Who did your kitchen and are you happy with it?

[Spinaroo]

That's it really. Have had a couple of quotes already but not really bowled over by either so looking for recommendations. who would you recommend as a reasonably priced company who will listen and offer solutions to your requirements. And will do the job well!

When you say 'do the job well' do you mean installation, too?

Yes, installatIon too. Do most people arrange their installation separately? Perhaps that is something else to consider....

Yes! I had a new kitchen fitted a couple of months ago. I was looking at the Ikea / Wickes / Homebase end of the market but in the end went with an small independent company who work online. Gorgeous bespoke kitchen for less than I'd have paid for an off-the-shelf one. So pleased with the final look and the fitting.

They're called Evo Kitchens and Granite (www.evokitchens.co.uk) and Paul there gives a really hands-on, no question too stupid, personalised service. I was really impressed. So much so that I keep raving about the company on threads and a few other MNers have used it too.

Happy for you to PM me if you'd like more details.

I used a local independant company too, and wouldn't go past them. If you are in the north east PM me and I'll give you their details.

Really great service and price.

culturemuncher - I can't find the Evo website. Where is the company based?

Would be interested in that company but am even further north than the north east :-)
Where is Evo based?

We used John Lewis. They did the whole thing in one week and had some excellent ideas.

Sorry spinaroo it's here

I've also benefitted from Paul at Evo's kitchen design. Haven't ordered from him yet because we can't start building the walls to fit it in till next year but the pictures look great and he had no problem sending new designs every time I had another idea - curved end cupboards, glass fronted top cupboards - even drawing different appliances in so I could decide between black and stainless steel ones!

He's lovely, isn't he, Yorky? Glad he seems to be working out for you as well.

private chippy fitted my ikea kitchen
perfect

Yorky
Caution with glass fronted top cupboards. I had them - georgian bars- and looked lovely, BUT everything in the cupboard must be very tidy, as you can see everything inside. Moved and am pleased I do not have glass ones as they are all crammed untidily full and only see the mess when I open the door!
I believe the installation costs almost as much as the kitchen itself.

I had a local company do mine too. It is gorgeous and they designed and fitted it brilliantly.

Viperidae - who did your kitchen and whereabouts in the country are you based?
Did it cost you an arm and a leg?

Yorky
I would agree with digerd re glass fronted cabinets looking messy very easily - we had the exact same experience. Next time will go for maybe one double glass fronted cupboard e.g. for mugs and glasses that are easy to keep tidy but the rest solid fronted

Thanks Wigwam and Digerd but don't worry - glass fronted cabinets were a phase! I have moved on now :)
(Although DH did suggest it would be a safety feature if he could see how likely he was to start an avalanche by opening the cupboard door!)

We are in the North West, not far from Preston.

Yes, it cost an arm and a leg, almost as much as our first home did (but we are getting on a bit so that was quite some time back!) It is so gorgeous though, it is worth every penny.

Happy to PM if you want to know any more.

Paul at Evo kitchens is doing ours. It is being delivered next week and I am VVVV excited about it!

Howdens.

We had Howdens in our last place and while I liked the design overall, the quality wasn't that much superior to others I've seen for a much higher price. The fancy pull-out cupboard broke fairly quickly, the pull out larder was fine but far too heavy when full and the dishwasher broke after 19 months. And they're a nightmare to get a straight quote from because of being trade-only. Builders love them though, because they supply fully built so they're really easy to install. If that's your priority, then yes go for Howdens.

Viperidae -yes please do PM me with more details of your kitchen. I probably can't afford it but worth a look!

I got a quote from Howdens via one of our builder friends (broken down, showing 80% discount on all the cabinets) then took it to benchmarx to get the same but 'better' (cream gloss with handles at howdens - cream gloss integrated at benchmarx plus pan drawersx2, and named appliances rather than 'lamona' from howdens, plus under cabinet lighting) for slightly less!

It's currently being installed at the moment by another builder friend... looking good so far but obviously can't speak for how robust it is.

Wickes have just done mine. The fitter is independant but contracted by them and has been perfect. Delighted

Last Wickes kitchen I had was 19yrs old and still going strong when we moved house so I had confidence in getting another one.

My understanding is benchmarx supply wickes with their pre-built stuff, and I've heard the quality is pretty good.

Almost went for Ikea for the utility but in the end it was easier to just get more from benchmarx (especially as prebuilt, not needing an access gap altered in, and it's 'round the corner for us over a 40 min drive for ikea)