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Original poster

My bloody kitchen...one disaster upon another...

99 replies

kitchenemergency · 12/12/2018 18:43

Very briefly my kitchen is being replaced as part of an insurance claim.

It has taken a very very long time and I basically threw my toys massively out the pram to insist it was finished by Xmas. I've been without a kitchen for many months and the replacement only got the go ahead a few weeks ago.

My previous kitchen was chosen by me and I loved it. This one I already have reservations about...I've attached a couple of photos...

I need to know if im being unreasonable in being unhappy.

My main issues are the difference in height between the larder cupboard and other wall units (in my original kitchen they were the same height)

The brown cupboards. I thought they'd be covered by the outer/ door but the shelves are brown. Nothing else in kitchen is.

I also used to have inset lights in my glass cupboards...these don't.

I just feel it looks cheap. My old kitchen only came from a big DIY chain but looked expensive.

Am I being over critical?

OP posts:
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Original poster
kitchenemergency · 12/12/2018 18:48

Ah bugger I don't think the photos attached...trying again

My bloody kitchen...one disaster upon another...
My bloody kitchen...one disaster upon another...
My bloody kitchen...one disaster upon another...
OP posts:
Original poster
kitchenemergency · 12/12/2018 19:00

And the tall larder cupboard is wrong...I had (and specifically asked for again) a fixed door on the end - so the whole thing pulls out. They've given me a door on hinges. Not what I had in my old kitchen nor what I asked for!!

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SpeckleDust · 12/12/2018 19:11

Is the larder cupboard taller than your wall cupboard? Or are the wall cupboards not as tall than your old ones? We have tall wall cupboards (they were available in two heights).

I agree the brown interior looks wrong with the white doors. They should’ve used a white cabinet frame (ideally with glass shelves).

Don’t you get to have a say in what is fitted if it’s an insurance job? I wouldn’t be happy either.

SpeckleDust · 12/12/2018 19:12

Sorry, meant UK ask if the new larder cupboard is taller than your old one.

Original poster
kitchenemergency · 12/12/2018 19:17

The larder and wall cupboards were the same height in my old kitchen. The wall cupboards look a similar height so it must be the larder is taller.

I also had glass shelves in my old glass fronted cupboards.

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LizzieSiai · 12/12/2018 19:18

Nope, you are not being over critical. This would annoy me too. The different coloured carcass looks wrong, especially with the glass doors. What insurance company is this? You should not have allowed the fitter to fit it because it sounds like your old kitchen was worth more than this replacement.

Original poster
kitchenemergency · 12/12/2018 19:19

I have had a say however I've been ignored. I'm told X and Y has been agreed and then it hasn't and I end up having to talk to the fitter about it and tell him it's all wrong when he's just doing what he's been (wrongly) told.

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Original poster
kitchenemergency · 12/12/2018 19:21

I don't know what this costs...it's from Howdens so I've not seen any of the prices.

It is a very well known insurer. They have been abysmal in handling my claim.

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Springmachine · 12/12/2018 19:23

If it's from Howsens it would be very easy for them to swap over the wrong coloured unit with the brown shelves.

The height of the larder cupboard might be more difficult as howdens do a select few heights.

That said - it should be like for like.
They need to make sure it's got the lights in the cabinets like you had before too

The insurance surveyor is either trying to make a larger margin but cutting corners or just doing things incorrectly.

If you were ok with it then fine but as you're not I would kick up major fuss.

This is what your insurance for

HisBetterHalf · 12/12/2018 19:23

Dont like the brown shelving in the white cupboard but is it like for like replacement?

Ballbags · 12/12/2018 19:26

My kitchen burnt down this time last year, took until following May to get it finished. It was an unbelievable fucking nightmare from beginning to end but I was just grateful in the end we hadn't burnt to death so I let a lot of snags go. And now 6 mths later I don't even care about the imperfections, it's not that important.

pickles184 · 12/12/2018 19:26

I wouldn't be happy with it as a like for like replacement either, but realistically if the kitchen company being used now don't offer units like your old ones then there may be little to be done about it.
It looks as though they have requested the taller larder unit to accomodate the cupboard over the fridge. It is possible that the overhead cupboard can't be lowered sufficiently to line up with the standard height larder, but hard to know without having the measurements?
I definitely agree that the glazed unit should have glass shelves at least, but would prefer a white interior if the doors are white?

Springmachine · 12/12/2018 19:33

Someone I know had a (hideous to me) 80's patterned oak kitchen.
It obviously wasn't made any more and was to old non standard sizes.

The insurance bill to replace like for like was horrendous as they had to get a bespoke cabinet maker to match them.

The doors alone were around £8k, before installation and everything else and it was a tiny kitchen of about 8 doors

Original poster
kitchenemergency · 12/12/2018 19:43

My original kitchen was a very light wood...The glass door cupboards were white inside with glass shelves. So not like for like.

In my old kitchen the cupboard over the fridge was lower and the larder shorter I think that's the difference.

This has been ongoing for 8 months during which I've been living in a building site. I wish they'd put my old kitchen back in. Everyone thinks it's so great I'm getting a new kitchen but I'm so unhappy with it.

The colour is meant to be grey but doesn't look it. Ugh.

In my old kitchen I also had all the pelmets and covings and I'm not even sure if Howdens do that.

Does it look cheap? That's how it feels. I paid 5k for my old kitchen (in 2006) and this feels worse.

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LizzieSiai · 12/12/2018 19:49

Howdens are a very good company for kitchens but they are trade only so you van only buy from them if you go through a builder. They have pelmets, cornice etc. Maybe you could contact the insurers and ask if they can make a request for you to change a few things?

Springmachine · 12/12/2018 19:50

Price wise it's probably the same roughly (factoring in a trade persons mark up)

Howdens do cornice and pelmet. Make sure you get them put in if you want them.

Ask for the lights, you should have that minimum.

I don't know the height of the larder cupboard but can check if the right height is available.

Maybe someone has just cocked up on what they've ordered you?

Springmachine · 12/12/2018 19:51

It's definitely not the cheapest howdens kitchen they are using so that's a start

Original poster
kitchenemergency · 12/12/2018 19:51

I've sent about 20 emails already to the building contractors and the insurers, I keep being told it's all fine but then we just keep getting mistakes. The builders seem to just use whatever Howdens send them....

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Springmachine · 12/12/2018 19:52

And usually the oak coloured carcasses and shelves are an upgrade to standard white so they might have assumed you'd be happy with it

Original poster
kitchenemergency · 12/12/2018 19:52

It should be Tewkesbury. That was after I had to have a 3 day to and fro by email as to whether my original kitchen doors were wood or not.

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Original poster
kitchenemergency · 12/12/2018 19:53

Would anyone be happy with the oak? Doesn't it just look mismatched?

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Springmachine · 12/12/2018 19:54

Tewksbury - it looks like t but the doors should have a visible grain to it and not flat?

(This could be old information but that was how it went a few years ago)

I had an inframe Tewksbury installed in my last house

Springmachine · 12/12/2018 19:55

The oak looks mismatched I think more because it's unfinished - is a glass panel doing in the door or is it just an open shelving unit?

Usually kitchen designers will make this things look appealing but giving it balance and symmetry.

HappyGirl86 · 12/12/2018 19:55

I don't like the brown either, it doesn't match. I can see why you aren't happy and I don't think you are being overly critical!

Springmachine · 12/12/2018 19:55

Every howdens kitchen is done to a howdens design which is presented in 3D, they should have given you the pdf for you to look over and sign off on before they ordered it