Did t realise buying a kitchen would be so stressful.

[Toddlerteaplease]

Someone just give me a price for the whole bloody thing!! Arghhh!

Howdens ?

You trying to arrange everything yourself OP?

I'm in the process it this.

I went to some companies who do the whole thing -£20k!

Found a fitter who will do it all by bringing various mate tradesmen in for other bits like plastering and whatnot who I have to contact for a separate quote and obviously I then have to buy in my own tiles rather than builder supplies and so on - once done the total is about £8k with all materials and fitting.

It was just a case of spreadsheet and using organisational skills - doable even if more stressful to begin with.

Toddlerteaplease - feeling the same as you. We can't get a quote/fitter until we have a final design. We have no idea until we get a final design how much the kitchen will cost, so could be wasting their time, especially if builder quote then ends up more than expected! Howdens were really reluctant to price their design until we agreed a price with our fitter, fitter did not want to provide a quote before Howden's had a final design, which we had no idea if we could afford. Howden's then reluctantly gave us a quote but it was not itemised, so could not compare their prices with elsewhere. We got a quote from Wickes which was for kitchen and fitting all in but not sure of quality of Wickes. Currently looking for a quote from a company recommended by another builder. I know DIY kitchens have been recommended on here but not confident about us being responsible for all the measurements etc! Good luck with your plans

Wickes, the kitchen is excellent and they did the whole thing.

Can I ask... with Wickes, do they do literally everything? Floor, walls, tiling, electrics, plumbing, units, worktops etc...

I remember this - why people cannot just give you their best price I've no idea. It was endless to-ing and fro-ing; wickes, magnet, wren.... in the end we went with wickes. Their 'retail' price was about £12k and we paid about £5k. Why they could just quote that in the first place I've no idea. So frustrating

My DSis works in kitchens for a small family business and they do give you their best price the first time. No haggling - the price is the price. But the price is likely to be at least £20k.

Careful with Wickes, their kitchens aren't the best quality and some people have had nightmares with them (check the reviews), Wren are similarly awful to the point there are Facebook groups dedicated to how bad they are.

DIY kitchens are great.

My Wickes kitchen is excellent quality, granite work tops, lovely units, and high end appliances. They do the full range. It also cost 20 grand.

I had a kitchen fitted from B&Q last month.. they were amazing! Totally stress free, the fitters did a survey and told me electrical bits that needed doing that I would never had considered. Plastered the whole room, and tiling, plus new kitchen for just over £6k! They really did an amazing job - The kitchen probably isn't the best quality but I'm planning on moving in the next few years. I'd really recommend them

But even if they give you the best price first time you need to sit for an hour with the plan, pick the doors, worktops, electrical, debate where the dishwasher is. Till then you’ve no idea if you are in the correct ballpark. They won’t come up with a price for a week. Why can’t the my add it up there and then?

I spent months going round kitchen shops. When it came to 3 x bathroom I was so sick of it. One shop, one visit done.

Second Wickes, my parents were very pleased with them.

We too are in this situation at the moment. and yes it has been a nightmare getting a price for anything.

I just by chance googled and found a local company selling these Second Nature kitchens of which he is the franchise of and if you look at their 'where to buy' you will probably be able to find a place near to you.

We have decided to use him - the chap has actually listened to what we want, thrown in suggestions/ideas and adjusted the plans accordingly and we had a price and proper plans and mock up pics of our new kitchen within 24 hours of initial contact. - very similar to the Howdens quote (which took about a month to get prices for) but much, much better design and enthusiasm.

So might be worth a look?

I can't even get an appointment with Howdens until mid May. B&q and magnet did me a lovely design and will get wren to copy it. Will also use the b&q survey to get a quote from my fitter. Just won't but the kitchen from them as the quay isn't great for the price.

I have been quoted between £6800-9000 for my tiny kitchen by b&q which is ridiculous.

Furball, that's good to know. We are currently awaiting a quote from a franchise of Second Nature who were recommended by our builder. So far, we have only have an intial design but they have been helpful and interested. It appears to be good quality. Just have to await cost!

"I can't even get an appointment with Howdens until mid May."

That's only a couple of weeks away. If you're wanting everything to happen within a matter of days you're going to be disappointed.

As I said, some people like Wickes, but be careful as there are many that don't. My friends units were very poor quality.

This is why we went to Ikea, the price on the cabinet is the price you pay, no reductions or discounts based on how much business your kitchen fitter puts through Howdens.

In fact my kitchen fitter managed to use a plinth turned vertically instead of full height cover end panel to fill the gap at the end of the run of units (kitchen extension) and said you can return that and get your £300 back I told him it was a mere £50 from Ikea.

We also designed our own kitchen though based on what other companies had suggested.

I've ended up using the online design function at ikea to give me a ballpark then taking that design to independents to see what they can. But then I'm pretty sure of what design I want. At least that way I know that x is generally more expensive than y or z before I go and can adjust as I need

Our seems really simple and I'm worried I have forgotten something now!
Book builder to do extension with a fixed price quote, including kitchen fit. Plan and buy kitchen online. Done!

I bought several.howdens kitchens (I flip houses) and always have to go through a builder. They come measure after plastering and I already know what design I want more or less as the units are standard sizes. My fitter can plumb in and I just get a gas guy in and an electrician- it's a new plumber most times as they have always been the trickiest trade in my experience.
I went high end for a London flat and used one stop shop - fitters were great but I did pay £26k for a small galley kitchen. Looks brilliant, was relatively painless for me, a bit complicated for them (had to move gas pipes as I put dishwasher in front) but anything is possible with money thrown at it. But that's what I paid the company for - I was sure to flag up.any issues and refused to accept any compromises.
Doing it myself just requires good RELIABLE trades, which are like goldust I know!

That’s ridiculous, you could run a second car for £9K.

"That’s ridiculous, you could run a second car for £9K."

I don't understand how this is relevant. And I doubt you could for the lifespan of a kitchen!