budget kitchen

[poppy20]

Hi

I would be very grateful for some advice on ikea or wickes kitchens.

Have jsut moved in to a new house and very grateful for ir but we need a new kitchen quickly. Don't want to pay too much but something that is reasonable quality and looks nice...thank you so much

Dita- got mine from friends so could also be wrong! I also think that it is what advice you get from a fitter - e.g our kitchen fitter admits that putting in ikea units is a bastard but once up they are quite good as made by the same manufacturer as Moben - allegedly! But same fitter is keen on B & Q if bought in the sale - actually got one of their units for another room and it is quite good too, and Wickes. He wasn't too complimentary about Howdens but I think that he has had to go and "put" right what some poor fitters have put in and hasn't been too impressed.

Mind you both of us are having a conversation about Howdens kitchens when neither of us have one

Opining on matters of which I know nothing on the internet is what I do best

Agree, labour vip to configure in! Also have a contingency plan for your finances - e.g we needed to pull up the tiles as shape of kitchen had changed and couldn't find the same tiling - when we did lift them we discovered a rotten floor which was essential to repair and had not been in the budget (also the electrics for the whole kitchen and EVERY appliance came off 1 spur - apparently like using an extension lead for everything - was a miracle we didn't combust!)

I have a Howden's kitchen and I'm not very happy with the quality really. The draw by the cooker has melted, one draw front has always fallen off, a bit of black on the corner of one of the cupboards plus the work top was a false economy, looks cheap. Overall the kitchen does look good and I guess at £1650 for lots of cupboards and work top was pretty good and it has been 4 years now to be fair and you can't tell without opening the drawers that there is a problem.

In our previous house we used a local company who made the cupboards to measure. They were something like £2500 for cupboards, worktop, sink and tiles. £500 for fitter which took 3 days then £120 for tiler who took another day. All done and dusted in a week and looked fab. A friend spent 20k at the same time (we are going back nearly 10 years now) including her Aga. She looked at my kitchen, shook her head sadly and said "I've just spent huge amounts more than I needed to haven't I?'

Paying more doesn't always mean better does it? Funny that those with mega pricey kitchens have looked at our "budget" ones and felt sad they spent so much money! At least with my Ikea one if in a couple of years time I decide I hate the unit doors I can go and buy some new ones for not an awful lot and change them quite easily. Also if we ever felt so inclined to put expensive doors on then we could (Not that we do at the moment...........)

I have to say that I have had more luck with local suppliers and companies providing the extra's than the big boys, usually in in a couple of days and if you are local they don't charge delivery. Also quite nice not to be a number!

Sorry to hear about your kitchen Wynken.

can anyone recommend a kitchen fitter in Havant (Hampshire) area? I need to re-fit a tiny kitchen and think I'll just buy the units myself and hopefully find someone to fit.

Grateful for any recommendations