DIY Kitchens!

[AltheaVestr1t]

Currently planning a house move and a new kitchen, and I'm leaning towards a navy and white kitchen from DIY kitchens. There are a few DIY Kitchen threads on here but none since 2016. Does anyone have any good or bad experiences of DIY Kitchens to share? Thanks!

@Longwhiskers14 What was the alternative that she suggested?

They were brilliant. I used the planner and stuck the units I wanted to make sure all measured out ok before ordering. It worked out perfectly. The units come ready make. The kitchen fitter also said he recommends them to friends and family. Wouldn't hesitate to use again. I saved loads by doing so

We've got on going in and are pleased with it. We've had Howden's units before (going back a while) and these were not disappointing in general. Most of my units are plain flat matt painted modern doors and really pleased with them. We ordered a couple of inframe style units with trays and veggie drawers for a pantry and I was a bit disappointed with those- they were mega expensive compared with the basic units but still the same mdf carcass with a fake inframe thing attached to the front. Needed to read the small print better....

They were really helpful with questions about the order, and also did a sense check over it and highlights things like a couple of different drawer depths which would mess drawer lines up and that the "inframe" units are not a flat texture like the modern ones.

Other minor gripe was that there was only one size of oak utensil insert available on their site but actually they are not universal- online type of drawer that the fit, the width I'd fine but they're too short for lower down drawers and too long for hidden drawers.

I'd definitely use them again.

Smallgoon A pull-out larder cupboard instead, which was/is more than adequate for our needs. It meant we had room for a wine fridge, which I am very happy to have!

We really enjoyed our visit to the showroom! We've settled on Linwood Alabaster and also realised that our taste in quartz/granite is completely different so we'll probably go for oak again. @Longwhiskers14 how much did Karen from One Plan charge for a kitchen plan? I have heard her mentioned before and I think I'll look her up. We're also intending on going for that massive larder unit!

AltheaVestr1t She charges a fair few hundred but you're getting a bespoke service that's worth every penny IMO. As part of the consultation we had to fill in an incredibly lengthy questionnaire about what it was we wanted from our kitchen, right down to whether we were left or right handed. She made us think about things we didn't even know we wanted (like pullout recycling bins so all the mess is tucked away). I'm sure people will argue they could do the same themselves for free, but if like me you were clueless about planning a kitchen and didn't want to get it wrong and end up regretting your choices when you're spending £££££s, then it's worth the investment. There hasn't been a single moment where I've been in my kitchen and wished I'd done something differently, it's perfect!

@Canyousewcushions I was also tempted by two tray sets, but I've just looked at the price - I'm not paying £800 for two trays!

@Longwhiskers14 brill, thanks for your reply! When we get exact measurements I'll get in touch with Karen.

AltheaVestr1t Good luck with it!

Ah another fan of Karen's here too. She has done my plans this month and I'm over the moon with them. I'm waiting for the furniture quotes to come in ( wish they were as quick at responding as Karen was!)

Just remember she runs her diary about 3-4 weeks ahead. So you won't be able to call on Friday and her start on the next Monday. So don't wait until the last minute.

I sent the right move plans over and she quoted for not just the kitchen, but adding in other rooms at a really really discounted price, so we could pick any extra rooms we wanted.( or just go with the kitchen) but ultimately it's down to us how much we wanted to do. Absolutely no pressure at all, she's so NOT sales driven, it's so refreshing! ( I got a walk in pantry in mine and two dishwashers, sorry yes that was a slight brag, but I'm soooooo excited about it!)

Yeah, the fancy units were really price which is why I'd assumed they'd be proper inframe rather than " inframe style". We ordered two of them and they came out about 25% of the order total for a big kichen plus utility room

We're building ours into a larder cupboard with worktop inside and tall pivot and slide pocket doors on the front - so it made sense for us as it was an area where we're spending a bit more to make it look like a £30k+ bespoke kitchen rather than a very economical brand

Has anyone got quartz worktop from DYI Kitchens or preferred your local supplier?
Or it is not worth to spend on quartz at all?
I know quartz will double the price of the kitchen but with two not very careful adults and a 14-month old child I hope quartz will last longer.
Also not going for glossy doors as I got two different samples, Altino Acrylic faced and Carrera Lacquered, both seem to be easy to scratch.

I've just ordered a kitchen with Unitsonline.co.uk - same idea as DIY but been around for longer- they make all the carcasses and doors in their factory and have loads of great views - i am not sure why i chose them over DIY, slightly easier to navigate I think - i paid them £120 to do a kitchen design and then they take that off any order. Very helpful - so excited - extension now in progress and installation due in 3 weeks time!!!

@Angliski

I've just ordered a kitchen with Unitsonline.co.uk - same idea as DIY but been around for longer- they make all the carcasses and doors in their factory and have loads of great views - i am not sure why i chose them over DIY, slightly easier to navigate I think - i paid them £120 to do a kitchen design and then they take that off any order. Very helpful - so excited - extension now in progress and installation due in 3 weeks time!!!

@Angliski: Unitsonline say "We have been providing high quality rigid kitchens for over 20 years." DYI Kitchens says they have been manufacturing kitchens since 1982. Looks like DYI-Kitchens have longer history.

@Lily7050 whatevs. :) I liked having a designer I could go back to for lots of tweaks and edits, who knew the ranges inside out and then got cost off my order. Will report back when installed! Like DIY I paid about 7k for 18 units including two pull out larders - was looking at nearly triple that elsewhere

Gone are the days of some random bloke from a kitchen shop turning up with a tape measure and you got what he suggested, end of story .

I'm all for sharing my pinboard, hopes and dreams with someone like Karen, who's switched on enough to bring it all together into one amazing space that I'll happily live with for the next 10/20 years! It's a worthwhile investment in my book. I really enjoyed being part of it all evolving too.

lookatmememe I couldn't agree more. When Karen sent me the virtual mock-up of our new kitchen I was over the moon – I spent hours just "walking" round it! It's my favourite space in the house guess where I'm typing this now?

Hahaha I've been doing the same with my iPad where the extension will be! The multi view panos are amazing aren't they.

@lookatmememe

Gone are the days of some random bloke from a kitchen shop turning up with a tape measure and you got what he suggested, end of story .

I'm all for sharing my pinboard, hopes and dreams with someone like Karen, who's switched on enough to bring it all together into one amazing space that I'll happily live with for the next 10/20 years! It's a worthwhile investment in my book. I really enjoyed being part of it all evolving too.

Cannot agree more! This is exactly what I said to my OH when he rolled his eyes at Karen's price.

@Angliski: I decided to get design from Karen and then get 3-4 quotes.
I was thinking or ordering door samples from Unitsonline but was surprised to find out that they send a full size doors at full price and maximum 3 samples.

Lily7050 Mine rolled his eyes too! Then was overjoyed when she made room for a wine fridge.

There's a theme here 🙄haha
But her price (when broken down to a day rate) was less than the day rate for the plasterer that I've booked and the fitting price quotes I'm getting are far higher too for a weeks work. My kitchen was £575.

( full disclosure, I did have a couple of other areas adding to that were extra )

@Lily7050

Has anyone got quartz worktop from DYI Kitchens or preferred your local supplier? Or it is not worth to spend on quartz at all? I know quartz will double the price of the kitchen but with two not very careful adults and a 14-month old child I hope quartz will last longer. Also not going for glossy doors as I got two different samples, Altino Acrylic faced and Carrera Lacquered, both seem to be easy to scratch.

I got a quartz worktop, but didn't get this from DIY Kitchens. I went local. It didn't double the cost of my kitchen - the units came in at just under £4k and the worktop came in at £2k. The worktop is my favourite thing about the kitchen so I have no regrets at all, and feel it was definitely £2k well spent. For me personally, my worktop gives my kitchen the 'wow' factor.

Can anyone give me a rough idea of fitting costs for a DIY kitchen? Obviously there are a lot of variables but a ball park figure would be really helpful.