Anyone recently had an Ikea or B&Q kitchen?

[LiGlitterBug]

Planning to get a new kitchen in the new few months and had my heart set on an Ikea Bodbyn (off white) with their onset sink. All planned out in store, very happy with layout and price.
We got chatting to a friend’s brother who installs kitchens (amongst lots of other building jobs!) and he told us that, in his opinion, IKEA kitchens were horrid and- for our budget- we’d be much better going to B&Q, which we did (worth getting multiple quotes/ideas anyway).

The B&Q kitchen is not quite as nice for me, had to make a couple of compromises including the sink (going for ceramic but not at onset style) and they don’t do the range I really like in a colour I like. However they do offer some little extras that IKEA don’t, and we get a better choice of appliances and recognised names for the washer, dishwasher and oven.

But, just my luck, it’s a end of line style and so we need to act fast (grr) if we want it. They’re apparently not getting anything new in to replace it, so it’s not worth waiting to see the new styles (consolidating the ranges according to the guy).

Both similar in terms of cost.

So- long story short- anyone had a recent Ikea or B&Q kitchen and can advise either way?
I tried searching here and on other forums, but can only find older threads and it looks like both Ikea and B&Q have changed their ranges recently so would like more up to date help!

Thanks in advance.

Not quite the answer you are looking for, but we are about to do a newbuild with an IKEA kitchen and doors from elsewhere. (Shakerdoors.co.uk). Worth knowing that you don't need to use IKEA appliances, except apparently for the dishwasher due to the way the door works. I've never liked the look of the B&Q ones in store, and I've anecdotally heard good things re the IKEA ones.

I'm sure plenty of people will have current experience though.

Good info about the dishwasher, thanks @MuddyWellyNelly. We’re probably going for a slimline and aren’t too fussed about whether it’s integrated or not. Was the door issue just for integrated ones?

We had an Ikea kitchen - bodbyn off white colour installed a couple of years ago. Looked great, and has been very hard wearing. No complaints here. The dishwasher broke down quite a bit but was always fixed quickly and for free (in warranty).

My brother installed it and said most
Builders hate IKEA kitchens because the units are designed to fit flat against the wall, so there’s no space for pipes. We ended up bringing the units out 10cm on one side for this reason and it meant we went for a custom worktop. But if you’re aware of this and account for it, it’s not a massive issue.

The biggest pain was a couple of bits weren’t quite right, and we missed some tiny stuff in our order and it was a LONG round trip to pick them up (especially as our closest store didn’t have kitchen stuff in stock...) that said, I’d absolutely get another IKEA kitchen in a heartbeat. But mainly because we have my brother who was awesome at the measuring up and fitting.

We got a B&Q bathroom a year later, total nightmare. Never again. But mainly because we stupidly used their fitters.

Thanks @CattysPyjamas, I’d heard something about the pipe space (service void?) which I guess could be an issue. We have quite a small kitchen so might struggle with losing even 10cm- something for me to think about there. We have an Ikea about 10mins away so missing bits would be annoying but not the worst.

Yes it's for the integrated ones. I can't recall where I picked up that titbit - maybe a thread on here? If you look at Simply The Nest on insta, they fitted the Bodbyn and recorded a lot of the process.

We're still at the extension building stage, but currently planning to get our kitchen from Ikea or DIY kitchens. Ikea's appliances are by known brands, they are just not named from what I heard. I also thought B&Q were rated worst in the Witch? review, but I could be wrong about that. It's such a hard decision!

@MuddyWelly- ooh I’ll check that out, thanks!

@Hoppahouse I was all set on Ikea and really happy with it until I heard from this builder! Now I’m second guessing it all...

We have an IKEA bodbyn kitchen and love it. Customer service has been amazing! We have had it 4 years and still looks new!

Actually I think it was Wren that came out worst, not B&Q, but I still don't think I'd use them. I've only ever heard good things about Ikea Kitchens tbh.

@Fatloser1 That’s good to hear!

We have an Ikea utility room. Only went in in the summer but I love it & if ever we replace our existing kitchen I would happily go to Ikea.

I love the options for all the internal fittings with Ikea.
I think Ikea can our very high in a Which report last year.

We've just had our bodbyn kitchen installed (last week) and it looks amazing! The fitters who did ours were experienced IKEA fitters and they said they would take IKEA stuff over b&q any day. Old kitchen out, new one in in 3.5 days.

Ikea is better quality than b & q, read the which report if you can.

I have a couple of tall Ikea larder units and the rest of my kitchen is b&q - love the Ikea units. There are problems with my b&was units so I will not be reusing them in my new utility room.

My BIL fitted their IKEA kitchen last year. It looks great and the quality seems good. Builders don't like IKEA kitchens because they can't buy them at trade discounted prices and add a mark up when they sell you the kitchen and they are different from most other kitchen because they don't have the service void at the back of the units.

I installed an Ikea kitchen - units only - and it was good. Wore well enough although the plinth came out but suspect that was a fitting issue. (My builders fitted it).

I liked the flexibility and range of options. Designed it myself. Bought my own free standing units except oven and hob, (Neff and Bosch), which fitted in easily. I'd do it again.

Thanks to everyone for the advice. Heart has won out and we’re going with Ikea, it turns out that the first tradesperson we contacted actually worked with Ikea and so has a lot of experience with their kitchens! I’ve attached a quick peek of our plan, but we’re heading back at the weekend to tweak some bits.

I hate making decisions- God help me when we finally get round to doing our extension!

I'm on my 2nd ikea kitchen (moved from the 1st one).
Had the 1st one 5 years and it still looked as good as new when we sold. Very solid and a 1/3 of the price of the B&Q one we'd originally had a quote/plan for (used their plan to get a comparision from Ikea).

The ikea guarantee is pretty good too. Their appliances are made by a brand, but carry Ikea's name. Never had any issues with the appliances we've bought, although the instructions aren't the best.

The system is pretty easy to install as all cupboards hang on a bar, so once you've levelled the bar, all the cupboards just hook on to that.

This is my new kitchen from Ikea: It's not fully finished yet, but you get the idea.

It's already been all said, and I'm glad you're going ahead: I've had my IKEA kitchen for 10 years now and its not showing any wear. My builders complained a bit about installing it due to the missing service space at the back and I now have a pipe running inside a tall cabinet where we just left the backing off and painted the (tidy, newly plastered) wall in white eggshell paint. The appliances were/are "whirlpool for IKEA", and so far only the dishwasher packed up last year but was easily replaced with a new one, once the installers had figured out how to remove the front panel from the door. Due to the missing service space all cabinets are deeper, I can really see how much more storage I have in the wall cabinets, compared to my MILs (new) kitchen. Good luck with your plans!

Has my IKEA high gloss white kitchen 7 years and love it. Looks as good as my DD's very expensive high gloss white units. Builders slag them off because they're a bit more work to fit. I have yet to meet (in real life) anyone with an IKEA kitchen who regrets it.

Yes, @LiGlitterBug the service void isn’t there for the units. We had to have 10cm space on one wall, because we had an absolutely massive pipe that needed accommodating - and it ran where the cooker was due to go- so we didn’t have the option of cutting parts of the unit backs out, which we did manage to do on another wall.

Glad you went with your heart.

We have a kitchen that is mostly B&Q units with IKEA wooden surfaces. At the far end on the other side we got a big IKEA unit with wooden surface and glass fronted shelves. I love it. While the B&Q section is fine, I prefer the IKEA bit. (We installed the units ourselves and a local joiner fitted the work surfaces, so never had any opinions on what kitchen fitters thought).

My last kitchen was a Howdens, never again. I have decided this time round that paying a little bit more seems to get you a much better quality kitchen. I am currently looking at a Yew Tree Designs & Neptune as they both have lovely showrooms but Neptune may be a bit out of my price range.
Both companies use Little Greene paints which I adore.