Where did you get your reasonably priced but nice kitchen from

[Randomuser9876]

We're having building work done which means we're keeping our kitchen but need an island putting in.

Our builder uses Howdens and we've been quoted £6k which seems a lot... If you've had a good kitchen that was good value where was it from?? We've just booked in at Wren but would be grateful for similar recommendations. Thanks!

6k seems really good to me. I think you’ll struggle to get less. Ours was Howdens and I was about to suggest them.

I’m pretty sure Wren will be more. IKEA may be slightly less.

DIY Kitchens get rave reviews; we will probably go with them when we get ours done

Wickes.

And do your research with Wren, I joined the reviews and disasters pages on FB, some people very happy some people very unhappy...

Thanks 4Pawsgood...6k is just for the island in case that wasn't clear!

Our whole kitchen was less than 5k. It's a wooden shaker style one.

B&Q. If properly put together with attention to getting things level, it can look as good as anything else. Probably won't get the years of service that rigid carcass units may give if looked after, but at their cost they can easily replaced and the old stuff going to re-cycling.

If you go cheaper than Howdens - IKEA for example , you will have to build the cabinets yourselves. Any costs saved would be paid in labor costs

Oh I see! You need to get the Howdens discount to be passed on from the builder. Sounds like that hasn’t happened. Should be about 70% off the first price.

Definitely DIY kitchens. Howdens lack of pricing transparency bugs the life out of me. Wren are over priced and poor customer service once you order. B and Q are not great quality and Ikea are apparently difficult to fit although I’ve no experience and don’t know anyone who has had one. The others I know a few people who have had them.

DIY were transparent, helpful, reasonably priced and excellent quality I used them for my own.

Oh also despite DIY being cheaper they are all prebuilt units so you save on fitting times and costs too

Ours is DIY kitchens and weve had it for 15 years. It could do with a repaint but otherwise still good. However I've heard not as good reviews on MN from more recent customers

Wren will be tons!

We designed ours ourselves and got all the units from Wickes and got a local handyman to fit it. It’s still going strong 10 years on. Cost us £3.5k all in.

We have a Wren kitchen - would not recommend. Our last kitchen lasted 15 years and we only replaced because we knocked 2 rooms together to make a bigger kitchen. Had a wren kitchen for 2 years now and doubt it will last another 5.... safe your money

I’ve just been through this and ended up going with Magnet.

Wren were more expensive by a couple of grand and I’d heard poor things. Howdens were the same price (but didn’t include appliances and the quartz came in lengths).

Bechmarx were my second choice but was lazy and went for Magnet as it was just easier for us.

Kitchens aren’t cheap anymore and there’s loads of supply issues at the moment. IKEA didn’t really have anything in until September (went in late April) so it was a non-starter for us.

Thanks all, this is really helpful.... We've booked an appointment at DIY Kitchens tomorrow.

Porcelanosa

The quality of the fitter makes the biggest difference.

I hired a wrinkly old carpenter.

I favour having the electrics done by an electrician, and the plumbing done by a plumber, before the new kitchen goes in.

A multitude of bodges are hidden behind units by kitchen installers.

Magnet trade

We put posh knobs on

My diy kitchen chips very easily, and I am careful! They are not the holy grail.

my landlord has just fitted one of the budgetest kitchens from Howdens, the cost was 1.6k approx (not including the work to fit)! Plain white with silver handles. But looks really good and the fitters did a great job. I was surprised.

Diy kitchens all the way. Ours cost £9k (including utility and an island). Magnet wanted £24k trade price for the same design. Our fitters were impressed with the quality and the customer service is excellent.

IKEA are great.