Budget kitchen advice?

[Nikhedonia]

I need to refit the kitchen in my house. It's not huge, but not small either. Probably about 12x10.

The cupboards must go, so changing the doors aren't an option. New worktops are a must and

I need all new appliances, including dishwasher, fridge and freezer, double oven sink, hob and washing machine.

Which companies would you recommend and avoid at all costs? How do IKEA kitchens or Wren kitchens last? Are there any companies who offer cheaper kitchens? I'm only going to be here for about 5 more years, so want it to be useable for me with all the gadgets I want but don't particularly care if the kitchen last 25+ years (but don't want it falling apart in the next 5-10)

Can anyone experiences offer their thoughts?

TIA

Will you fit it yourself? Howdens do some nice kitchens but I don't rate their appliances.

Ikea and DIY kitchens are often recommended, they are both self-service i.e. you do your own design. But then you have more control. Ikea units are a different size but nearly all the other UK suppliers are a standard interchangeable size.
To keep the budget down

• freestanding appliances, except for dishwashers, you are paying twice for the appliance and the unit to put it in.
• Laminate worktops are perfectly OK but don't get "wrapped" or "foil" doors. Ideally paint, lacquer, laminate or real wood.
• check if its cheaper to buy interior fittings, sink, taps etc separately.
• Avoid any expensive decorative features: curved ends, canopies etc or built in gadgets unless you are convinced they are good value.
• for a double oven: freestanding cooker is cheapest, then a built in double oven, most expensive are side by side ovens in tall units.

Wickes were brilliant when I did my small kitchen 3 years ago. Very affordable. (Not the showroom range, just the DIY one.)

I'm going to get someone to fit it for me, there's no way I could/would do it.

Would only consider a range cooker as a free standing, would that be cheaper than a double oven and hob?

but don't get "wrapped" or "foil" doors. what's wrong with these? I think I had wrapped gloss doors before and they were fine, but I might be thinking of something different.

Howdens do some nice kitchens but I don't rate their appliances.
Howdens have quoted nearly £9k which I'm not willing to pay. This included their appliances but I don't know how they compare to AEG/Bosch

Ikea and DIY kitchens are often recommended, they are both self-service i.e. you do your own design.

It's a tricky shape of kitchen so I think I will need a professional to design it... I think IKEA offer design appointments online at the minute.

What is DIY? Is that B&Q?

No, "diy kitchens" are their own company, Google it. A lot of threads mention this company, I hope because they are good and not if they pay people to say good things on mumsnet.

I rate Ikea - they design it for you in store or online.

I’ve used DIY kitchens and their kitchens are great and pre assembled unlike IKEA so the fitting is slightly cheaper.

Were you happy with the Howdens design? If so I think you can send it to DIY kitchens and they’ll give you a price for the same layout.

You can save a fair bit by buying the standard sized units - the oddities, like wall cupboards that are extra tall, or shorter, or glass doors, or larder tops, or bridging units, 15cm wide pull outs, bottle holders, curved cupboards... all these dont offer much extra storage compared to what they add to cost. It might be worth it to you to have these “extra” units, but price them up first! End panels and fillers etc also add to cost, as do cupboard/drawer organisers.

I’ve a Wickes kitchen that has lasted well, but I imagine a lot are much the same!

Were you happy with the Howdens design? If so I think you can send it to DIY kitchens and they’ll give you a price for the same layout.

Largely, although there's a few things I'd want to shift about. Howden's have only allowed for a fridge freezer and I'll need either a separate fridge and freezer or an American fridge freezer

@Saz12

You can save a fair bit by buying the standard sized units - the oddities, like wall cupboards that are extra tall, or shorter, or glass doors, or larder tops, or bridging units, 15cm wide pull outs, bottle holders, curved cupboards... all these dont offer much extra storage compared to what they add to cost. It might be worth it to you to have these “extra” units, but price them up first! End panels and fillers etc also add to cost, as do cupboard/drawer organisers.

I’ve a Wickes kitchen that has lasted well, but I imagine a lot are much the same!

I think the Howdens quote was for a pretty standard design.

I'll have a look at Wickes as well. Thank you

I don’t have any of those kitchens but I do know that Howdens give builders big discounts so find a local joiner who could fit your kitchen who has an account with them and that price should come down a lot. When I had a look they had builders cards on display.

Wren - from what I read they are not well regarded!

My IKEA design (done in store with an member of staff) was better than the Howdens and Wren ones - we managed to fit more in a very tight space. The kitchen was also 1/3 of the price. I picked my appliances from AO before the design appointment and wrote down the measurements to give the designer. This meant I could get things like an extra height fridge/freezer which doubled the fridge capacity of my old one but was only 5cm wider. The only appliances I got from IKEA were the built in dishwasher and extractor fan. I also got my sink/taps etc online as I wanted particular finishes that IKEA didn't do.

The downsides of IKEA are:

1. They're harder to fit, also fitters don't like them as they don't get a kickback (unlike Howdens).
2. They don't have "service voids" at the back of the cabinets which are false backs with a gap to hide pipework etc. We had to get a plumber in to move some pipes down close to the floor, plinth height, so they'd fit.

The upsides are:

1. Good range of sizes/pullouts etc.
2. Transparent pricing (I'm sure Howdens just charge what they think they can get away with).
3. Cheap.
4. I don't think the designers are on commission so it felt like he was trying to design the best kitchen for me, rather than sell me the most I could afford.

I think finding a good fitter is very important, we went with our own rather than using the IKEA ones as we had lots of plastering/decorating/plumbing/tiling to do and he managed all of that for us, got the extra guys in etc.

@Qc16

I don’t have any of those kitchens but I do know that Howdens give builders big discounts so find a local joiner who could fit your kitchen who has an account with them and that price should come down a lot. When I had a look they had builders cards on display.

Wren - from what I read they are not well regarded!

That is with a discount from a local builder!

Just remembered the other company I got a quote from: Benchmarx. I don't if they're still around. But apparently they supply the Wickes kitchens. Their price was actually slightly more expensive than going to Wickes directly. For exactly the same units and appliances etc. In my case anyway. And that was even with the trade discount!

@smeerf

My IKEA design (done in store with an member of staff) was better than the Howdens and Wren ones - we managed to fit more in a very tight space. The kitchen was also 1/3 of the price. I picked my appliances from AO before the design appointment and wrote down the measurements to give the designer. This meant I could get things like an extra height fridge/freezer which doubled the fridge capacity of my old one but was only 5cm wider. The only appliances I got from IKEA were the built in dishwasher and extractor fan. I also got my sink/taps etc online as I wanted particular finishes that IKEA didn't do.

The downsides of IKEA are:

1. They're harder to fit, also fitters don't like them as they don't get a kickback (unlike Howdens).
2. They don't have "service voids" at the back of the cabinets which are false backs with a gap to hide pipework etc. We had to get a plumber in to move some pipes down close to the floor, plinth height, so they'd fit.

The upsides are:

1. Good range of sizes/pullouts etc.
2. Transparent pricing (I'm sure Howdens just charge what they think they can get away with).
3. Cheap.
4. I don't think the designers are on commission so it felt like he was trying to design the best kitchen for me, rather than sell me the most I could afford.

I think finding a good fitter is very important, we went with our own rather than using the IKEA ones as we had lots of plastering/decorating/plumbing/tiling to do and he managed all of that for us, got the extra guys in etc.

Yeah, I think I'm leaning a bit more towards an IKEA kitchen. I'd rather pay a transparent price.

@Meredusoleil

Just remembered the other company I got a quote from: Benchmarx. I don't if they're still around. But apparently they supply the Wickes kitchens. Their price was actually slightly more expensive than going to Wickes directly. For exactly the same units and appliances etc. In my case anyway. And that was even with the trade discount!

I've had a Benchmarx kitchen before. They are good, in my experience. But again, it's a lack of transparency in the prices.

I'm on my second DIY kitchens kitchen and couldn't recommend them more for quality and value for money. We moved after 2 years with our previous kitchen and it was still as good as new when we moved out!

The diy cheaper kitchens are fine. What's important is that you either fit it, or get it fitted well. The fitment is the important part.

I have a 9yo Ikea kitchen that's still going strong except for the food cupboard doo the kids have knackered but we're getting an extension done shortly so redesigning the whole room. Going for Ikea again but with fancy doors/worktops and our own appliances. A good builder/fitter is, as PPs have said, really key. This will be our 3rd Ikea kitchen, our builders like them as they are used to fitting them and the units are sturdy.

We have an ikea kitchen too and I like that you can replace bits/add internal drawers/storage and organisers easily directly from them yourself. Apparently all the clever internal storage bits are what bump up the price of other kitchen suppliers.

We used their fitters and they did a sterling job

I loved my Ikea kitchen! So sad to leave it when we moved.

I've just had a diy kitchens one fitted (altino petrol blue gloss) and my fitter (a skilled mate) was very impressed with the quality. I was looking at ikea too but the lack of service void and the fact that their units were too deep for my alcove ruled them out.

My kitchen cost 2.2k for units (2x big wall cupboards, 2 drawer units, oven unit, sink unit, pull out thin unit and corner unit) then I got worktop (thin laminate) for £400, and bought all appliances from ao for another 1k. Sink was Cooke and Lewis and tap was wickes, for another £200. Flooring will be about £500 for vinyl (it's been delayed frustratingly) and fitting was 1k, including tiling. So just over 5k for the whole thing, not including plumbing/plastering. I designed it myself and only made one cock up which has been easily rectified. I think their planner is back online now too.

Ooh so IKEA and DIY seem popular.

I've designed my kitchen on the IKEA website tonight but I don't know what the cabinets will look like so (fingers crossed) when they open in December I will go and have a look.

I can't see that IKEA do a tall corner cupboard though... does anyone with one if their kitchens have one of these? I'll have the fridge, the freezer, then a corner and then the oven and I can't seem to find a tall corner unit online.

Do the IKEA kitchens come built or flat pack? I assume flat pack.

I can't help I'm afraid but I'm watching this thread with interest. We seem to be in an almost identical situation to you. Not a huge kitchen, also plan to move in a few years and also had a quote from Howdens of just under £9000! We'll also have to pay someone to fit it, which I'm guessing is another few thousand, so would end up pretty pricy for a small kitchen (ours is probably smaller than yours).

Looks like IKEA and DIY kitchens are the ones to go for!