So, who did your kitchen and were you happy with them?

tex111 · 2004-11-11T10:48:26+00:00

Just read the drean kitchen thread. We're planning to have ours replaced and have been getting quotes. Any recommendations as to who to use? Big, highstreet chain? Small local company? Buy kitchen and find installers to do the work? We don't want to do any of it ourselves and we'd like for it to be done in as short a time as possible, but we don't want the most expensive elaborate kitchen as we'll probably only be in this house for another 18 months to 2 years. Has to be replaced though as the current one is disgusting and falling apart.

hana · 11/11/2004 11:13

aha.......dh did our kitchen or should that say 'is doing' our kitchen. Plan was for me to go home and visit mum and dad (gone for 2 weeks) and come back andpresto! A new kitchen......def def have someone else do it. Have heard awful waiting stories from MFI.

hana · 11/11/2004 11:13

That was in Feb I should add....

acer · 11/11/2004 11:15

Ours is handmade, we have lived in our house 8 yrs now, so def worth it, but a friend of mine said she was having an IKEA kitchen, I thought it would be crap, but infact it is very very nice.

JemimaBobbins · 11/11/2004 11:16

We had our from Howdens which is the trade part of MFI and don't have the same stock problems. You can't actually go along to Howdens and choose a kitchen - you need to find a kitchen fitter who has an account with Howdens (or who will open one), get the brochure and then look at them in MFI. Howdens will send someone out to measure up and design and then your kitchen fitter orders it and fits it.

Maudy · 11/11/2004 11:19

tex111, we are just about to have our kitchen done and have thought about nothing else for the past few weeks. Have yet to check out the dream kitchem thread so sorry if I repeat anything said on there.

The real issue is your budget. If you are only going to stay at this house for a short amount of time then it is not really worth spending loads of cash on it. If you can bear it then somewhere like Ikea does good cheap kitchens that will certaily last for the amount you need it for. Yesterday I went into a posh tile shop for ideas and they had this beautiful granite surface on a kitchen. It made the whole show kitchen look fab and then the shop owner told me that the actual units came from Ikea. The surface and the floor tiles made the the actual kitchen look really expensive but the units were really cheap. If you can afford to then spend the money of those bits as all units are pretty much the same inside anyway.

Only problem is then you have to get someone to come and build it for you. DP is threatening to do it himself...oh god, please no!

HTH

Sozie · 11/11/2004 11:21

We have just bought ours from Magnets (dh gets discount) and dh is fitting it as he is a carpenter. Like Hana's it will probably take forever. It's a case of what we can afford rather than what I'd like I'm afraid - ah well (sigh icon)

bakedpotato · 11/11/2004 11:26

i think ikea kitchens look great, and not just for the money. there's a new oak worktop that i'd kill for. we used the carcasses as the basis for ours, and they're ace. pullout larders etc. big broad cutlery drawers

sandyballs · 11/11/2004 11:49

How about just replacing the doors, seeing as you aren't planning to stay there long. We have just done that and are thrilled with the results - after all, carcases are all the same, unless you want to change the layout completely. A local carpenter made ours although you can buy them in B&Q - depends on the size you need.

SuzySox · 11/11/2004 11:52

Don't go to MFI whatever you do!!! their service is appaulling and the fitters are cowboys.

hana · 11/11/2004 12:12

ours is an Ikea kitchen and like some others have said - splashed out a lot more on tiles, flooring and worktops.

crunchie · 11/11/2004 12:15

Of all the DIY stores Wickes came out tops in terms of quality and service according to Which. Most stores have an instore design consultant who will help you with your design and come out and measure up. They will also recommend fitters. IMHO this would be your best cheap and cheerful option

Maudy · 11/11/2004 12:41

To those that have bought Ikea kitchens - are you happy with them? Have they lasted? Was the service good? And probably most importantly, did you build them yourself or get someone in?

Sorry to hijack your thread tex

bakedpotato · 11/11/2004 12:45

maudy, am happy with ikea carcasses. kitchen put in 5 yrs ago, everything still functioning. can't remember any problems with delivery. got in builders to install. got our own cupboard doors made. would do the same again.

whizzz · 11/11/2004 19:09

I had an Ikea kitchen (fairly basic) in our last house. Cupboards were fine but the service was not very good. If I remember correctly when it was delivered something was missing & a door was damaged - they did exchange it & luckily we only live 10 mins from a store.
I paid someone local to fit it.

candy · 12/11/2004 12:08

We've just ordered a Wickes kitchen and booked the fitter that they recommended - it's not started yet but we were v happy with their service, they didn't try any oversell or anything; in fact both in store man and the carpenter suggested ways for us to save money - the whole thing will be about £1000 less than we thought it would be.

jura · 12/11/2004 12:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

subs · 12/11/2004 13:26