Anyone getting a new kitchen in 2020?

[skippy67]

If so, are you up for a support thread? I'm equally excited and terrified at all the decisions, I'll have to make!

Thanks. I have bought the kitchen via our fitter. I also got the plans from the fitter, sent them to DIY kitchens and got a price and told howdens I wanted to match that price. They did match it but I’ve got the Lamona appliances priced in.
I did ask them to quote me without the appliances but I’d gone back and fore by email with the designer at this point trying to screw the price down and he lost patience and said that would be a complete kitchen reprice and they quote for the ‘project’ and not on the individual items.
He had produced a plan drawing plus fancy 3D pictures (we are happy with the design). I got him to match DIY kitchens price there or thereabouts and he only sent me the plan once I’d put a deposit down. It hasnt ended there though as we now have to go into branch to go through the finer details 😕 as I said, we are at the top of our budget anyway so he’d better not start adding extras or I’ll be pulling out altogether.

@dogleg

Aye, it does sound like they're being a bit dishonest with the pricing, ("We quote for the project" is a dead giveaway) but that's an unfortunate consequence of dealing with companies that won't give transparent component pricing (i.e. virtually all of us).

After all my years in retail, I'd instantly turn away from any salesman that loses patience or refuses to give me honest pricing, but that's my own jaded experience :D

At the end of the day, all that really matters is that you're happy with the design, the price and the specification of the products.

Great thread idea. One tip I can pass on is using a concept planner/kitchen designer. We used karen at OnePlan and then shopped around with the plans (that's the idea as they don't sell products ) it is a much easier and quicker way to get lots of quotes in that you can actually compare properly. Also add in more electric sockets than you think you'll need and think about where you will put Christmas lights etc too.

Waves. We are just starting. Whole room will need to be gutted. We have no idea what we doing!!

We have started looking at kitchens to get ideas and well agreeing on things would be useful!!!

@starfishmummy we are the same whole lot has to come out down to bare walls, what we did was looked at all the companies styles units etc, and decided which style and colour we wanted, then got quotes for the units (we don't need any appliances) what we are going to do is order the kitchen units then co-ordinate the electrician putting in the new plugs about two weeks before it arrives, taking out the cupboards for this, then plasterer after the plugs about a week and half before delivery to let the walls dry, then painting the walls hopefully kitchen units in and as we are putting down vinyl flooring that is last job

*@isseywith4vampirecats
So much to think about. I think we are agreed on plain gloss cabinets in a not too dark colour (maybe pale grey or white)..but but he hates the work surface I like.....we cant agree on the cooker or whether to squeeze a dishwasher in and relocate tumble dryer to spare bedroom.

This our plan for this year too 😀

@starfishmummy we decided against a dishwasher as I wanted the extra cupboard and originally I was going to have pale or dark grey with black worktop, but our final choice after going to DIYs showroom is a pale blue gloss and a Carrera marble effect laminate worktop in grey and white as that is what they have in the showroom and it looks right , we went for a 600mm freestanding gas cooker from hotpoint, as ive put up with crappy electric cooker for the last five years in rental property so wanted to go back to gas as I prefer it and we are getting rid of the hob so more work space on the tops

@isseywith4vampirecats funniky enough I had the thought last night that another cupboard would be good so we might scrub the dishwasher. Its such a small kitchen and we have never had a dishwasher so we wont miss it.

@666onmyhead, if you don't mind, could you please expand on how the process of using One Plan worked? Was it all done remotely, or did Karen come to your home?

New kitchen this year (FX)

Planning to go with Handmade Kitchens of Christchurch, went down to their Esher showroom in December to suss it out. Very excited but I'm definitely jumping the gun as it's part of a reno project and we're still at architect drawings stage. More than likely will be September by the time work starts so I've a long year of staring at Pinterest/Instagram ahead of me!!

Where do you start?! We decided over the weekend we would like to do ours. It's a small space and we need to maximise what we have. I quite like the layout but we have a few ideas of how to re-jig a few things to make it work better for us- thankfully no building work involved!

From what I can tell it's between a 'one stop shop' like Wren or Magnet (Magnet man thought we'd get to about £18k based on pics and floor plan, with no plumbing/electrics/appliances , or using a carpenter and choosing/designing things yourself? Second option scares me senseless as I'm convinced we'd bugger it up!

This is a whole level of adulting I'm not equiped for

Warning: Both Wickes and Howdens measured my kitchen wrong so do double check measurements. I used Howdens and liked the kitchen but did not like their way of doing things and wouldn't use them again.
I've now moved and considering whether to have a new kitchen or just do what needs doing which is new sink/taps, worktop and taking out a small wall cupboard and shelving unit in order to have a bigger fridge/freezer. What do others think?

@skippy67 sorry only just seen this! Was all done via phone Skype and email. She did help me measure one awkward bit by being on Skype as I did it . Our builder was really impressed with the finished PDF as has plans, elevations, perspectives and panoramic together with a comprehensive item listing . We've used her twice now ( ground floor inc kitchen and laundry and later went back for first floor re jig to get more Ensuite to the rooms )

@catsjammies how many units are you having ours will be 12 cupboards/base units, sink taps, worktops plinths etc and it comes to £3000 from DIY, then about £1000 for electrics, £1000 for plasterer and £800 for fitting the units (family joiner so £400 discount ) but we don't need any new appliances we bought a freestanding gas cooker which was around £400 so £6000 in total for everything

We are hoping to, but we need to knock through the kitchen and dining room first. We only moved in October, it's our first home after renting for years so it's nice to be able to do what we want, although I have no idea where to start!

@isseywith4vampirecats I think 14? 16? The more I think about it the more I think maybe we should be paying someone to come and do a design consultation for us!

All kitchens are much the same now always used IT range at B&Q but its been phased out now only online in a clearance sale and the new in store range is extremely overpriced now . wicks is also good and if you book an appointment in store and then up with measurement they can usually get the plans right . they like to sell it all on interest free with fitting but will do supply only . they will also do better price if ask for a price match if you get a similar quote and proof with plans from cheaper store on a similar kitchen. Howdens do charge more for non trader accounts kitchens OK but keep away from their low price appliances

Jumping on this thread!!!!

MTJTD so helpful thank you.

Completely screwed over by MFI on a bathroom years ago and amid trying to sort it out they went bust. So this time Im thinking IKEA

Any experiences with an IKEA kitchen? - Im hoping they shouldnt go bust if any issues.

Is Howdens and a builder of check a trade a v bad idea then?

@OnlyFoolsnMothers No bother. :)

IKEA's a fairly safe bet (I don't see them going bust any time soon), however their current kitchen furniture is fairly "unique" in specification.

Howdens have a decent product, (not great value when you consider the spec) but they'll only give their "true" prices to your fitter .. it's whether you trust your tradesman not to inflate those prices at your expense.

The best deal will always be independents; we operate on a lower minimum margin and can provide substantially better value-for-money than the major kitchen retailers, and we usually have the best choice as we can order from multiple manufacturers.

As an example, one of our suppliers also makes kitchens for Magnet and we beat their prices on an identical product by ~15% on average.

Can I join this thread please!

I have got as far as designing my kitchen. I just have to finalised cupboard interior colour and flooring.

Once funds are in I can press go! I am using an independent kitchen company and they have linked me to a fitter / project manager who will fit kitchen and who has electricians as required. Kitchen fronts are from SN kitchens. They then source carcasses from another company apparently as they are better for them. Well that's what they tell me......!

Don't know anyone that's used then but they have recently supplied and fitted out a 20 ish unit new build block of flats nearby so hoping fairly reliable!

MTJTD thanks- sorry 2 more questions

1- wouldnt I go to Howdens with my fitter?- wouldnt we see the same cost

2- i have a 1970s house, the walls in the kitchen have artex on- I assume i get an asbestos removal company to come in before I can entertain starting the work? Any experience of such?

@OnlyFoolsnMothers

1. Not typically, no. Howdens as a trade outlet and don't offer the same sort of design appointment and quote that you might expect from the likes of Wickes or Wrens.

They'll come out to the property, measure up and take some notes, then go back to store, complete the design and then present the price and pictures to the builder in a pack.