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Original poster

B&Q kitchens

75 replies

HighOnStilts · 31/12/2019 16:21

Wanting to know if anyone has a B&Q kitchen and what you thought of the service you got?
We're moving house in January and want a new kitchen before our baby arrives in March. We had a consultation with a kitchen designer at Wren and was quoted £18k.. baring in mind our kitchen is essentially a galley kitchen and really not that big. Basically told them to shove it, after being hounded with texts and calls from them about our quote. I felt the service we got from them was amateur and pushy.
We have an appointment at B&Q tomorrow and a budget of around £6k max, pretty much know what style kitchen we want so I'm going in there and laying our cards on the table straight away.
Look forward to hearing your experiences!

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BadEyeBri · 31/12/2019 16:26

B&Q kitchens are awful. I've had 3. Service terrible and quality terrible. Try Ikea instead. Price range similar and service so much better. If you know what you want it might be worth going to some local joinery/kitchen design places because they will work to your budget and you might get a more bespoke service. Good luck

PrayingandHoping · 31/12/2019 16:28

We had a b&q kitchen installed i our own house. The actual kitchen was fine however their design didn't work at all!!!!! Thankfully we had a very clever (independent) fitter who managed to make it work.

Would never use them again. We had a Howdens kitchen fitted in this house. V good quality and no issues

PrayingandHoping · 31/12/2019 16:28

Old house that should have said

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Bubblysqueak · 31/12/2019 16:36

Have you looked at IKEA, can definitely recommend.

Original poster

HighOnStilts · 31/12/2019 16:40

Will have my guard up with B&Q then! Heard lots about IKEA kitchens, do they have a kitchen design service like Wren/B&Q etc?
Also good idea with going to a local joiner/fitter @BadEyeBri will look into that if we don't get anywhere with B&Q

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Original poster

HighOnStilts · 31/12/2019 16:41

@PrayingandHoping Howdens would be the dream, but I think they will be well out of our price range! I've heard nothing but good things from them.

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Medievalist · 31/12/2019 16:44

Had a b and q kitchen installed about 6 years ago and it has worn very well (even with 3 teenagers). The fitters were great and even did some extra bits that we hadn't anticipated we would need.

We used ikea for a previous kitchen and had lots of trouble with the worktops and even more trouble getting ikea to rectify the problem.

donquixotedelamancha · 31/12/2019 16:45

DIY kitchens. We paid £4k for the equivalent to a £15k wren kitchen. Fitter records it's the best quality he's ever fitted.

Original poster

HighOnStilts · 31/12/2019 16:48

@donquixotedelamancha How bizarre, me and the OH were looking at that website last night.. I'm guessing at the measuring/design work has to be done yourself though? I'm expecting and the OH works full-time so we need a service that does everything

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Original poster

HighOnStilts · 31/12/2019 16:50

@Medievalist See I've also heard a lot of positive things about B&Q kitchens. I guess I'll make my mind up when I've had the consultation tomorrow but I'm sure they can't be any worse than Wren! I still get nightmares about being sat there with the kitchen designer... three goddamn hours! My ankles swelled like I don't know what 🤣

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Khione · 31/12/2019 16:53

b& Q are crap and if anything goes wrong you are stuffed.

Look at DIY kitchens in Pontefract. They deliver nationally. My kitchen. approx 3m L shape and a small island was 3.5k incl Durapol worktops but not appliances. Employ a local fitter that comes recommended

donquixotedelamancha · 31/12/2019 16:58

I'm guessing at the measuring/design work has to be done yourself though?

Yes. I'm not sure it's massively more hassle to do that. Measuring takes 5 min with a tape. I would look at designs with a couple of places first anyway, so not much more work to put it onto their design app- probably a couple of hours at most.

Ultimately, whoever you use you are still making all these decisions. I think if you really want the easiest option then a full service independent with a good rep is your best bet, but you will pay Wren prices.

HelloCanYouHearMe · 31/12/2019 17:01

I had a quote from Wickes, Howdens and Ikea. Howdens wasnt the most expensive and came with Bosch appliances. I think the quote was 7k, but the fitters wanted 5.5k to install which is just stupid.

I had a B and Q bathroom in an old house and it was nothing but trouble from day one. The design didnt work when it came to install and the staff dealt with (not store staff) were just a nightmare....

PrayingandHoping · 31/12/2019 17:06

Don't dismiss Howdens. I think like for like the units were similar in price to B&Q

Original poster

HighOnStilts · 31/12/2019 17:10

Thank you all, I will bare all of this in mind! If anything I'm just wanting a stress free/hassle free job doing on my kitchen what with a little one on the way, I don't think I could handle the stress of things going wrong right now 🙈

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Original poster

HighOnStilts · 31/12/2019 17:13

@donquixotedelamancha Our kitchen is a bit of an awkward shape/measurement when it comes to fitting standard size units in there, which is why I dont trust myself getting accurate measurements, I'd rather leave it to the professionals

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Original poster

HighOnStilts · 31/12/2019 17:15

That's our kitchen on the left - the pic on the right is the look we would ideally like to go for!

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HelloCanYouHearMe · 31/12/2019 17:22

The pic on the right has units that are almost identical to the ones I have chosen - every kitchen designer I have approached has told me that they are not the cheapest and have told me that Howdens wrap their doors, so there is a possibility that over time the doors will bubble.

I have no idea how true this is though

Original poster

HighOnStilts · 31/12/2019 17:26

I think Wren wrap their doors too - especially on those kind of units.. I think that will probably be unavoidable if I want those style units I guess.. I like the handle-less design myself (no handles for a toddler to run into lol)

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donquixotedelamancha · 31/12/2019 17:27

I dont trust myself getting accurate measurements, I'd rather leave it to the professionals

I felt the same, but ultimately it's whatever you are comfy with. I think a good carpenter is the key to making it easy and look good- measurements are never precise to the mm, their job is to make it work.

To give you an idea, this is what we have (not finished yet- hence the unpainted bits) for 9k when all the appliances, tiling, plumbing and everything is totted up.

I have no DIY skills and did nothing but play around with the online app, having already done a consult with two places, so knew what I wanted.

Iwantmychairback · 31/12/2019 17:32

We had a B & Q kitchen installed when we moved into this house in 2007. Still absolutely fine.
We got Wren out initially and no way could we afford their quote. Used their design though when we went to B & Q.
Installers were brilliant, every thing cane when it was supposed to and nothing was missing. I wasn’t happy with a join in the worktop (where it went round a corner) rang up and they came out within a week to sort it out for me.
The units are still perfect, no problems with handles or hinges.
There are no children at home though.

Original poster

HighOnStilts · 31/12/2019 17:32

@donquixotelamancha Oh my god, wow!!!! That is a stunning kitchen 😍
9k?! That's unreal! Our kitchen is NOWHERE near that size so I can't imagine ours should cost anywhere near that! Think I'll have a look on the website tonight.. you've got me thinking now 😆

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Original poster

HighOnStilts · 31/12/2019 17:33

@Iwantmychairback if you dont mind my asking, how much did you end up paying for your B&Q kitchen in the end?

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marblesgoing · 31/12/2019 17:42

Fitted our b and w kitchen ourselves as dh has renovated while house so saved a fortune.

We picked and decided on the layout ourselves as we built an extra pantry area with extra three top units and a corner bottom aswel as the whole other side of the kitchen.
All soft close hinges and the best drawer inners etc etc and it came in at around £6k without electricals.
Still going strong and only had a problem with one hinge which was sorted straight away

isseywith4vampirecats · 31/12/2019 17:48

weve looked at all the companies and are going with DIY kitchens, we live near enough to the ponty showroom so went down there to have a look and the quality of the units is very good, what we did for measuring was got wickes to do it then went down to their showroom to get the quote and pictures, theirs came in at £5000 for the kitchen and another £2000 for fitting, took the list and pictures to DIY to get a quote from them and it came in at £3000 we are talking twelve units, sink, taps and worktops, and luckily for me I have a son in law who is a joiner so he is going to fit them for me, the 3 grand we have saved will go towards the rewire and plastering

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