New kitchen and ensuite

[ElspethRose]

We have a very tired, tatty kitchen that's probably 30 years old and a tatty ensuite. I have had a lot of quotes but have ended up getting more and more confused. Some retailers just tell you what you want to hear but don't put much effort into the design or planning. Some seem completely disinterested.

I just don't know where to start. Don't want to spend more than £30,000 on the kitchen and £20,000 on the ensuite. The ensuite is small with a quadrant shower and I want to put in a bath with overhead shower which will just about fit.

No kids, two adults. Which retailer would you recommend for service, quality and easy of planning? I don;'t trust myself to measure or plan anything online, I am not proficient with measuring tapes and don't want to get it wrong.

OH is totally impractical so it'll all be down to me and I'm really stressed out.

Ikea seems to have good reviews.

Ikea are excellent but you might have to return for bits and pieces- are you near a store? And builders don't love them because unlike Howdens they don't come ready made and with nice big builder friendly gaps for services.
I've installed, as in said I want x, y and z...
B&Q or possibly magnet. Cheap, small kitchen. We moved out soon after so can't comment on lifespan but smooth process. It was also 30 years ago so maybe not helpful! around £less than 3,000?
Ikea 1. Brilliant. Came in cheaper than anyone else and very satisfying being able to add and change on a whim. The whole house was being renovated so I wan't around to hear the builder's grumbles about access.
Howdens/ Ikea 2. Builder used Howden's carcasses and I sourced Ikea worktops and doors,
Bespoke. Very satisfying. Again cheaper. Incredibly smart and very satisfying for eg, fitting range cooker in fire place and using every nook and cranny for cupboards about £15,000 10 years ago.
Most exciting and cheapest second hand kitchen! I had to pay £3,000 for delivery and fitting and £5000 for the kitchen. Does rely on a good builder. Mine likes a challenge!

Bespoke. you can plan and source en-suite yourself quite easily, then find a trade to ideally fit all of it. This really should not be more than 10k even with high end F&F.

Kitchen, go to local specialists.

How do you know what will fit though? Some of the quotes I have had they have mentioned the waste pipe and where it is located, what's behind the wall, etc. I would be worried about making a mistake. Also I think the bath size is important as there isnt much space. I wouldn't know where to locate taps etc

Find a local builder. Look out for skips and signs, ask on local WhatsApp group. We found the builder who did our bathroom for about £7,000 all fixtures, tiling and rebuilding a wall and the bespoke kitchen via me talking to a work colleague who had used him- he mentioned putting the cooker in the fireplace- we were bemoaning the wasted space and cost of removing a fireplace. The second hand kitchen I only dared order having gone through it with builder who had replaced a ceiling a burst pipe.

Second hand kitchen
Here’s what we bought, I posted about it at the time on here and was accused of selling it.
Pics are of it fitted. I did the tiles (stick on!) and all in including fitting and all appliances it came into well under £9,000.
Rubbish picture but you can see the posh tap and lights from Amazon, I’ve painted in the sides of cupboards, it really looks great.

It looks lovely! Well done!

Tape measure.

You know the basics of waste unless you plan to move what’s in place now. Visit tile shops, bathroom furniture shops and it will come together quite easily.