New kitchen- best option

[ByNewSnake]

Looking for advice please, we've been quoted €3,400 from b&q, €3,900 from IKEA & €7,000 from The Panelling Centre.

None include fitting.

The kitchens all have the same layout, number of units, laminate worktop etc.

Eg B&Q taps €60, The Panelling centre taps (asked for the cheapest) €240. A tap is a tap to me😂 A lot had to be stripped back like the drawer inserts, extractor fan, splashback, corner unit pull outs to bring it down to €7k.

They all look the same to me & I'm wondering long term is there any difference?

Or have people kitchens from any of the 3 places that they would - would not recommend? Thanks

Would get it from Howdens?

I've had kitchens from B&Q and Howdens. Both were fine.

Howdens in my experience has been good, but we have small galley style kitchen.

Try DIY Kitchens.

Ikea has much smaller plinths than Howdens so you get more usable storage space with ikea. You will need a good fitter to fit ikea, I have one bank of ikea drawers in my kitchen that I've reused three times and are over 20years old. You would never know. But my DH is very fastidious in putting the units together with glue and screws.

A tap is a tap. You can always buy your own tap from anywhere...should never be forced to buy any appliances from a kitchen company. Same goes for all appliances, sink, worktop.

I've had a few new kitchens as I've moved house a lot. we normally look for small independent companies with their own fitters. Howdens can recommend fitter to so are a very good option, though their kitchen colours are limited. There are differences in quality and you'll pay a different price as a result, but actually it doesn't matter that much. ask yourself what the most important factor is to you about the new kitchen. Does it just need to be practical, functional and robust - does it need to be your dream space - if you spent more than you want to would it change how you feel about it, would you regret that?
Ultimately, once units are fitted the carcasses don't take much of a battering, so you can spend a bit less there. The doors you look at every day so pick something you like and that will stand the test of time style wise - or accept that you might change the doors in 5-7 years if you get a bit fed up pf them or they start to show wear, and budget accordingly. They don't have to be the thicker ones that cost more, makes no difference. handles and taps are things you touch every day, so robust and lovely is best. If you are in a hard water area your taps will need changing every few years anyway, I wouldn't spend huge amounts on taps, but do tend to prefer the solid brass type (innards, not look) as they are a bit more hardwearing. Grohe are a good brand for taps. I usually pick them up cheap on ebay or in B&Q. Worktops can be a huge expense. if budget is paramount them laminate is the way to go - worktops are easily changed down the line if you get fed up of them, or come into some funds. They've also been the things that I've been annoyed about most with new kitchens - I've found that corian/resin chips and scratches easily, drop a knife on it and you've lost a chunk, then you have to get a specialist out to resurface it. Quartz is lovely, easily to clean and take care of, but pricey. wood is great, but can blacken from water around the sink area over time, but it's easy to sand down and refinish as a diy job so a good long term option. Laminate scratches and can scorch, but is very good value and pretty hardwearing.
I normally buy appliances in package deals direct from suppliers, or in the ebay outlets.
I'm a bit jealous, I love doing a kitchen and as I'm now in what I hope will be my final house I've probably done my last one. Or I might come into money and get to change it in a few years 😁

@Welliwould I'm envious of your experience and passion? Currently trying to sort a new kitchen for our forever home, and I don't know my arse from my elbow 😂 Hence reading all these threads for tips.

Good luck OP!

We used Howden’s for our initial design but our (very experienced) kitchen fitter, having fitted Howden kitchens previously was not overly impressed with the flimsy of the backs of the cabinets. We then used a local company who were excellent and quoted us exactly the same price we’d been given by Howden. We are so impressed with the design and quality.
No experience with the other 3 companies though.

Important things to consider:

• are the cabinets pre built or flat pack? And are you planning to pay for fitting? Flat pack adds to labour time so if you are paying for that will incur a cost later

• what type of doors are you getting? Foil wrapped are usually cheaper than painted or acrylic faced. This article explains options well https://saffroninteriors.co.uk/kitchen-doors-the-pros-and-cons-of-each-type/

I do recommend the DIY kitchens website even if you have no intention of buying from them. The pricing is very transparent and so you can see the difference in selecting different door options or having end panels or pull outs makes.

I got my worktops, sink, taps and some appliances separately as the price options were better.

I have ikea, I love it. I sourced the sink/taps, handles and appliances elsewhere. Not due to cost particularly, but because I wanted a brushed copper sink and tap and they didn't have one. Appliances were cheaper elsewhere.
The main thing is to get really good fitters. That makes all the difference to the finished look.

Thanks all really useful tips.

A few have recommended Howden's. What company would they be like price wise? Eg ikea or?

I have a fitter, he doesn't like B&Q kitchens, but I'd already purchased it so he didn't have much choice.

The kitchen had all arrived & b&q had verified the measurements by sending their own fitter. But when my fitter went to install he found the boiler area was wrong, which meant the whole kitchen wouldn't work.

B&Q picked it up & gave a full refund, including the charge for their clueless kitchen fitter who confirmed no changed needed to be made to the design we'd done instore with the sales person.

I think I'll visit Ikea again & try Howden's depending on their pricing. Budget is around 4k it's a small kitchen

I really really rate DIY. If you have a plan/quote they can price it up for you.

I recommend IKEA. So durable and really good guarantees

Look at DIY kitchens (not B&Q)