New kitchen - where to start - any advice?

[duro1]

So far been looking online and Howdens seems fairly well recommended. I don't have a very big budget but want something that looks good and will last as intend to stay in this house for a very long time

Broadoak

I wish Playmobil (LOVE the name!) well - I was about to say avoid Wren... My best friend is still arguing with them 2 years later and they have been horrendous to deal with. That said the kitchen looks stunning (other than the few problem areas) and I'd love it.

I used Howdens and found their designer really helpful and gave me lots of ideas about how to use the space which I hadn't considered and which work really well so I love my kitchen as well - my joiner was excellent and made fitting look easy so I think that has helped with the overall finished look.

If it helps, the Howdens guy advised me to write down my ultimate dream list and then we designed it from that. When it came in at 3k over budget we then shuffled and made changes but it helped me decide which bits were vital to me and which were "would be nice".

So what sort of price has your kitchen come in at? I'm meeting a builder/fitter at new house next week and he will ask me budget and I have no idea... thinking 5k?? I know it depends what you have but???

You'll have to specify what that that £5k covers: furniture, worktops, appliances, lighting, flooring, labour costs for fitting etc.

I used Howdens and they were good. Not as cheap as I'd expected, but our kitchen layout is a C shape so we needed to install quite a few of those fancy pull out shelves so we could use the corner space.
I've got the high gloss handle free doors in white and grey.
We did splash out massively on a Corian worktop and backsplash which I absolutely love. They have transformed a nice kitchen into a beautiful one.
You need a builder with a Howdens account I believe. The kitchen guy did all the designing, but the builder paid the invoice and we paid him. We worked really closely with the builder to ensure that we had enough sockets everywhere and enough power in the right places for all my ovens etc.
Try to visualise where you would want to put your kettle / mixer / toaster so you have enough plug sockets in the right places. Also don't forget about lighting.
Good luck, keep a sense of humour and make friends with the local takeaways!!

Those fancy pull out shelves look great but can be costly...

If they tip you over budget and the space will allow see if you can avoid corners by having a run against the wall with say tall housing units all the way across the wall then, instead of using using corner units, leave a gap so you can open those doors comfortably then start a new run with base units and wall units on the adjoining right angle wall. Hope that makes sense! Think modular blocks.

We have an awkward shaped kitchen space and the corners were costing arm and leg and the designer suggested that. Looks great in the 3D pics. Also means I got floor to ceiling proper access to four tall housing units rather than just three and then a corner unit.

Thanks Margot I've read lots of reviews about Wren and I'm a bit nervous but hopefully it'll be OK. I honestly couldn't fault the planner - the kitchen came in under budget and includes lots of pully out bits... not due for delivery until September (extension plans are in...) but we'll see!

Howdens is trade only so you will have to factor in the price of fitting. Our last kitchen came from Ikea was good quality reasonable price, magnet is also good quality had one of them before. This kitech here, we had plans done in B& Q and Wickes, B & Q want to put the oven and hob in the corner right by the sink, I can see now that wouldnt have worked you would nt have been able to open the oven door. Went for Wickes they come to you, liked his design, BUT we did tell him the water main came thru in the corner cupboard, couldnt not be moved, he put a drawer unit there, then OH lost his job, so he fitted the kitchen to save money, we swapped the drawer unit for a cupboard. I see the Wren kitchens have lots of problems my late Father bought a kitchen from B & Q the fitters were awfull loads of problems