Page 2 | Ikea kitchen experience

daffodilandtulip · 2022-03-27T16:01:05+00:00

Really shocked by a B&Q quote of £15k for a 14 unit kitchen. I added all the same units and appliances to a basket and it came to £4k. Obviously I may have missed a few bits but still, is installation really that much? I've done the same with ikea and my basket comes to around £3k. I've an appt with them tomorrow...am I going to be given the same kind of price? I've read lots of threads that suggest ikea is surprisingly good quality, but any experience either way is welcome! (Or any other companies to try that won't require a second mortgage!)

leli · 28/03/2022 09:13

IKEA kitchen fitted 2021. All Ikea appliances, worktop etc. fabulous online kitchen planner. Own builder to fit it. All worked out very well, loved the online planning experience.

OnTheBenchOfDoom · 28/03/2022 09:32

I know they are now selling the Metod kitchen but my Ikea Faktum kitchen was installed in 2013. We had all cabinets and the built in extractor from them. Everything else from the worktops to appliances, sink, tap etc came from elsewhere.

We initially had Whirlpool oven, combi-microwave and American fridge freezer bought elsewhere as they fit the Ikea cabinets. The only thing still original from that is the fridge freezer although we have had a repair done to it. The dishwasher was Beko and lasted 7 years, the oven and combi-microwave died after 6 years as the parts are only available for 6 years so we replaced them with Hotpoint, same parent company. We did splurge on a DeDietrich combined zone induction hob which is used almost daily and is still going.

My kitchen looks like it was installed yesterday. No chips, no peeling or any foil from the doors or drawers. My base cabinets are all larder pull outs and hidden drawers inside. No sagging either. I planned the kitchen out and found the Ikea team in store to be knowledgeable and helpful although obviously this will be store dependent.

We had an independent fitter who was a grumpy sod but did a good job. He was recommended by the builder as we were having a kitchen extension built.

ihavespoken · 28/03/2022 09:56

@daffodilandtulip

So did you go with it or is it possible to steal the design and order and use your own fitter? I only need electrics like for like, nothing moving.

You don't need to steal the design - it's yours. I paid £35 for the measuring service to ensure it will all fit, the online planning appointment was free. Like a PP I used the online tool myself so the planning appointment was really just to verify that my ideas made sense - very useful as one of them didn't, and was corrected! After that I received a quote with a full list of all the items needed, as well as plans with measurements etc on. Fortunately DH is a kitchen fitter so he's going to do it, but has all the info he needs from IKEA to get on with it.

Original poster

daffodilandtulip · 28/03/2022 10:05

Oh that sounds good. So I could do that and then order and get a builder.

I went to Wickes to be told very rudely that they don't just plan a kitchen, you can only have the plans if you're buying one!

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SunnydayeverythingsAOK · 28/03/2022 10:09

We've had 2. Love it, wouldn't go elsewhere - such good value. Just watch though, the price does shoot up because they add extras like glass sides to the drawers, and LED lights inside. We went through afterwards and cut about £1500 off our price by getting rid of unnecessary extras.

Original poster

daffodilandtulip · 28/03/2022 11:08

Oh good tip thank you!

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ihavespoken · 28/03/2022 11:29

@daffodilandtulip

Oh that sounds good. So I could do that and then order and get a builder.

I went to Wickes to be told very rudely that they don't just plan a kitchen, you can only have the plans if you're buying one!

Yeh at Wickes you can buy takeaway kitchens, but they are nowhere near as nice as the ones they fit, but as you say you then have to pay for their fitting.

ihavespoken · 28/03/2022 11:30

Re: price at IKEA - they do interest free credit over 4 years via Ikano bank if the cost is over £6,000

if that is relevant to you (it is to us )

Caspianberg · 28/03/2022 11:40

We installed one ourselves in our holiday rental. I just built the cabinets together each evening gradually myself and then dh and I put it together at the weekend. I don’t really understand how it can be so hard for actual fitters? It literally went together fine.

We have Bosch dishwasher which didn’t require a bit of re measuring on door but it went in fine. 4 years on it’s still together and looks new, despite being put together by amateurs and bashed around by various guests.

We have just had own kitchen done from local more bespoke, and yes it is better finishes inside, and stone not laminate top etc. but it cost x10 the price. And it’s not x10 better

Sockpile · 28/03/2022 12:18

@daffodilandtulip I’ve decided against using IKEA. I want somewhere to supply and fit but due to the huge cost of extras (£1.6k for tiling and have been quoted £400 by a local tiler) I would have to find other people to do the extras. I’ve also gone pff the kitchen I chose from them.

I got a design from Wickes yesterday which is a nicer kitchen and am going to Magnet tomorrow.

Monkeybutt1 · 29/03/2022 08:45

Have you tried Howdens? They don't deal direct with the public but if you can get a fitter who used them regularly they offer huge discounts to them. We are currently having a Howdens kitchen fitted, we have paid 21K for the kitchen including quartz wrapped worktops, flooring and some appliances and lots of extras, our builder passed on his 40% discount which enabled us to have our dream kitchen and he has charged 2K for fitting.

TraceyLacey · 29/03/2022 08:56

I agree with pp re doors- several of mine are chipped and one is completely ruined from hanging a damp tea towel on a rack over it. My Ikea oven failed after a couple of years, I got a different brand to replace it. I'd still get another Ikea kitchen though, the drawers are amazing, so big I don't need any wall units so the kitchen looks much bigger now.

Caspianberg · 29/03/2022 09:29

@Monkeybutt1- that’s pretty expensive v ikea though, £21k after 40% off from howdens?

Our new locally crafted kitchen, oak and quartz, miele/Bosch = €17k
Our holiday let ikea kitchen = €2k

JudgeRindersMinder · 29/03/2022 10:01

@Monkeybutt1

Have you tried Howdens? They don't deal direct with the public but if you can get a fitter who used them regularly they offer huge discounts to them. We are currently having a Howdens kitchen fitted, we have paid 21K for the kitchen including quartz wrapped worktops, flooring and some appliances and lots of extras, our builder passed on his 40% discount which enabled us to have our dream kitchen and he has charged 2K for fitting.

It’s not that Howden’s do discounts, they start with a base price, which they’ll only disclose to the fitter, and the fitter will often add on a profit for themselves. It’s why I won’t go to Howden’s for the kitchen I’m planning right now

JudgeRindersMinder · 29/03/2022 10:03

Posted too soon, I’ve also been very unimpressed with the quality of my sister’s 4 year old kitchen compared to my previous 15 years old, lick of paint by new owners, and looks brand new one from Ikea. Her hi gloss kitchen has the surfaces coming adrift from the doors within 2 years in a 3 adult household so no rough treatment

girlwhowearsglasses · 29/03/2022 10:42

We've been impressed with the online planning via Phone/Zoom. We planned our kitchen out beforehand on the online planner (I'm a designer so I thought I'd thought of most things) and then the Ikea planner talked us through the whole thing. She had loads of ideas and we changed quite a few details.

This service was free and I really rated her. We spoke a couple of times and she remembered all the details between appointments too. I was really impressed she didn't try to upsell, and she did tell us which things weren't as good as others - and some things we didn't buy or replaced with cheaper too.

We haven't fitted the kitchen yet but I am confident about it.

Monkeybutt1 · 29/03/2022 10:51

"It’s not that Howden’s do discounts, they start with a base price, which they’ll only disclose to the fitter, and the fitter will often add on a profit for themselves. It’s why I won’t go to Howden’s for the kitchen I’m planning right now"

We got lucky as our builder is doing a lot of work for us, extension etc he passed all his discount to us, he didn't even see the quote from Howdens they sent it direct to me showing the discount. I can see that some would take a cut of that though.
Quality wise I am impressed with the Howdens one. My friend had a Wren one recently and it is lovely but she had a lot of issues with it that had to be sorted. Their worse mistake was when they measured it the assumed she was having a new double oven, she currently has a single, and didn't ask her so it was wrong!

Witchlight · 29/03/2022 12:29

Ok.

Pros:
Brilliant quality for the money.
Flexible and works
Stylish and current

Cons:
Designed for Scandinavian model, where pipes come up through the floor. Therefore there’s no pipe-space at the back. You’ll need to set the cupboards out 200mm or so. A consideration if space is tight and you’ll need to budget for a deeper worktop.
As the plinth is lower than standard- more cupboard space-, if you want a built in dishwasher, you do need the IKEA one. If you don’t, you’ll need a clunky work around for it to open - a cut out in the plinth was suggested. The IKEA one will be a couple of hundred pounds more than a Bosch one of similar spec. A bit annoying, but you’ll save much more than this overall.

Do add a budget for things like sides to drawers. These things are cheap, but all add up. They are a very good price overall though.

Abra1d1 · 29/03/2022 12:31

Shambolic ordering and fitting process. I could write an essay…

Build quality is good.

Original poster

daffodilandtulip · 29/03/2022 20:32

@Witchlight really helpful thank you. I've got the space, and I'm guessing extra on the worktop and dishwasher won't equal the extra B&Q added!

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Original poster

daffodilandtulip · 29/03/2022 20:33

@girlwhowearsglasses are you having their fitters? Did they give you an idea of cost?

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Melminiani · 30/03/2022 20:39

I’ve had my IKEA kitchen for 15 years and it still looks really good. It’s shaker style and wipes clean very easily. There’s a little splitting on the cover on the edge of one cupboard door, but it’s the one directly next to my cooker, so… 🤷🏻‍♀️

I planned it using their online planner and got a local workman to fit it. I’m really pleased with it and definitely feel I got value for money. I bought the cooker and fridge separately from a local shop.

Original poster

daffodilandtulip · 07/04/2022 13:46

I've planned and chosen! Currently awaiting two builders quotes versus the second Ikea fitters quote, as apparently they add a lot on at this stage. Definitely having their kitchen, probably using my own builder.

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Original poster

daffodilandtulip · 09/04/2022 13:23

Ikea fitter visited this morning. What an absolute rip off!

£6970 !!!

AND they want £1300 within three days, £4000 on day one for materials and the rest on the last day. Just wow.

I can't believe some of the breakdown prices either ... £800 to remove old tiles and replace with tiles I buy myself - the splashback bit! £350 to remove old kitchen - it's about 6 cabinets at present, and the actual waste removal is an extra item. £1700 to build the actual cabinets.

Please tell me the builders quotes will be more sensible!

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NeedAHoliday2021 · 09/04/2022 13:59

My mum’s fitter cost 2,700 but when the builder was going to do it (part of a big renovation) he wanted £8k! When mum questioned it as sounding higher than she expected he packed his tools and flounced off. Kitchen is now in place and the new fitter has taken on other jobs and is super helpful. I’m waiting for a quote to fit ours!