10k kitchen budget - who would you use?

[GardensandGrandDesigns]

Hi

It's a large kitchen with 2m island so I need to budget really well. I am budgeting another 4k on top for appliances as we like gadgets! Currently looking at DIY kitchens and is pricing up at 11k. Anywhere else I should look? Experience of DIY kitchens?

Thank you!

B&q kitchens were recommended by our fitter, he’s fitted loads and likes them, we put in a howdens in the end.

IKEA. 25 year guarantee and zillions of options. Ours is 7 years old and looks brand new. We used their fitters for convenience.

We did fit Siemens appliances though, I don’t rate their own brand. I do rate the utter simplicity of their process - you can accurately price up the whole thing from your own home. I couldn’t be doing with the “special offers” or “trade prices” all the other places offered. Builders get a good kickback from Howdens, hence their popularity.

My fitter recommended Wren or Howdens. He really didn't rate B&Q. And having seen my sisters new B&Q kitchen compared to my Wren one. He was right!

I didn't really consider Howdens as i don't like their pricing structure. And nothing in the showroom or catalogue has a probe. Making it impossible to budget.

Is that 10k including fitting? I assume not if DIY are coming in at 11k.

@ItsSnowJokes

Is that 10k including fitting? I assume not if DIY are coming in at 11k.

That's without fitting. Thank you for all the suggestions so far. Off to the Wren showroom tomorrow.

I wouldn’t go to wren. Just Google reviews. We went there and customer service was awful and that’s become we committed to buy.

DIY, Benchmarx or IKEA, not Wren or any of the sheds.

We were relatively happy with howdens. If your budget is 10k without fitting and without appliances then that is plenty! You’d have your pick of a fair bit with that budget.

DIY kitchens but get your worktop separately.

A local independent?

Howdens

My sister booked to have hers done with wren and ended up fighting to cancel the order when things arrived wrong, broken or missing. They got there with stopping it going ahead but it took ages. Customer service was appalling.
We put ikea kitchen in our old house. Just a small galley kitchen with our own fitters. A week after fitting a saucepan boiled over and the worktop blew leaving a 5 inch long crack.
Our fitters said it was fault manufacturing and ikea said it was a fitting fault. Very annoying as it still all came in around 7k inc fitting in 2016.

Fitter said Wren aftersales is terrible.

We got b and q. Honestly we must be right rednecks because I couldn't tell the difference between all brands. B and q shaker= Wren shaker in my eyes. I am sure some ( lots?) Will disagree but because we couldn't see a difference we didn't feel it was worth paying extra. No regrets.

I had a new kitchen last year. We visited showrooms, had designs done and quotes given by Magnet, Wren and Howdens.
Magnet were by far the most expensive. Wren was mid range but what out me off to start with was their doors were not the same colour inside to out (bizarre). I was also aware of lots of negative reviews for Wren so that did make me slightly nervous, and their sales rep was extremely pushy. I was convinced that I would be going down the Magnet route. I loved the design, the kitchen range and I had just come into an inheritance and I could afford exactly what I wanted. But I begrudgingly went to Howdens (expecting to hate it) just to shut my husband up!
Howdens had the best design of the three (including incorporating a large island), I loved the range we chose and it was the cheapest of the three. So I upgraded my appliances and had a Stoves range and Miele for the rest.

A year on and there is nothing I would change about my beautiful Howdens kitchen.

Thank you, will definitely take a look. I assume no showroom?

We found our loval fitter the best designs and was better than wren for price plus the doors were solid.

Elgar Kitchens Worcester

That should say local!

We just had diy kitchens. No complaints. Everything arrived when it said it would and nothing was damaged.

I wouldn’t ever touch a wren kitchen again. Appalling quality, was knackered after 2.5/3 years. I now have a diy kitchens one and I’m so impressed with it. Fantastic customer service, delivery and quality.

I used howdens. Very good quality for price but it comes down to your fitter, luckily mine was my dad! Mine cost £9k 5 years ago, huge kitchen, island and utility too top of their range but he fitted it for free

DIY -good quality and has lasted well since installed 6 years ago. Family member just used them and also impressed. We have large kitchen with big island - was about £8k back then for units only.

@Shadowboy

We found our loval fitter the best designs and was better than wren for price plus the doors were solid.

Elgar Kitchens Worcester

I always assume these type of independent places are way over budget!

@GardensandGrandDesigns

Thank you, will definitely take a look. I assume no showroom?

Howdens have a showroom. Just not as flashy as Wren or Magnet. Our designer was excellent too and very happily incorporated tweaks, changes or ideas almost right up to delivery date. You will need to find a kitchen fitter (Howdens don't provide fitting, just supply only, though they can provide recommendation).

@GardensandGrandDesigns they have a fantastic showroom! No pushy sales tactics. We had a yore of £10k including some gadgets on a very very tricky kitchen (with 5 doorways) so design was crucial and theirs was the best. Plus the doors being solid wood. We also opted for quartz at that price. By comparison wren was £11k and only wrapped doors, not real wood.