fit it themselves.

Both excellent quality if you can find a fitter.

Would second benchmarks

 

[Shaunaftw]

Make sure you look in to the quality of the units as cheaper ones may be 15mm thick when more expensive will be 18mm. A lot of the time it's much cheaper to source fixtures yourself too!

 

[grumpycat]

I used IKEA, small kitchen but everything new as I ripped it all out when I moved in. They came round for £40, all bits were £1,200 and two men from mybuilder fitted it for £1,000 so I think you can do it
I had a sink, 3 or 4 units (I’m not entirely sure what a unit is )

Tiling was separate and inc in my other labour costs that other guys I hired for my bathroom
It’s a pretty bland kitchen so nothing special But is fresh and new. Had it about 3 years now and still looks fresh View attachment 520867

Love your Eleanor Bowmer tea towel, I’ve got the same

 

[Homebird44]

My kitchen is IKEA. Its a decent size and the units, worktops, five appliances and fitting cost 10k. We needed new electrics and plastering, flooring and a velux window. The builders bill was 8k. I never even thought about ikea but I'm so glad I used them.

 

[Rocknrolla]

Top tip re Howdens only selling to trade, any Tom, Dick or Harry can go in and sign up for a trade card

 

[smg658]

My kid designs kitchens for B & Q, never had an unhappy customer so far.

 

[thatstupidcat]

Another vote to avoid Wren - my next door neighbour used them last Autumn when replacing their 20yr old kitchen. Wrong stuff sent out from their depot with weeks’ of delays waiting for a replacement.

Also, their fitters are paid for 5 days’ work only and they finished hours early each day. Any building work, gas or electric work more elaborate than changing faceplates or putting in a simple plug was beyond them. It was simply strip out and slot in new and slapping the laminate worktop on. While they came back briefly to put the replacements up later, it was extremely awkward as they were doing it “on their own time”.

I imagine other high street kitchen sales’ companies are similar so it’s worth looking for an installer you like before a kitchen. I had a quote from B&Q a few years back for £15,000 for a small kitchen when I got the same for half of that independently. Any company that does finance (especially 0%) will make you pay for it.

For so few units, would it be worth considering freestanding? Sometimes small freestanding kitchens pop up for sale on ebay although you may have to arrange your own collection.

ETA - sorry you asked for fitted but sometimes they pop up too on ebay if money is really tight!

 

[Greencatfysh]

Howden’s are brilliant and great value. It sounds like I have about double the cabinet space you have and I got that, worktops and a new hob/oven for £3300. Also they have a 25 year guarantee on all of their joinery so it’s pretty reliable to sort issues.

 

[Raininvain]

A friend of mine fit her own and ripped out the old one, she teachers CDT or whatever it calling itself these days. She could set herself up as a kitchen fitter/joiner if she ever left teaching, she can do anything.
I'd get a variety of quotes and also find out about the costs of the units and what a local joiner would charge to fit them. They do charge quite a lot though I was shocked when I realized.

 

[ispywithmylittleeye59]

Thank you everyone this has been helpful.

So avoid Wren, add Howdens to my list to check out and deffo find a fitter rather than use theirs!

I used IKEA, small kitchen but everything new as I ripped it all out when I moved in. They came round for £40, all bits were £1,200 and two men from mybuilder fitted it for £1,000 so I think you can do it
I had a sink, 3 or 4 units (I’m not entirely sure what a unit is )

Tiling was separate and inc in my other labour costs that other guys I hired for my bathroom
It’s a pretty bland kitchen so nothing special But is fresh and new. Had it about 3 years now and still looks fresh View attachment 520867

I’ll need to check out IKEA too. This is what I’m looking for - just a bland kitchen but will make it look fresher.

 

[Sally1993]

American fridge with a plumbed-in ice dispenser and cool water dispenser!! Best thing we ever bought.

 

[Carrie2019]

We’re using a local independent kitchen place.
The quality is amazing compared to the big popular places and not really much more expensive.
Could be worth seeing if there’s any local places near you??

 

[Notworthy]

Yes I am a little concerned about the delivery so I would def confirm with the company beforehand. I live in a first floor flat and have had several delivery drivers refuse to take large items up the stairs!! Good to hear you had a good experience with B&Q!

I got an off the shelf Kitchen from B&Q, can't fault it, it's 10 years old and still looks great. I definitely think the key to a greaat Kitchen is a decent fitter.
ETA Kitchens get really expensive when you add in the storage solutions, as long as you keep to the basics you will easily manage to keep in budget.