New kitchen - where to buy?

[Ladyof2024]

I have never bought a new kitchen before and wondered if people who have bought one recently could recommend a range or company that they were 100% satisfied with.

I need new kitchen base and wall units, worktop, hood and extractor, as mine are falling to bits. Don't want anything too cheap but don't have money to burn, either!

Ikea? B&Q? Wickes? Howdens? Wren Magnet? Another specialist kitchen company?

Many thanks for any replies!

Homebase laminate cabinets were awful when we had then in our last house. The laminate worktop was OK, though.

DIY kitchens are excellent. They have a Facebook group as well.

DIY Kitchens. The Facebook group isn't run by them, but there are staff members on there.

A lot depends on how good the kitchen designer is in store and that will vary.

Our first kitchen was Wickes because that was the only designer who listened to what we wanted. Lovely kitchen. It wasn't as sturdy though as kitchen in next house, which was Howdens. Howdens designer was dreadful, but we knew what we wanted this time and simpler shape so didn't really need her. Very pleased with the quality and the price (our builder got a good account and passed a chunk of that along).

Wickes cost more to fit as it's flat pack. Benchmarx offers the same kitchens but with units assembled.

I like my Howdens kitchen. But you need to go through a builder I think.

and I knew exactly what I wanted although next time, I’d shout down the designer and have ALL drawers no cupboards.

I have the Wickes Tiverton kitchen, it's pretty solid. I only have small u-shaped kitchen so no fancy designing required, just wanted to be able to access my (previously inaccessible) corner units. Used an independent kitchen fitter who a friend had recommended.

Do you have any independent kitchen designers/fitters in your area? We had ours done by a small family run business and I was very happy with it - the guy who owns the company oversees/checks/project manages everything so any problems are much easier to solve.

I've not heard many good reports about B&Q or wren.

Maybe check your local Facebook pages for recommendations in your area - we only live in a small town and there's at least 4 independent kitchen designers.

Another vote for DIY Kitchens. Nearly 10 years on and ours is great. The builders who did our kitchen were very sceptical but commented on the quality as they were fitting it.

DIY kitchens. Better made and cheaper than the leading brands the only thing they don't do is a design service. You can either use their online planner or get other kitchen companies to design it but don't use them.

They come ready assembled too. I can't link as I am on my phone so go onto YouTube and look at Nick Morris who buys the same kitchen from each of the leading brand and compares them. Also Gosforth Handyman does a great review too.

DIY kitchens also have their own YouTube channel and if you are near Yorkshire their massive showroom.

We got designs done by Wickes and Howdens, which came out virtually the same — our kitchen is very boring and linear — and just copied them. We visited the Yorkshire showroom before ordering just to assure ourselves of the quality and were really impressed.

Yet another vote for DIY kitchens. Much cheaper than the usual suspects (Wren, magnet etc,) fully assembled units,and also really good quality. My fitter was very impressed by the quality, and said he would be recommending to his other clients to buy from there.

We have moved out of that house now, but when we get around to fitting a kitchen in the new house it will definitely be from DIY kitchens again

DIY Kitchens again

Also Benchmarx - these are Wickes kitchens but supplied direct, without Wickes middleman

We went to an independent Kitchen designer and ended up with a Hacker (German) kitchen for less than the quotes coming from Magnet, B&Q & Wren. They might look intimidating with their big fancy kitchens on display but worth getting a quote. The design was better, and he oversaw the whole project, as we used his recommended kitchen fitter.

DIY Kitchens.
My dad has a Howdens account and we got a design done there (Wren design experience was dreadful), and then I proved it up with DIY and it was such better value (even the basic trade price Howdens) that we went for DIY. Eight years old and going strong. Arrived assembled. MUCH cheaper than Howden’s.

I went with Howden and had a fantastic designer who produced multiple computer mock ups specifically for my kitchen so I could play with design without worrying about technicalities. Plus I got timber doors for the price of lower quality.

They recommended builders and the one I chose did everything - removing the old kitchen and Rayburn, plus arranged for other staff to create a new doorway and block up old one, plaster over artex, create a new ceiling, move and fit a new radiator etc plus plumber and electrician and decorator. Nothing was too much trouble.

Some things I have done myself. The price I was quoted for respraying bespoke cabinets that I had to prime myself was exorbitant. I painted them myself. Plus table and chairs. Used Farrow and Ball and pleased with the outcome.

Thanks very much to everybody for the replies. I have never heard of DIY kitchens and it did not come up when I did a Google search for kitchen units, so I'm really glad I asked on here or I may never have come across them.

I will go and find their website right now

Since I posted I have now found a local man who fits kitchens. I don't need a designer because I'm just replacing the units that are already there. It really is just a matter of buying new cabinets and exchanging like for like.

We used DIY kitchens, we've been happy with the quality. Don't ever go with Wren, I've heard too many horror stories!

The other good thing with DIY kitchens is that the price is the price (and a very good one at that). None of the nonsense you get from other companies, with over inflated prices and made up discounts - so long as you sign on the dotted line today!.

Ok OK I am in love with DIY Kitchens already and I have not been to their site yet!

Let us know how you get on with DIY kitchens op. How exciting.

We got ours from B&Q and we were really pleased.
The designer came up with a brilliant design we would never have thought of and the whole process was really easy. The fitters were great, turned up and worked hard and left without wanting any drinks etc (I offered) and they were very tidy. There was a miscommuniaction and they accidently threw an appliance away that was supposed to go back in and B&Q replaced it free of charge straight away with no quibbling. When a bit of worktop lifted 6 months later it was replaced free within a week
I suppose branches vary but we felt we couldn't have asked for more

Don’t know when you intend to buy your kitchen, but DIY kitchens tend to do a 10% off sale once or twice a year. Might possibly be in the new year. So might be worth getting your order ready, but holding off on clicking buy straight away if you’re not in a rush to get it.

I've had 2 IKEA kitchens and I love them. Cabinets really sturdy and lots of different sizes.

IKEA are very good as are Howdens