A new kitchen????? Just what I always wanted!!!

[chelseamorning]

Yes, I'm lucky enough to be in the process of chosing a new kitchen, after lord knows how long.

Just wondered if anyone has a positive experience with any kitchen supplier and fitter? We've looked at kitchens right across the board, from independents and Arno through to Magnet and B&Q.

I've heard that they're pretty much all as bad as each other which doesn't fill me with much confidence!! We're in the South Bucks area, BTW. Thanks!

Heard v bad things about Magnet and B&Q - can you get someone to access Which online? They had something along these lines not that long ago.

My friend had her ensuite and kitchen fitted by B & Q. She had no faults with either and is really pleased.

I, on the other hand feels she needs her head examined. The kitchen cost £3k yet B & Q charged a further £5k to install it. It's mad but then she's happy.

Mmmm... my mum had hers fitted from MFI, they were on the whole OK, but needed lots of snagging, and for some reason they took a door away a few weeks later (tiny crack on the inside) and replaced it with a totally different shade, but they had stopped making that kitchen in the meantime so sent a painter out to stain it (!??) Mum did get £1,500 compo., but had to hassle them alot. That probably doesn't help you alot though! Ikea are supposed to be really good for kitchens, better than homebase/B&Q.

5k install?? Woweeee! Maybe she had electrics moved and that, and all the tiling done? Yikes though!

LoW-no she had a separate electrician to pay for and a plasterer.

But her & her dh are fools when it comes to things like this. They just fork out.

Like in her old house, she put all new double glazing in and moved (she knew she would be when she had it put in) 12 months later.

The price for the B & Q ensuite was £4500, £3500 was the fitting!

Mad I tell you, quite mad!

We used MFI about 9 years ago when we had a new kitchen in our old flat.
They were OK, but I would recommend supervising them - as we had a cupboard that went into the corner (not a proper corner cupboard) and there would have been a gap between the bottom shelf and the edge of the cupboard, that they were going to leave. Because I was there and queried it they filled it in.
Also their fitting charges were ridiculous, for example we had some under cupboard lighting that were just screwed into the bottom of the cupboard and a cable to the next light etc - That worked out at £17 to put in each screw !!!

Message withdrawn

We had MFI do ours and they were fine. AFAIK they use independent fitters rather than have a team under their employ so it can be hit or miss. Ours where fantastic, but a friend elsewhere in the country has really bad ones. Ours cost around 12k but is fairly big, required some replumbing, rewiring, replastering, tiling and flooring, we did the decorating afterwards. That was also including the double oven, fitted microwve, hob and sink/tap but not fridge as we bought a free satnding american one.

a private company/carpenter might be better, obviously they work totally on rep. and can't afford to stuff up one job unlike big companies and usually they are cheaper.

We got ours from Wickes - a year ago. It's a great kitchen and we have had no problems at all with either the kitchen or the company. We used independent fitters though as the Wickes fitting is a little pricey.

Oh yes, we got quotes from 3 fitters and all of them had good things to say about the fitting of Wickes kitchens.

Thanks for all your comments. Interesting stuff. I think I'll look into the independent fitter angle as I've heard a lot of companies charge shed-loads for fitting, often not doing a good job at it.

Keep 'em comin'!!

My Mum bought the flat pack from B&Q and got a builder in to fit it all, including wiring and plumbing. It only cost her £600 for the fitting.

hi, we've just had a kitchen fitted. We got B&Q to come out and plan it. They said to supply would be £1700 (ours is only a tiny kitchen) and £2500 to fit (this didn't include plumbing, plastering or tiling). We then went to a local kitchen firm and they suppied us with the same style kitchen but much much better quality for £1000 then we got our window cleaner to fit it. There was 2 of them who worked from 8-6 for 6 days, they plastered, plumbed, fitted and tiled it all for £700. So really it is worth asking around locally for any handy men who might be able to fit it. They have made a really good job of it too, spent the time to make things perfect.

Hope this helps, to be honest i would never go with the big stores now after this.