Best place to buy kitchen units?

[Ormiriathomimus]

We have a hideous kitchen. Dark ornate oak with fiddly diddly handles and some of the units are actually different. Delightful brown gas hob and oven with smoked brown glass door. All old and tatty. In our last house we had just completely redone the kitchen and it was light and bright and luverly.

But mortgage means we have no dosh so a new kitchen is out of the question. Plan is to replace some of the units completely and with the others replace the side panels where neccessary and the doors on all of them. Also need new fitted fridge and oven/hob.

Have had a look at Wickes and Howdens ... any other recommednations for cheapish place to get the above. I am finding it really hard to compare prices.

A local joiner could make you new doors and replace units only where you need them.

I had this done once and the end result was fantastic because the joiner incorporated a detail from my ceiling cornice into the door design. Looked vair expensive and wasn't .

Thanks. DH is a carpenter so in theory could do them himself but we avoided that route because it would never happen! He doesn't have the time. But it is a good idea - worth looking into. Undoubtedly nicer but surely expensive though?

From memory, it wasn't cheaper than going for the cheapest Magnet range, but it ended up looking even better than their most expensive range because of things I could buy myself to personalise it, such as handles (used very swanky ones from Farmer Brothers), and the cornice detail. The doors were 2mm thick and lacquered to match my walls in a bespoke colour, and this detail alone made them look and feel amazing.

Ikea? I'm getting a new kitchen and using Ikea - as much as anything because they have a full range of sizes of cupboards 30cm, 40cm, 50cm, 60cm and 80cm, so very flexible, and you can go on their website and price up exactly what the different options will get you i.e. two doors on a cupboard or one, shelves or drawers, wire baskets or pull out bits. They also list all the side panels and plinths etc. Even if the website doesn't list the exact component of a cupboard separately, you will be able to get a price from the store and buy it separately if you want.

I don't like the fact that you just at the mercy of whatever Howdens put together and then tell you they will charge you as opposed to knowing if there are any cheaper alternative options.

Thanks. Having a look now

www.dreamdoors.co.uk/locations/bristol-kitchen-showroom/

This is near me, but looking it seems that they are part of a national chain. I always walk past and think about going in. Holding out for a new kitchen at the mo

Has anyone had a kitchen from Wren's? Looking for a new kitchen that won't break the bank but will look good & last!

If it's a standard sized kitchen try B&Q for the basic units, they can be very cheap. You could also just get standard sized replacement doors as well.

I'm having a new kitchen put in at the moment - and it's worked out quite a bit cheaper than B&Q for a better quality kitchen. You don't have to have a full kitchen, I'm pretty sure they'll do doors or just a unit. The company is Evo Kitchens and it was recommended by someone on MN... the kitchen should be finished tomorrow or monday - fingers crossed - and so far, so good.

Happy to give you more details if you PM me.

You could try one of the second hand kitchen websites (not as bad as it sounds honestly). www.theusedkitchencompany.com/ or www.kitchensynch.co.uk/

There are exdisplay and second hand kitchens for sale. Some of the second hand ones are almost new. And great ex display appliances too. If you have the vision to make it work for you then you could get an amazing kitchen for a fraction of its real value.

Worth a look and I do appreciate not everyone would like a second hand kitchen.

Other suggestions on here are good too.

We bought our kitchen from B&Q , waiting till there was an offer on. The thing that saved us the most money however was buying the wood work tops, the sink, the taps, and the cupboard handles, on line from various different companies.

Wood worktops from Ikea are the cheapest I've found - not sure how deep they are in relation to standard size cabinets though

Ikea have very very odd length sizes and there is quite a few place online that are cheaper and longer lengths and deepth

Ooh if you've got any links it would be much appreciated :) thanks

Thanks everyone. I like that link in Bristol milla - we're not far from Bristol as it happens. But as far as I can see they don't sell end panels and we will need some of those too.

skandi - some of those are really lovely, thanks.

DH just reminded me last night that he has a trade discount at Howdens from when he was in the building trade! That might just make it an easier decision. Going to have a look at a few places on saturday.

Thanks for all your suggestions.

I would recommend diy-kitchens or 3d kitchens. DIY kitchens have a minimum order of about £750 but the others don't AFIAK. They both have a huge choice and will send you sample doors (returnable).

I had my kitchen from diy-kitchens after a MN recommendation and it was pretty well comparable to Ikea on price but much more solid and more choice of units/finishes.

Poogles - I asked on here about Wren kitchens and was directed to moneysavingexpert forums which have lots of complaints about them - mostly customer service rather than quality of kitchen. I'm still going to talk to them if we ever get planning permission for our kitchen extension, I'll pick anyone's brains!

Just a couple of points about Ikea.

Although they advertise a full planning service, when I asked about it, it seemed it didn't really exist, or maybe the shop staff were the wrong people to talk to.

Also, their units are slightly different to anyone else's, so for example, we have a plate warmer, which would normally replace the top drawer of a Howdens type kitchen, but the Ikea top drawer is smaller, so we had to do a fair bit of chopping and changing. We also used our old ovens, and they were slightly different sizes to the Ikea ones, resulting in more chopping and changing.

The large recycling drawer is fab, though!

annalouiseh have just PM'd you

amazonian how are you getting on with your kitchen plans?
Any progress?

We looked at pretty much everywhere (except Howdens).

We chose Wickes and were very happy with them, they were great.

IKEA kitchens don't have a recess at the back to allow for pipes (all UK kitchens have this). So if you have pipes on the wall you either have to cut up your new cupboards or pay someone to do so, and if you're paying for that then the kitchen's not such good value after all!

I've never looked at the threads on moneysavingexpert, but my DMum got a new kitchen from Wren last year and pretty much says what the previous poster suggests, no problems with the quality of kitchen (she was really really pleased with the kitchen and the price - think she got it on half price sale offer) but did say the people she spoke to on the phone were hopeless... She is still hassling me to use Wren and saying how marvellous they are though, so the slightly iffy customer service hasn't put her off!

We're using Howdens on the recommendation of our builder & joiner. They only came to measure up yesterday so may be a while before we get an idea of the price.

I like the fact that you can get full size dinner plates in the Wten kitchen & they seemed good quality. Will ave to check out the comments on money saving forum. Thanks for the tip. Although emsyj mum is still recommending them...

I can recommend 3D kitchens, too. Lots of choice and they do carcases in loads of different finishes, too. Big bonus is they will supply the units ready assembled if you wish. I only had a small run from them but so far, so very good.

Hi Pannacotta still haven't progressed, was too busy before the holidays then away for 5 weeks!

A kitchen designer is coming on Tuesday, I've contacted a builder who will coordinate a visit from Howdens and I'm going to look at the kitchens that annalouiseh's DH designs/installs. I still can't really visualise how the kitchen will look & work in the new room. I'd still like it sorted by December though (dream on!)

How about you?