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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think buying a new kitchen is a nightmare.

101 replies

SaucySpider · 25/01/2019 12:19

So after a few years of saving hard I am about to embark on the journey of buying a new kitchen. But why is it so difficult? I've read so many reviews about the major suppliers i.e. Wren, Magnet, B& Q etc that aren't fantastic. Then the other type of supplier such as Howdens or Benchmarx require me to do everything through a tradesperson (I don't have one yet). What experience do you have that you can share with me. I'm tearing my hair out already.

OP posts:
Babdoc · 26/01/2019 13:41

OP, it depends where you live and whether your local branches of the main national companies are any good or not- they do vary.
I’ve seen criticism of Wren, but my local one is excellent. They did my kitchen two years ago. The designer came to my house, discussed all the spec with me, told me about modern features I didn’t even know were possible, drew up plans and a computer simulation, then uncomplainingly tore it all up and started again when I changed my mind on layout!
He sat with me for three hours in the showroom going over all the 1700 different styles of unit, 600 ovens, 50 different drawer handles etc etc- I would have lost the will to live in his position, but he was lovely.
I eventually chose floor tiles from elsewhere, but used Wren to supply and fit the kitchen itself and do all the decorating.
The fitters turned up on time, did it all to plan and it looks beautiful.
You could probably get it cheaper from separate local plumbers, joiners, electricians etc, but it’s so much simpler with just one firm doing the lot. 2 years later it all still looks pristine, despite heavy usage - I cook all my meals from scratch and own a cat, but everything is very robust, stain and scratch free!

mrssunshinexxx · 26/01/2019 13:43

WREN!!
We have just had a new kitchen fit early jan got it from wren but did shop elsewhere for appliance and worktops (much cheaper) and used our own fitter because the bad reviews were all in relation to their fitters not the quality of the actual kitchen

rytonsister · 26/01/2019 13:45

lggi I kid you not when I went there was a couple there who were doing exactly that ! They had moved and had their first kitchen from them so made a weekend of it and came up , stayed in a hotel and got their kitchen sorted!

I found them way superior on every level, dp and I already said next time we'd go there .

Ontheboardwalk · 26/01/2019 13:50

Wickes! The fitters went above and beyond because they didn’t want lose their Wickes contract.

They said they had to go above and beyond for Wickes what they did to get on the Wren and Magnet fitters books

Triskaidekaphilia · 26/01/2019 14:09

As others have mentioned, DIY kitchens are fantastic. It took a bit of design work on my part but I loved that. I worked everything out and ordered it, FIL fitted it for us. Though it took a few weeks of work to do the floor, painting and electrics beforehand, I think he got the cabinets in place in a few hours as they were all pre-assembled.

HumptyNumptyNooNoo · 26/01/2019 14:11

Half the battle is trying to compare them all when they all come up with different layouts. So we used OnePlan from Houzz to design independently with us and we then were able ask suppliers including Howdens and DIY to quote. Went with an independent in the end, as we wanted in frame cabinets and they could do it for our budget and quickly too. The bottom line 'with s discounts ' quotes varied about £8,000 between the lowest and the highest. Design cost about £580, saved much more than that and saved time too.

Original poster
SaucySpider · 27/01/2019 09:01

Thank you so much for all your advice. I think I wii now consider getting my own fitter as it really does seem fitting is the main issue. Then, having looked at many brochures I will be off to Howdens who have the style that I like. Wish me luck!!

OP posts:
BeanSprout79 · 27/01/2019 09:56

You will be fine with Howdens. You get a good fitter (ask to see previous) and make sure you get involved with the design, ask to meet with the designer after they have been out to see you so you can go through everything with them and see the units etc. You will get coloured pictures and they will be able to show you everything you would want to see. I had my kitchen from them. Great service, great price and product (you do get what you pay for) and it's lovely, absolutely love my kitchen. Was no hassle at all. Good luck OP

StripeyDeckchair · 27/01/2019 10:06

Ikea is good, go on a weekday evening late ish.

Whatever you do don't buy Howdens appliances, neighbours did and have already had to replace them all (range oven, American style fridge freezer, dishwasher, washer-dryer) 3 years down the line.

Base units with drawers not cupboards are so much better

StrawberryTraveller · 27/01/2019 10:37

Ikea is good for budget. We recently installed a new kitchen for £1500 from there. It looks good, is functional. And at that price it isn't the end of the world if it needs changing in future. I put it together myself, and I'm crap at DIY. Dh helped cut the worktop for hob and sink.

In comparison, local kitchen place wanted £22,000 for the same size and layout!

MyNameIsJane · 03/02/2019 15:45

I’m going with Ikea too!

LivingDeadGirlUK · 03/02/2019 15:48

I went to Howdens and they hooked me up with a fitter. I delt with Howdens directly but paid through the fitter. It was great and I was very pleased with them.

nokidshere · 03/02/2019 17:25

I'm in the middle of having mine done at the moment. I designed my kitchen on the Ikea planner, took it to magnet to do the detailed plans, bought the unit's from B&Q (which? Best Buy) and got a local builder to do the work.

All has been fine, unit's are great quality, workmen are doing a fab job.

MinesaPinot · 03/02/2019 17:45

When we were planning our new kitchen we went to all the big companies and some smaller independents. We have a very small kitchen but had considered what we wanted and what was essential to us (fitting in a slim dishwasher for example).

We finally settled on Wickes and had their fitter. We'd taken measurements into the store and had a long chat with the sales guy there who came round to check our measurements and actually suggested a couple of things that we hadn't considered.

The fitter was a dream - he came round prior to starting the job to have a chat about timings, what we could expect etc and came round on the day the kitchen was delivered so he could stack it in our dining room in a way that would be better for him to do his job, but in the same way would still give us access and wouldn't impede on us too much (we live in a small cottage).

The whole process was seamless, and we couldn't be happier.

Oblomov19 · 03/02/2019 17:55

Book a kitchen fitter first. Dh's mate is one and did us 'mates rates'. If they are any good they'll be booked up for ages.

It was still horrific. Never again.

Oblomov19 · 03/02/2019 17:57

We had 3 people come and measure and do quotes though: wren etc.

Val12346 · 06/02/2019 22:55

I have just had a horrific experience with Wren who sent me a totally different kitchen to the one I ordered (never mind the missing & wrong parts). They are refusing to rectify it.

IncrediblySadToo · 10/02/2019 19:33

VAL. I’m really sorry, but completely unsurprised to hear that. TWitter helps...

wink1970 · 10/02/2019 19:50

Many sniff at them, but after months of quotes from everyone including independents, Howdens, Wrens (and some way more expensive ones) we went with Magnets and their solid wood range. the experience was OK,the design made the most of the space and 4 years later - and it gets a real kicking - it still looks nice.

Well I think it does anyway.

AIBU to think buying a new kitchen is a nightmare.
WorriedJu · 10/02/2019 19:50

We did our kitchen last year. Never ever again. I'll just move house in future.
Our b&q started well. We ordered kutchen but tgen they had stock issues and original buts and bobs went out of supply as a new linec8f product was coming in. In the end because of so many small adaption to the order and bits due to arrived In dribs and drabs we cancelled. We also found no one else would deal with us 8f we had a query. We always had to wait for the planner who'd done our plans to be in work. Unfortunately for us, she worked the same days as me and had the same days off as me, so getting in touch with each other was pretty impossible.
We went to Magnet who we found pretty good. We had a few damaged items that they replaced promptly.
Our fitter was a locally recommended guy. Wed used him before for a few smaller jobs. He turned out to be a total dick. So fucking slow and despite having to wait 4 months for him because he was so busy and sought after, I think he was out of his depth with the job. He fucked up several times. In the end he just walked out giving 3 hours notice the same day we had my mother in laws funeral!
If in some madness I did thus ever again. I'd start by finding a decent fitter - easier said than done. I'd probably use bench Marc or Howdens or magnet again. All we had dealings with and were good.

Thing us with national brands companies one branch can differ greatly to the next. Who yoy end up dealing with matters alot.

Stickerrocks · 10/02/2019 19:54

I agree with Catinabeanbag and had brilliant customer service from John Lewis. They had an issue installing an extractor hood, so theyvreplacedbit was a more expensive model at no extra cost, then sent flowers and vouchers to apologise for the inconvenience. The old kitchen was removed and taken away on the first morning, everything arrived exactly on time and the fitters kept everything clean and tidy.

Guineapiglet345 · 10/02/2019 20:28

Magnet Trade were fantastic for us, we had a builder in doing some other work when the man came to measure up, he wasn’t a salesman, he literally came in, measured, asked what we wanted and sent the quote through by email, no hard sell at all. He just assumed the builder would be fitting for us, I said I didn’t care what the kitchen looked like as long as the doors were white and they gave us an 80% discount because the kitchen we got was an end of line. I know it was actually an 80% discount because my friend had exactly the same kitchen from the normal Magnet and she told me the cost. We fitted most of it ourselves because the carcasses come made up and screwing the handles on was easy peasy, we just needed a plumber for the sink and a joiner for the worktops.

beanaseireann · 10/02/2019 20:32

I'm glad somebody had good service from magnet. They were despicable to me. A fixing job that took two guys ten minutes took months and months to organise. I wept down the phone Blushto the Magnet lady in the UK who totally understood my frustration. Their Dublin store was appalling. Magnet have since left Ireland.

BentNeckLady · 10/02/2019 20:59

I’m baffled by people saying drawers are better than cupboards. I had drawers in my last kitchen and hated them as you could just see the top of all your tins and jars and had to take them out to see what was what.

I also hated my tall unit with wire baskets as a tiny spill because flourmageddon and everything in the entire cupboard had to be removed and cleaned instead of just wiping the shelf!!

I’m currently planning a new kitchen and am probably going with Howdens although I do like the look of DIY kitchens because of their amazing range of colours

Our last kitchen was Ikea and complete shit.

ChesterGreySideboard · 10/02/2019 21:09

I love my pan drawers. One for cutlery, one for crockery and one for other odd and sods.

AIBU to think buying a new kitchen is a nightmare.
AIBU to think buying a new kitchen is a nightmare.