If you used DIY Kitchens...

8 replies

Miriam101 · 15/02/2022 12:33

... are you a practical, hands-on type? I just had a go at using their planner but my brain just doesn't work like that and I can't see myself having the skills to make it all happen.

I've heard such good things about DIY's quality and budget BUT I'm starting to think they're not an option for me- unless you could hire a fitter to do all the measurements and help you plan it out? Has anyone done that? Perhaps that just defeats the whole object of, ahem "DIY" Kitchens....!

Any help gratefully received- am so hopeless at this stuff

OP posts:

skippy67 · 15/02/2022 13:03

I used them and I'm most definitely not a hands on type! So much so that I had to get Dh to measure the space and transfer the measurements to the planner. Once that was done, it got a lot easier. Just take your time with it and make use of their excellent advisers. It took me about 9 months to plan mine. Good luck!

CasperGutman · 15/02/2022 13:11

I planned ours. I am decidedly a practical, hands-on type.

I'm pretty sure just about anyone could do it - and do a decent job of it - given enough time and the sort of advice others are willing to give for free online. That doesn't mean everyone will choose to do it themselves though.

You may well prefer to pay someone else to do the planning, assuming that's an option for you!

Calmdown14 · 15/02/2022 14:05

You'll get better at it. The whole thing is a bit bewildering to start with.
Is your room a particularly complicated layout?
I did mine while they were between planners so just did it myself on PowerPoint!

Calmdown14 · 15/02/2022 14:13

Start with the big things and work from there. Where is the oven, hob, extractor etc going? Do you want tall units?
Or go to somewhere like Wren and see what they come up with as a starting point

JolieJ · 15/02/2022 14:17

It's get easier after you use it for a bit! Just take it one step at a time! It will start to make sense after a day

SollaSollew · 15/02/2022 15:00

My spatial awareness skills are legendarily poor in my family and I managed to design a DIY kitchen. I did the measurements but got dh to check and double check then drew them out on graph paper and messed around till I had a layout and combination of units I was happy with.

I then converted that to the parts that I needed and ordered and it was grate. However I think they also offer a service to translate other kitchen plans into an order for you if you've had the design done elsewhere (including end panels and all the other bits that you need)

So if you really can't get a hang of the planner then maybe drawing it out on paper then them converting it to an order would be an option for you?

Isseywith3witchycats · 15/02/2022 15:49

We got Wickes to come and measure ours went to their showroom and got a qoute and they printed out the plan for us they were £2000 more than DIY so we used their one to tweek on the DIY planner we are lucky we live near the showroom so took it to there and got the guy to look at it and give us a qoute from wickes plan

angstridden2 · 15/02/2022 16:22

We also got another diy chain to measure and plan our kitchen then emailedthe whole thing to DIY. They converted it into an equivalent range, we tweaked it a bit and ordered. It’s a great kitchen and to our relief the builders had no trouble installing it and nothing was missing! Saved several thousands.

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