Those who have completely redone a kitchen...

[Minnie881]

I really don't know where to start.. how do you go about planning and getting quotes? Basically ours needs the paint stripping back, re-priming, new kitchen installed, false brick wall knocked down, spot lights installed in the ceiling and ceiling re-skimmed and painted. Do we need a builder in to start quoting for this or do we find the kitchen we would want first? I'm struggling to work out who would do all the different jobs or whether one good builder would have the contacts to do the electrics, paining and decorating and designing and fitting the kitchen. Anyone with experience would be helpful!

Small-medium sized building firm could probably do that. Some companies specialise in small alterations that go alongside kitchen installations. It might be that one guy (or a pair of guys) does almost all the work, or it might be a small team that do separate trades each. Most of the electrics can be done by a builder under supervision of an electrician who will provide final sign off - most builders will have someone they work with

Some independent kitchen companies supply kitchen and do alterations, so worth having a chat with some people. You need to know your kitchen layout to instruct builder so worth having that done first, and your kitchen could come from any number of places.

I've just done exactly what you're planning to do. I found a good builder by word of mouth and got him in first to quote and tell me what could / couldn't be moved etc within budget.

I then painstakingly researched kitchens and appliances (for months on end it seemed) and bought a DIY kitchen as most of MN seem to do!

Then book the builder in and arrange delivery of kitchen to coincide with the wall having come down etc.

The builder subbed the electrics and tiling out, so I had one central point of contact with just him.

The only trade I then needed to manage was a floor fitter as we decided to redo all of the downstairs in LVT and wanted an expert fit.

It was all relatively painless in the end. Feel free to ask any questions!

@stillworkingitout thanks for that I'll speak to a few builders and see what they say...

@Babysharkdododont that is really helpful thank you, it's pretty much exactly what we are looking for.. did you have plans done before appointing a builder and if so who did them, do I need someone specialist? The added difficulty is that we aren't in the house yet, currently purchasing and so it's a bit tricky with being able to have exact measurements etc. But on the the other hand it's a VERY POOR kitchen currently and on its last legs so we need to make plans as soon as possible due to lead in times etc so I'd like to have a builder lined up... I'm dreading them turning around and telling me how expensive it is and it way out of budget! But we won't know until we ask... any tips on the process you went through with plans, design, getting a builder and the work would be appreciated...

OP as tempting as it is to rip the kitchen out, my saving grace was living with a horrible crappy kitchen for a year after we moved. It meant I got a really good feel for the house and how it worked before planning the kitchen, I then chose a completely different layout to what I initially thought I wanted.
I'm in South Wales so things are cheaper here, but I paid the builder 4.2k for all his work and that of the subbies. The kitchen was 2k from DIY. What I hadn't budgeted for were lights, blinds etc, which obviously added up.
I didnt have plans as such, got a structural engineer in just to confirm that the wall wasn't load bearing, but did the rest of the plans myself, DIY Kitchens have great software. Of course you could get Wren / Magnet out to give you some plans, but be prepared for endless sales pitch!

Have you also factored in new flooring, with a wall coming down your probably need it ?

We're going through this right now - only difference is we're having an extension as well. In the end, I found a local, self-employed architect who is also project managing the whole job for me - so designing and also helping with the process of planning permission and selecting tradesmen, and then overseeing the whole job.

It adds cost to the job, but it's already been worth it, and we haven't even got planning permission yet!

I found her through the next-door app - don't know if you have a next-door community where you live?

I agree with @Babysharkdododont Don't rush into anything, tempting as it may be.

We used DIY kitchens too and it's easy(ish) to plan your own kitchen with them. It helped that we live about 30 minutes away from the showrooms, so we could visit as much as we liked (we went about 4 times in all) but as babyshark has said, research is the key.

We'd lived in the house 4 years before we started our kitchen (I loathed the old one) but as I'd waited, I knew exactly the kind of setup I needed/wanted.

Incidentally, we costed (hate the word) the units first then got quotes for the rest of the work (plastering, flooring, fitting etc). We basically had to take it back to the brick.

We bought and paid for the floor tiles and paid the builder for everything else.

I also wouldn’t alter a house I’d not lived in unless maybe it was very very run down. We lived in ours 3 years before we altered it and were able to look at alterations in neighbouring houses for ideas

Builders will have trade accounts with companies like Magnet and Howdens - could save you a substantial amount if they order it for you.

I started by trying to pick a kitchen and get quotes from different companies who used recommended fitters. It became complicated.

My DH had a colleague who recommended a local independent company and the owner came and did it all for us, including bringing samples of the kitchens he used (Lochanna) and the worktops (can't remember the name). He sub-contracted all the other workers and it was all done an dusted in a week with minimal upset. I ordered in the appliances (I used Boots website. It's the same company as AO and the prices work out the same except you also get Boots points).

Total for my kitchen, including building a false wall, plastering and spotlights was £10k.

I also live about 30mins drive from DIY so am tempted by their kitchens... I know what you are all saying about time, makes a lot of sense. I guess it's just that it feels unusable really, the paint is peeling off the walls quite badly and will need replastering. The kitchen is 25 years old and things like the oven and dishwasher are barley working though still functioning. We currently live in a 3 year old new build so the reality of having a crappy kitchen for a bit is difficult to comprehend! Though I will try to be patient!

Thanks for all the advice around steps- I think I'm going to look for a local builder and get some advice from there. I'm quite keen to use diy kitchens and have looked at that software so that is a place to start.

What is your budget? Is it realistic?

I would always start with an architect unless the units are coming out to be replaced with exactly the same thing but newer.

Budget is £20k at a push so very tight and totally expecting we may not be able to do everything.. looking at DIY kitchens has given me some hope of a real wood kitchen but until I get an idea from the builder I'm not sure if it's possible with everything else. At the moment it looks like replastering walls and ceiling. Spot lights. Knock down wall between dining room and then the kitchen..

Pic to help. Because it includes a utility as well that will also need doing!

That is very tight for what you want to do. Would it be worth waiting til you had some breathing space?

If not, you could always get Ikea in to do it - very reasonable.

Possible though I doubt budget will increase dramatically and there are other things to do such as replace the boiler.. if we need to wait for the wall coming down for example we can do that. Just need to get an idea of costs.. need a builder in I think..

We have just had a new kitchen put in. We chose a small local firm who did everything. Designed x3 until we were happy. Made the units, handpainted, new lights and plastered ceiling.
A builder will likely have an account with kitchen/ bathroom at building merchants. My neighbour does. He recommends Benchmarx now above Howden. I think someone comes and designs it from them then his workmen fit it and do anything else.

Minnie I'm going against the grain and saying it's perfectly possible to have a wooden DIY kitchen for that budget (providing you don't want endless corner carousels, pull outs etc).
My kitchen was about 2.5k, got worktops and appliances elsewhere. I'm guessing your area is comparable to mine for economy, so 5k for builder.
Few thousand for floor / utility room etc. Providing your not replacing windows and French doors etc it's definitely doable.

We bought a kitchen from one of the major kitchen companies. They use a team of self-employed fitters. The fitter came to see us weeks ahead of the installation and we talked through other work we wanted in addition to the fitting - things like ceiling spotlights, extra sockets, plastering. Additional cost, but he sorted out all of the contractors.

I think you need to start by finding out if the wall is a load bearing one or not. What kind of flooring is in the kitchen and dining room at the moment?

I’ve basically just done what you’re about to do. My finished space is a similar size - 9x3.5.

Mine was also a very poor kitchen (unusable, never put anything in the cupboards when we moved in as it was all too minging). It’s tsken me 1.5 years but it’s really only in the last few months that I’ve kicked myself up the arse and got on with it. I’m a procrastinator which didn’t help.

Thanks all that's really helpful. We are told the wall isn't load bearing but of course it we need to check properly... it certainly is brick. Definitely not a kitchen to use in its current form for very long.. the oven doesn't even have a door!! Ok need to find a good builder. Even that feels be with dread. Where do you start and what reviews do you need??