Wren Kitchens ???

[TheAverageJoanne]

I'm looking at having a new kitchen in the new year. I've not done anything about it yet. My neighbours aredoing the same and they've used this company. I would've thought they'd be expensive (rather like getting Coldseal Windows or Coral) has anyone any experience or comments please?

We're in the process of having a new kitchen- we've had quotes from wren, magnet and Howdens.

Magnet were extortionate so shelved them pretty fast.

Wren turned out to be the best price with top brand appliances- Howdens just couldn't or wouldn't match. We have gone for the highest spec from wren.

The designer from wren has been lovely, helpful, professional and not at all pushy.

We have sourced our quartz from elsewhere and we are using our own fitter.
It's been delivered and waiting to be fitted next week.
So far all has gone smoothly but I'll be back to update if that changes!

@winesolveseverything how did you get on?? Just in process of getting quotes and I want to pick wren!

Our fitters (who are close friends of DH so we completely trust) specifically asked us not to use Wren if we could avoid it. They said on every recent Wren install they had done recently parts were either missing or damaged, and replacements took up to 3 weeks to arrive. We went with Howdens, and when an item arrived with some damage you could not see until it was unpacked, they were able to get a replacement the same day from a local depot.

Very happy with my Wren kitchen!

It all went brilliantly to be honest.

I did use my own fitter who I knew was good- he brought along his own electrician and plumber and between them it took 6 days to finish.

We had to wait another 10 days for the quartz to be fitted as used an external company for this.

Nothing was damaged or missing.
It looks really good and I'm very happy with it. My fitter even said that Wren had surpassed themselves (he usually fits for Howdens)
We had an extra length of kick board that was surplus to requirements- the cost of this was refunded by Wren who told us to keep it and do what we wanted with it. The customer service was excellent.

We were so pleased that we have gone back to Wren to supply the bedroom now!

Same here. Even with all the shenanigans of Covid and having to move the delivery date three times due to lockdowns and whatnot, it was all delivered at the right time which co-ordinated with our fitters' availability, and we were pleased with the kitchen.

I've not bought a kitchen from them so can't comment on sales techniques or fitting but we have a wren kitchen in our house that the previous owners put in about 4 years before we bought the house so it is now 10 years old. The previous owners were an older couple and the kitchen was like new when we bought it. We have 3DC and are keen cooks so are hard on kitchens and it has not coped at all, e.g. we've had several doors fall off. My cousin (also 3DC and a keen cook) has a 20 year old IKEA kitchen that is in much better shape. Our kitchen looks pretty but I would never buy a kitchen from Wren, I want a kitchen to last me for decades.

My PIL went to Wren and it was just a disaster. She spent an arm and leg and they dumped the kitchen on her drive, they were missing cupboards , and pieces left right and centre and the whole experience was just stressful .
My parents had a Howdens kitchen and the quality was just brilliant . Can't rate their kitchens enough more so than Wren.

Interesting reading folks thanks. I'm going to have a good think, as I'll be getting the kitchen sorted in September.

We had a great experience with Wren. When one of the cupboards was damaged they sent a replacement in about 24 hours, the washing machine had a dent in the top and they gave us some money back straight away, no argument.

We used our own fitter, and bought our quartz worktop from an independent who cut and fitted it. I think that is the important part to note.

Wren kitchens are great quality and a good price compared to Wickes, but find a designer on checkatrade and get them to design and install. Our designer at wren had a wall cupboard floating in the air. He had no imagination and didn’t know half the time what he was doing. The man that came to measure took no note of the plumbing or stopcock and if I hadn’t noticed the kitchen wouldn’t have fitted! The worst is the installers! Already paying £5k installation, fitters came and quoted another £4k, with no flooring. Absolute scammers. Recommend the kitchens just don’t go near the designers or installers! And if u have a problem they won’t call you back.

We have had two Wren kitchens. We were happy with the first one and so went with them again when we moved. Both through the Croydon showroom. Have been very happy with both. The key to it is liking your kitchen designer I think. First time around I wasn’t sure of the designer, just felt the design didn’t maximise the space. Ended up switching designer, getting it reviewed by a new person, the was very happy. Designer for the second kitchen was fantastic from the outset. The quality of units is good, it’s the installation that you need to be aware of…. Installer knowing what they are doing makes a massive difference. Wren do very good finance options (five years interest free) which was a bonus when moved into new house as obviously an expensive time with other works we were having done.

We had a Wren kitchen installed three years ago and are very happy with it. The designer didn't come to our house because of Covid so we had to provide all the detail (someone did come to measure up but was in and out in 5 mins). But the designer was friendly, helpful, worked with is through several versions of the design, the showroom staff were helpful, delivery was on time, one damaged part replaced the next day. We used our own fitters and sourced sink, taps, worktop and some appliances separately. The appliances we did buy through Wren were price matched to AO. There was none of this pricing through your fitter business that you get with Howdens, our fitter had no contact with Wren at all. Everything is still immaculate three years on.

We also had designs done by Magnet and Howden and were less than impressed, they showed very little interest, made very few suggestions. We avoided Wickes because a colleague had had one of their kitchens a couple of years earlier and things had started falling apart already.

Someone else told me recently they had a good experience with Wren but as always they aren't cheap.

When i contacted wren about a quote for a new kitchen, they wouldn't leave me alone! Itd cost 23k..fine for what i wanted but... Absolute nightmare!.. wouldn't leave me alone ..That put me off solely. I went with independent company, who also fitted it for 25k nearly.. worth the bit extra.

Considering Wren currently … did you use them OP?

No, I didn't use anyone as my car got stolen and I had to use my kitchen savings to buy a new one so it's going to be summer next year now. Grrr....