Totally new kitchen - where to start?!

[Binkybix]

Hello

I’m asking for my dad, because we have both somehow found ourselves in a position of being homeowners but with no idea where to start when it comes to installing a new kitchen!

Where do I start? It needs new everything, and some re-jigging of layout. And possibly a new boiler. We are not good at visualling/designing things, and are very impractical.

Does one get a kitchen designer through a kitchen company and then get them to install it? How is it all done???!!

Most important thing is BUDGET what money do you have to spend?

What’s your budget? You can go to a diy shop with measurements and they will design one for you.
They have loads of showroom kitchens.
Also look at Pinterest for inspiration.

Ummm... I’m not sure how much my dad has. I will ask him, but I think he might be in for a nasty shock as it’s a long time since he updated anything.

I think he’d be up for medium range and, within reason, would pay what it takes. The house doesn’t merit high-end. He would probably pay a bit more for convenience.

Would DIY places have someone to install, also?

I was wondering whether we could put down basic requirements, go to a few companies and take it from there?

He does know that he wants a boiler tap thingy, so that’s a start 😆

If someone asks you, "what is your budget" for anything that does not have a visible price tag then do not tell them! You could up end paying £1000 more for the same thing! Salesmen just want to make as much money as they can. Shop around, look online and get some quotes. If people are reluctant to give you a price then stay away.

I recently upgraded my phone with 3 and kept telling the man on the phone that I was not going to pay the price that he was telling me, as my friend had the same phone/tariff/contract for much less. After some time he said "What price do you want to pay?" I said £30, eventually I got him down from £44 to £37 a month. Result :-)

Remember, if the price looks high or if there isn't one, haggle!

If you are concerned about costs, why not try a few options. B&Q or Wicks would probably offer low-end prices, Wren, Magnet or Howden's a bit higher quality. All, as far as i am aware, offer a free design service, at least initially.

We have ended up opting for a local builder/designer who will use units from a number of the stores mentioned above but will modify units, build bespoke and make it do what we want for a fair price, but sees the project as a whole, not just a kitchen, and understands our end goal much better.

In terms of fitting, check with both the store and a local kitchen fitter to compare quotes once you have your design about right.

A word of warning on cost - a boiling water tap will be approx £500.

PS - on the subject of budget, even if you don't tell the shop/designer, have something ready in your own mind. It will help you decide where your priorities lie if you have to compromise.

Also, know what it is to cover - just the kitchen units/worktop, or also appliances, decorating, building work, etc, because the difference between the two could be significant!

We went to ikea and they were really good. If you take your kitchen measurements with you they use a program to design a new kitchen for you (it’s like the sims!) It’s so easy to do and choose everything because you can see how it all fits.

Good advice Glovepuppet1! You could be looking at another £1,500 - £2,000 to get the kitchen fitted, as well as any trades that need to come and and repair walls, do the painting, light fittings, taps, sockets etc.

We had to have a new cable wiring from the consumer unit to the new location on the kitchen for the double oven! An unforeseen cost.

mossyroundhill - Ikea’s kitchen planner was pretty cool but I used DIYs planner (drag and drop units one) and it gave me a price too:-) I like to see what I’m about to pay for!

I would suggest you visit a few mid range places with in house designers (eg Magnet) and get them to draw up an initial design and quote.

Then draw out their design yourself (some will let you take a copy some won't) and play around with it until you're happy. There are various online planners you can use for this. A good tip is to consider how you would do various daily tasks in your proposed design - make a cup of tea, unload the dishwasher, clear or lay the table, cook a normal dinner. If there's loads of walking involved you probably want to rejig.

Then once you are happy with your design, I would suggest ordering it from somewhere like Ikea, DIY kitchens, or Benchmarx. These seem to offer good value for the price, especially if you get a very good builder to install it and cut down any cabinets that need adjusting. Personally I'm not convinced the mid range places offer much better value but they do offer more handholding and an installation service.

currently starting this. The companies have software which will produce an image of what the kitchen will look like, very useful.

things to consider:

• cleaning. minimise twiddly bits, decorations, panels.
• integrated appliances cost more and have less space, and when they fail there will be a bigger installation bill. Think hard.
• handles. Don't have anything that catches on clothes
• gadgets that swing out from corner cupboards cost a bomb and lose 50% of the space
• think about weight in any swing out/pull out things
• recycling/rubbish; 3 separate bins means 3 bins to take out. Have one and take out one, separate it at your outside bin.
• splashback is needed behind the hob. Upstand (the short one) pointless.

I think most of the actual cabinets are fairly similar. It is all in the background work and the installation.