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Original poster

B and q or ikea kitchens?

44 replies

Lemonmelonsun · 02/07/2021 22:27

Ok?

I'm getting desperate, magnet was too much, can't even get a quote out of howdens, DIY looks wonderful but I'm nervous about measuring the kitchen myself and their reviews...
Wicks is booked till Sept I've got homebase, ikea and b and q left.

I'm not after a dream kitchen, I can't do much with my space, I just need a new nice clean one. Thank you.

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Original poster
Lemonmelonsun · 02/07/2021 22:32

Oh and the other day I thought I had found via check trade or somewhere this amazing fitter and he asked me so many detailed questions and I duly sent pics of stuff and he batted be off to some independent company, amazing reviews but way out of our price range with the designer trying to sell me a home visit to talk space and storage.

I had stressed early on that I'm on a budget and being pushed into a new kitchen rather than really wanting to pay for one.

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Gilead · 02/07/2021 23:30

I had a great builder who put in a B&Q kitchen for me. It’s three years old and still perfect.

NannyGythaOgg · 02/07/2021 23:51

I got DIY and love it but my neighbours have just bought a B&Q one and they think it is great (and they are not on a tight budget at all)

Both of them rely on you for the kitchen measurement though - the same as DIY. Although DIY don't design as such, they will give you feedback on your own design and make suggestions.

I also know people who are happy with IKEA.

I know which I would choose (DIY again) but the main thing is to make sure you triple check the kitchen dimensions and pick a kitchen you like. A decent fitter will make it work.

(If you have kids I would definitely try and get over my fear of DIY kitchens though as they have solid backs which makes for a much sturdier unit.)

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Home improvement
WarmAndFluff · 02/07/2021 23:55

I've heard a few people now speak highly of Ikea kitchens. I think the advantage is they can do the fitting etc too if that's what you want. We had an Ikea kitchen at our last place (put in several years before) and it was pretty solid.

The place we're in now has a kitchen from Howdens I think and the build quality is not brilliant.

Not sure about B&Q though, sorry!

Original poster
Lemonmelonsun · 03/07/2021 08:52

Oooh thanks for the replies.

I'd definitely like to try DIY but it's the measuring that put the fear of god into me.

How do I get someone to measure my kitchen!!

Nanny some reviews of DIY are not good if something has been delivered poorly painted or damaged and that worries me as we are at the other end of the country!

IKEA I'm going too but I know when I had an ikea product I had so many problems with getting someone to fit it!

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Stillfunny · 03/07/2021 09:38

I have just had a B&Q kitchen fitted. It is wonderful and the service was excellent. And so much cheaper than anything else, appliances as well.
Get a fitter that is willing to do the job after you have selected the kitchen. Ask them to do all the measurements for you to bring to B&Q . DIY is a possibility but you still need electrician etc.

Allmyarseandpeggymartin · 03/07/2021 09:44

We’ve got an IKEA kitchen and they were brilliant from start to finish - took our measurements in and they helped us design it, I loved the planning process as I could think about what I wanted to store and where - they even custom designed a unit for our oven/microwave and American fridge freezer.

Fitting was done by a local company for IKEA - completed on time, by very clean and polite fitters.

We are 4 years into a 25 year guarantee (doubt b&q do this) and still very happy with our kitchen

Allmyarseandpeggymartin · 03/07/2021 09:45

@Lemonmelonsun just get IKEA to do the fitting - they were very reasonably priced and as they fit IKEA all the time they are very quick

Foxyloxy1plus1 · 03/07/2021 09:51

B&Q did a layout and measuring for us and we used their fitters, who were excellent. It was some years ago though, so things may have changed since then. B&Q were cheaper than Homebase and Wickes.

Original poster
Lemonmelonsun · 03/07/2021 15:08

There thing is is I've been advised not to use in the house fitters

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Twizbe · 03/07/2021 15:18

It's all about the fitter I think. Spend your money on that.

We have a B&Q kitchen in our utility and im very happy with it. Easy to plan in store and everything came when it should.

We splashed out on getting a gorgeous quartz worktop from a local stonemason. I'd recommend doing that as well if you can. Or getting more expensive handles. I slightly regret not getting more of our kitchen handles to use in the utility.

FedUpAtHomeTroels · 03/07/2021 15:50

We have a B&Q kitchen fitted by a local joiner who did the worktops too, and then Dh did the tiles. Looks great, now we are doing a bathroom, thats going to be IKEA, we went to pick it all up the other day (Toilet is from B&Q ) and Bath is being bought for us by the local joiner who did the kitchen cupboards.

LeanneBrownsLonelyBraincell · 03/07/2021 15:56

My IKEA kitchen is 14 years old and only now showing minor (and cosmetic) signs of wear and tear.

I'd get another.

magicstar1 · 03/07/2021 16:00

We’re on our second IKEA kitchen and still love them. Our first one is still going strong in the house we used to live in. We fitted it in 2008, and the doors were replaced by the new owners in 2016. Such an easy job, and the insides were perfect.
Our one now, we fitted in 2016 and its great.

Xiomara22 · 03/07/2021 16:04

Can’t speak for an IKEA kitchen but 10000% would never ever use B&Q, had a horrendous experience and that was just in the planning stage. Also used them for a bathroom in the past and half the stuff didn’t even turn up and it was stressful trying to chase it and took so much longer than anticipated.
We went with a local kitchen company, probably double the price but definitely worth it for the quality and peace of mind.

stillcrazyafterall · 03/07/2021 16:20

I've had my last 2 kitchens from IKEA and wouldn't go anywhere else now. The current carcasses are over 20 years old and still perfect- we can just replace doors if necessary.

Allmyarseandpeggymartin · 03/07/2021 17:20

@Lemonmelonsun

There thing is is I've been advised not to use in the house fitters
By who? I thought their fitters were excellent - can you imagine the damage that could do to IKEA’s image if they were crap. It’s in IKEAs interests to use good people.
Original poster
Lemonmelonsun · 03/07/2021 21:36

Still crazy did you use their fitters?

I agree anyone's fitters would damage any ones image but it happens but it's being stuck in the system and also I've heard in house fitters can also inflate prices...

I'm learning the kitchen business is a little like a dreams eg... A mattress is made by company : Rose.

Rose sells everywhere 490 but they have agrangmnet with dreams to sell rose for 600 with frequent sales to make it seems like good value then creams say "you can't buy this mattress cheaper or something when no..becsuse you've re named it!!

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Original poster
Lemonmelonsun · 03/07/2021 21:37

B and q had ok cabinets I must say their lay out was the best so far far, everything in one place but... Waffer thin boards behind!

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Original poster
Lemonmelonsun · 03/07/2021 21:38

I want to be in a position to simply have to change work top and doors in future... Not what we have to do now ie rip out entire thing

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MyGrassIsBrowner · 03/07/2021 21:43

We have a B&Q kitchen. Our kitchen designer was fantastic, customer service fantastic all round couldn't fault it. Ours came in at just under 5k.. Wren quoted us 26k, it was a no brainer really 😂

Original poster
Lemonmelonsun · 03/07/2021 21:47

My grass, our quote was about 4800.
Diy 3300 and magnet slightly more... About 550o but magnet comes with better joints etc.

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GrandmasCat · 03/07/2021 21:52

If you have the space, I would go for Ikea. The wall cabinets in particular have more capacity than other brands.

Ikea cabinets are, as a standard, much better and stronger than most medium/economic ranges. The only downside is that if you need to hold pipes behind them, they do not have the space at the back so this may result in an extra expense as you would need to move all that to floor level.

MyGrassIsBrowner · 03/07/2021 21:52

@Lemonmelonsun I guess it depends what you want out of your kitchen. Do you wanna see a before and after of ours? Hang on lemme get you some pics.

Original poster
Lemonmelonsun · 03/07/2021 21:54

Thanks grandma, but couldn't holes be cut?

I think in our case everything is staying the same so sink in same place etc.

Also when you say space, we don't really but we have a wall where cabinets go.. They could go bigger

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