Kitchen headache

[Guineapiggiesmalls]

I thought picking a kitchen would be the fun part of renovating but it’s becoming a real pain! Went to Magnet and was inspired, loved the design but not the price. So off we went to Howdens where we met the most ineffective kitchen designer ever… I kept having to ask for things (‘please may I have a drawer for a bin? Could I have more than a basic tap?’) and I left with a design I wanted, but now I’ve discovered he hadn’t factored in a 15cm in the kitchen that was on the plans I provided and had pointed out… so! Long story short, my faith in howdens is gone!

Can anyone recommend a really good kitchen company? That will guide me and inspire me?! It’s slightly complicated by us not actually having the room built yet, so having to go off architects plans.

We're doing ours now, I'm lucky in that OH is very good at DIY & his dad's a chippy so we did have some good advice about placements etc. in the end we measured our kitchen, used the ikea kitchen planner (it IS the best online one out there!) and went to Wickes for it. IMO after looking at several 'kitchen' suppliers, we thought this was the best for the type of units we wanted, carcasses are pretty similar in quality and in all honesty the chap at our local Wickes was brilliant, he'd been a fitter, and also planned kitchen layouts for a long time so was able to utilise the IKEA plan for our choice of kitchen, even better he was quite upfront about whether it was better to buy appliances elsewhere, where would be best for worktops, ie his overall knowledge of kitchens sold us the Wickes kitchen, plus they have an offer on at present so with various discounts we got our kitchen for 11k instead of nearly 30k. I appreciate that finding someone who is knowledgeable, enthusiastic & wants to do the best for YOU rather than sell you as much as possible is difficult but so far we've had great customer service from them

So normally, i would say, have a go yourself. However, having just viewed a kitchen my husband has just fit, I realise not everyone is good at it.

With that in mind, the place I start is thinking about how you use the space. I'm a 'chop and throw straight in pan' kins of Cook. I didn't need tonnes of work top, I did want drawers, a built in oven, an inductin hob as I'm lazy but like to jeep things clean. I hate corner cabinets, and not too many wall units. I wanted a separate coffee making area. So, with all that in mind, we designed our ikea kitchen. I wanted my hob to face the dining space due to the way I cook.

I think it doesn't particularly matter where you get your kitchen, what matters is the flow works and the fitters are the best you can find.

And if you're not sure, pop your floor plan on here and let us all have a look and have a go...

I’ve done three kitchens in the past two years. Get a pad of squared paper and do it yourself

DIY Kitchens were fantastic for us. Lots of bespoke options, and they will match any colour you want if you go for one of their painted ranges. The online planner is easy to use too. You need a laptop or tablet to use it though.

https://planner.diy-kitchens.com/

We've just finished our new kitchen. We went to all the major places to get inspiration and ideas plus a few independent, high street stores. Like anything, it could be just who you see on the day- that has more/less experience in design. 1 guy suggested we put kitchen cabinets in what is the open plan lounge area- despite me explaining several times that is wasn't part of the kitchen, and would be above the sofa!

At this stage though- you don't even have the room built, so surely they are just giving you an 'idea' for layout ideas and options? I'm therefore unsure why you are asking for more than a basic tap etc? All those details are later (unless I'm missing something?). I can't believe they could quote now, for every single item- when its not even built and measured!

We ended up going with a local, independent guy who our carpenter recommended. He had no shop, but access to multiple brands/door styles/colours etc. He gave us some great ideas in terms of bin/corner options, things to consider and bought samples of any door we wanted to see. We ended up with a better quality kitchen to what the high street offered, but much better value.
Get as many drawers as you can!

Second vote for DIY kitchens, we used them in 2021 and they were brilliant. Great planner you use yourself, great quality, great price.
https://planner.diy-kitchens.com/

You can ring them up for help / guidance but they are more hands off than other places. We had conversations with a few to get ideas and then did it ourselves on the planner

I used the IKEA kitchen planner and then visited a store and the woman there improved on my plan a lot! I also had a rubbish Howdens guy - the only question he asked me was what colour do you want!

In the end we got a great discount at a fancy kitchen shop due to a family connection, but if that hadn't have worked I'd have been more than happy with the IKEA one (with custom doors). Especially if your kitchen is small they have some great storage. I'm still a bit annoyed that in my new fancy kitchen I am losing a couple of drawers (under sink & hob) whereas IKEA put a shallower drawer there so you don't loose all the space.

I'm doing this at the moment, having made no progress with online kitchen planners. Home Base was great for 3D bathroom design but their kitchen planner defeated me. Probably not them, but me.

I use large squared Post-Its cut to cabinet front sizes* and with drawers etc drawn on, then just move them around on the squared paper until everything looks reasonably symmetrical. A bit Blue Peter but works for me. Hasten to add, straight runs, no corners needed, no wall cupoards. I've got the sink already so getting the correct size base unit was the starting point.

I am using architect plans to start with but will measure properly once the walls are up and plastered. It's all just a sea of mud at the moment!

*I have made numerous cut outs in every size available from a certain posh kitchen maker. You need to know about bin inners etc., too.