At last we're getting a new kitchen but...........................

[Polgara2]

.................where do we get it from?

Come and tell me about your kitchens - where did you get them from, are they any good, would you go again, how much were they? And anything else useful you think I should know .

Have got as far as asking B&Q to come out to plan but that's it. TIA

Oh well we got our kitchen from MFI (god rest their soul). But its actually a rip off of a Harvey Jones kitchen which would have come in at £30k. My MFI copy was £6k.

So I think it pays to research the look you want then make it your lifes mission to find it cheaper elsewhere.

I remeber your thread very well mrsmaidamess, looks like you got in there just in time.
I am still hankering after a Harvey Jones kitchen but am sure it will never happen in my lifetime...

seanbean do you remember what colour paint you used?

we had a new kitch 6 months ago and went local kitchen and appliance world, the kitchen units we got everything in ( no appliances already had) cost £3500 thats fitted tiled plastered new lights painted by a decorator. BNQ qoute for similar was over £6000 including fitting and units were not as good quality. Exactly Same kitchen by different company qouted over £10,000!!! (the company we used just ordered direct from whichever company you wanted after looking in brochures at trade prices )Really make sure you shop around. Also asked who they would recommend if we didnt go with them and they highly recommend howdens for great quality and very affordable apparently.

Don't get white, cream or pastel coloured units - darker colours or wood are best if you want to keep things lighter.

Don't get units with any grooves in them - smooth/flat ones are easier to keep clean.

Sinks - white stains, ceramic chips, stainless steel and granite are a pita with water marks. only thing is this doesn't leave much!!black would probably be best?

Get a tiled or glass splashback. Steel is a PITA to keep clean.

Black or grey groute is better than white or cream if you have tiles.

Worktops - wood rots, slate needs sealing, granite and marble smudges, limestone stains, corian scratches easily. Capri and Quartz are meant to be good. Don't get a glossy finish though. Also dark colours show every bit of dust and every crumb.

No spotlights under cupboards - they show up every mark.

Have cupboards right up to ceiling so you don't have to clean the top.

I would go for Howdens too. They supply trade only but you can get your builder to open an account with them or open an account with them yourself perhaps (you get the trade price then too). Their kitchens are solid and last well.

Our kitchen's Ikea, and was already here when I moved in ten years ago or so. If I thought we were staying here much longer I would replace it now as the worktop has quite a few marks on it, but it has lasted really well other than that and still looks perfectly contemporary.

We're going for a Homebase kitchen and fitting it ourselves. We have all our appliances and will be shopping around for worktops, sink, tap, etc. Wickes also seem good, but we like the kitchen we found in HB. We've had B&Q units (2 of) in the past and found them not good. Plus they scream B&Q because of the logos on the interior (at least they used to).