To be so confused about choosing a kitchen! (X post for traffic)

[LiGlitterBug]

We’re planning to get a new kitchen in the new few months and I had my heart set on an Ikea Bodbyn (off white) with their onset sink. All planned out in store, very happy with layout and price.
We got chatting to a friend’s brother who installs kitchens (amongst lots of other building jobs!) and he told us that, in his opinion, IKEA kitchens were horrid and- for our budget- we’d be much better going to B&Q, which we did (worth getting multiple quotes/ideas anyway).

The B&Q kitchen is not quite as nice for me. They had lots of glossy bright white modern examples but I really wanted a cream/ivory country style and ending up having to make a couple of compromises including the sink (going for ceramic but not an onset style) and they don’t do the range I really like in a colour I like. However they do offer some little extras that IKEA don’t, and we get a better choice of appliances and recognised names for the washer, dishwasher and oven.

But, just my luck, it’s a end of line style and so we need to act fast (grr) if we want it. They’re apparently not getting anything new in to replace it, so it’s not worth waiting to see the new styles (consolidating the ranges according to the guy).

Both similar in terms of cost. IKEA has planned integrated appliances but have said we could go either way and, tbh, we would most likely buy elsewhere and get freestanding if we went with the IKEA

So- long story short- anyone had a recent Ikea or B&Q kitchen and can advise either way? Or just share a general moan about shopping for kitchens!

I tried searching here and on other forums, but can only find older threads and it looks like both Ikea and B&Q have changed their ranges recently so would like more up to date help!

Or, to make this AIBU, AIBU in wishing that IKEA kitchen were less hassle for builders to fit and that B&Q kitchens had more choices of ‘traditional’ styles!

Sorry I can't help but just be glad you haven't ordered from Magnet Kitchens.

I've never had an Ikea or B and Q kitchen so cant comment on quality etc. But it sounds like you have your heart set on the Ikea one. Your friend's brother doesn't have to live with your kitchen every day. You do. Choose the one you like best. Oh and post pics when you're done!!

We used Howdens..they were good. Also I'd never get integrated appliances.. When they go wrong it's an extra layer of faff to. Unintegrate them to fix it. To me a kitchen is a functional space so appliances don't look odd if you can see them

I had an Ikea kitchen fitted 18 years ago, and it's still looking good. I know the cupboards used to be very well made, not sure now though, but it was definitely worth the money I paid for it then.

We have an ikea kitchen which is lovely. The appliances although without brand stickers are all in fact from the most popular few makes, (think ours are whirlpool) and come with good guarantees.
Why compromise things you have picked out and liked for someone who said a bad comment about ikea?

beanaseireann My parents have only just survived having their Magnet kitchen installed! It was the bane of my mother’s life for the past few months.

We had an Ikea kitchen for 8 year and it was fab. Would totally recommend (I don’t work for them)

We have a 3 YO Ikea kitchen and it's great - looks like new. People are far too sniffy about Ikea, but I think they really are excellent quality and value and you really won't get better for your money.

If you like the Ikea kitchen, go for it. I wouldn't be swayed into getting a kitchen I didn't like as much as the one I'd chosen by someone who won't have to look at and use the kitchen every day.

Appliances - we used our existing fridge freezer and dishwasher, got an Ikea induction hob, extractor and tap (much cheaper than almost any other tap I saw and really nice and good quality). I got AEG ovens and a sink from a sink shop, so a real mix and match, but it all went together easily.

Ikea does have a slightly different fitting system, but there's nothing wrong with it.

Go with IKEA, or at least go with your gut which sounds like the IKEA kitchen. The other sounds like too much of a compromise and as another poster said you are the one that will have to live with it.

I'd ask the fitter if he knows anywhere local that can do similar.

We had Ikea, was ok & have it in our utility, also ok. Had expensive kitchen from local fancy firm & is ok but already couple of little bumps in the lovely painted units 😒

Don't let a friend's brother put you off getting what you really want; maybe he had an Ikea kitchen to fit that took a while to do - doesn't mean yours will too. If you hadn't mentioned it to him you wouldn't be having this wobble.

My builder BIL prefers to work with Howdens kitchens. He says they're as good as B&Q but cheaper and the service is far better.

He turns down work if the client has their heart set on on Ikea kitchen. In his experience the quality isn't great and there are always problems with getting the right stuff, bits missing etc.

Thanks all! My heart is definitely still set on the IKEA, I think I was just worried that I was going for a pretty kitchen over a more sensible and functional one (and then read lots of old threads on DIY forums where builders moaned about IKEA stuff), but it’s reassuring to hear that most people have good experiences. Was possibly going to use friend’s brother as the fitter but it’ll probably be easier just to find a builder who’s happier to install Ikea kitchens

Don’t know much about ikea but when we ordered an en suite bathroom from B&Q I vowed never again. They came out and measured it all up, then totally ordered the wrong stuff in the wrong size, plus there were numerous bits missing, it was a total cock up.

I think your friends brother is a bit bonkers!

Ikea do very well in the Which scores for both fit and quality, whereas BnQ don't! Neither do Wren for that matter... top three are ikea, John Lewis and DIY I believe. Bowden's and magnet both middleish

Oh and the best thing about IKEA is they go all the way to the wall with no boxing in, so you get more space for the same size

@LakieLady Oh no!! It seems like builders and tradespeople have a much different experience of Ikea! Think I was happiest in ignorance.

My husband is the opposite of pp brother. He fits howdens by choice because they rarely measure wrongly, and have good quality options, but he's happy with ikea and wren. HATES b and q. They measure badly, their customer service after sales is a joke, and they often fail to deliver everything first time.

Funnily enough what's mentioned above as a positive is why builders hate Ikea kitchens. No service gaps at the back of the units. Makes them an absolute bitch to fit. Howdens if you're using a fitter they're brilliant.

Avoid wren.

We’ve got an Ikea kitchen, have fitted 2 in different houses and love them. PP is right, Which did rate them well.

We've had an Ikea kitchen, was good but daft fitter didn't realise they hang using different fixtures than other kitchens. 1 Year in the cabinets fell off nearly killing dh!!

Last kitchen we opted for Wicks. Really brill, totally recommend.

I have the B&Q Carisbrooke and I love it. I wanted a country style with framed doors and a lot of places didn’t do that - Howdens, Wren, Ikea etc.

Most Ikea kitchens are from stock, so you can just go and pick the bits up. We swapped a base unit at the last minute because we realised that we had the fridge in front of the light switch so needed to move everything up a few centimetres.

I tried to get a quote from Howdens, but they were bloody awful. They wouldn't even talk to me until I could tell them which branch my as yet unidentified kitchen fitter had an account with and when I finally got over that hurdle, I had a pointless 2 hours 'design meeting' with a young man who had clearly never used a kitchen in an entire life, ignored all my requirements and spent ages lining up units in places I didn't want them.

The meeting broke down completely when it transpired that they couldn't supply a piece of worktop big enough for the island I wanted and his only suggestion was that I should have a smaller island.

Thanks everyone! It’s helped me to get my head straight. Husband and I have chatted tonight and decided to go with Ikea, and managed to find a tradesman who used to work for Ikea and (all being well) is more than happy to fit it. Attached a pic of the plans, but we’ve got another design appointment to do some tweaking.