DIY Kitchens

[BG2015]

We have just moved into our new home 2 weeks ago. We knew that we were going to change the kitchen eventually so went up to the DIY kitchens showroom to have a look what was on offer in June before we moved.

We live in Staffordshire so it's a trek for us but we were in Sheffield for an event so travelled a bit further to take a look. We were impressed.

My DP, who does a lot of cooking declared this week that the kitchen was a nightmare. I agree, we have very little storage and it's hard work. We have downsized so we knew it would be tough. It doesn't flow, we have stuff everywhere.

We've been to Wren this morning as a starting point. We liked the design we were shown and he made good use of the space. We have a small u shaped kitchen. We now have a list of base units, appliances etc, a 3D photo and a price.

If we go up to DIY kitchens do we need to book an appointment and could they work off the Wren design to cost/design the kitchen? I'm presuming they could.

We have an amazing fitter who fitted our last kitchen. He prefers Howdens kitchens but will fit anything really. He says DIY are cheap but unreliable.

@Seaside3 open to all options, how would you improve the design?
It's a very small space. We have a pair of French doors and room for a table.

Go for it!

This is our floor plan

A floor plan might be useful if you want people to have a go at designing it.

I've fitted two kitchens from DIY kitchens (well, someone else has actually done the fitting) and been delighted with the quality throughout.

A couple of years ago was the most recent one and the fitter said they were really good quality (I seem to remember they were 19mm thick doors etc rather than the standard 12mm).

This is the other side. We don't have the breakfast bar/stools there now - these are estate agent photographs.

We've got a table & 4 chairs currently which will be replaced.

We had a Wren kitchen three years ago and it's falling apart now. 😢 Definitely not worth the money.

We have had a DIY kitchen for 4 years - kitchen, larder and utility room. It still looks amazing, functions well and saved us thousands.

We used an independent online kitchen designer and then got the units from DIY Kitchens. Honestly, I am so pleased with the result

Wren are dreadful. Avoid!

@Ilovemyshed I've heard similar but I do believe it's all down to your fitter and our fitter is AMAZING!

I'd consider having your units on the back wall, a built in oven, slim larder if available to ine side, fridge freezer at the window side. In-between I'd have work top, floor units with shelving, not wall units.

Then if space allows, a peninsula with sink/hob and maybe slim units on the back, facing to dining room for extra crockery, glasses etc.

To me corner units are a waste of space, being able to cook facing into dining room is always nice. I've attached a shit pic, I'll try find better examples of what I mean.

My friend’s husband is a joiner/kitchen fitter. She said they practically got a free kitchen from Howdens because he’d fitted so many for other people.

We had Wren out to measure. Went for the design appointment (thought it was mediocre). Never got the 3D plan, just one “photo” angle. Nobody bothered to reply to phone calls or emails, they just sent copious surveys to us. Absolutely hopeless!

Sorry only just saw this, I think it was about a third cheaper.

I went to all the usual suspects when looking for a kitchen and decided they were staffed by numpties with no clue.
I designed my own using the DIY planner , ordered it and asked my builder to fit it. He was all OMG what have you done! You should have gone to Howdens etc.
Once it arrived he was all smiles and amazed at the quality. He thought I was joking when I told him the price and said it was a dream to fit. I used the money I saved to splash out on very expensive worktops. 8 years later, it looks as good as the day I got it.
I drive to the showroom in Pontefract as I had a couple of queries and they could not have been more helpful, even suggesting a way to save a good chunk of money on something unnecessary.
It's a ten from me.

I love our DIY kitchen. It is genius and bearing up brilliantly. Do you have a bin (love our fitted bin if yoh have space). Key thing to remember as well as their doors and sides being thicker and therefore bettwr quality is that all your units will arrive already put together so that should save your fitter time (and you money!)

Remember end panels. The online planner will remind you but it is still easy to forget.

That's an amazing design, but would mean plumbing and electrics would have to be changed, plus we like the idea of being able to have a table that could be extended into the area where your peninsula would go for occasional meals when family/friends come round.

Also, the boiler is where you've said the fridge freezer would go.

I think the Wren shape is a much better use of space.

@BG2015 fair enough. I'm sure you will have a lovely kitchen soon.

Looks lovely OP but I think it may be worth getting a DIY quote to compare - I’ve only heard good things and people I’ve asked in Staffs also seem to be choosing DIY over Howdens.

If you also get a quote from Howdens I have been advised to not to buy their electrical equipment but I think that is generally known anyway.

Where has your washing machine gone?

Would you mind sharing that Wren quote? 😊

@Pipsquiggle please can you tell me which online designer you used?

@Welshstaffy in the photos you can see (estate agent photos) the washer is next to the sink and vendor had a free standing tumble dryer which you can see in the photos. We would have a dishwasher there and then the worktop would continue on which would give us more worktop space.

The quote was £8600. £2800 of that was appliances. I spent an hour yesterday trying to beat their appliances quote and it was £400 more.

That price doesn't include fitting or any flooring.

I've just emailed my quote and list off to DIY kitchens to see what they come up with.

We've also got someone from Howdens coming out next week to create a plan/ quote, recommended by our fitter.

Just to add I also went to Pontefract (from the SE!) with my pretty useless plan. I made sure I went on a weekday so it was less busy. I asked for some advice and looked a bit hopeless/helpless (not hard) and this amazing adviser took over on his computer and did the whole plan in about 20 mins as obvs he knew all the codes off the top of his head. Kept saying things i had forgitten. Cutlery inserts. End panels. Bins. Not enough space for fridge door to open so need to change that from 800mm to 600mm. Where will your brooms go? I can sort that by doing this. Etc. And magicked space for everything including an island. I am still in love with the kitchen (and slightly with him) eight years later.

What brand appliances are you getting? I saw an ad for aeg cashback the other day when purchasing kitchens and units from particularly retailers. I think both Howdens and DIY were on there