Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Property/DIY

Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

Original poster

Kitchens: Wickes? Magnet? Howdens?

27 replies

MuddlingThru · 10/03/2009 10:35

I am about to get a new kitchen. A friend mentioned that she wasn't happy with the Magnet kitchen that she had installed. Was she unlucky? Are they normally quite good? Any feedback on other kitchen brands also appreciated.
TIA.

OP posts:
sweetheart · 10/03/2009 10:39

Whatever you do don't go to B&Q unless you want to go bald with stress! I know if several people that have had nothing but problems with them, including myself!

I tend to get stuff from Howdens but I am in the industry and they are trade suppliers only.

noddyholder · 10/03/2009 10:41

Howdens are good esp if you have a trade card or use a builder who does.Ikea are surprisingly good too but b and q seem a bit flimsy.I have used them all in different renovation projects and have to say ikea is my fave for look.It is also not as expensive as you may think to get a local carpenter to custom make some

RubberDuck · 10/03/2009 10:45

We had a Wickes kitchen a couple of years ago and are very happy with it for the price. Their design via computer in store was very good too, and the bloke we saw was really helpful in suggesting more practical layouts that we hadn't considered and didn't give us any hard sell. We particularly liked the anti-slam system on the cupboards so if you let them swing closed they're quieter!

Some of door handles on the cupboards have got a bit chipped though (really should get round to getting a couple of replacements - the spares shouldn't be too expensive) and the cupboard with the spice rack on the inside door wasn't aligned quite as well as it could have been, but we did have our own builders install it, which may have made a difference.

We're looking to replace our bathroom at some point, and will probably go back to Wickes because you do seem to get a lot for your money.

ohdearwhatamess · 10/03/2009 13:50

We have adapted Howdens kitchen units in our bathrooms, and are really happy with them.

They wouldn't supply direct to us, but our bathroom fitter was a customer so got them for us.

jeanjeannie · 10/03/2009 14:13

We're in the building trade and think Magnet are good - we use the trade side but I'm assuming it's all much of a muchness.

We've had nothing but hassle with Howdens - although this isn't the case with most threads I've read on MN! DP is about to start another job next week where a Howdens kitchen has almost fallen to pieces in a new build. I know Howdens supplied many new build developements that were 'thrown together' during the last few boom years....so I imagine what we've been rescuing and repairing is also down to poor fitting.

We've been really surpised with IKEA - actually quite good for the price - but you do need a good fitter as there isn't a lot of scope for having wonky walls!

Wickes are OK - and I agree with sweetheart, don't use B&Q unless you've not got enough stress in your life....and you want to wait months for a full set of units

Starbear · 10/03/2009 14:22

Ikea very good. Interested in this thread as we are thinking of a new kitchen. Might go back to Ikea. Very solid, good doors, nothing has dropped off. Just don't get the small round washing up bowl with the tap outside and wooden surface. You think you're going to oil it but you don't. None of our big pans or oven shelves fit and the water from the tapes slowly eat at the wood! It okay for a bachelor pad (DH) only able to wash cutlery & plate from chilled food.
What does everyone think of those big draws that hold pots? Do you think they won't last or do they?

RubberDuck · 10/03/2009 14:35

We have a big drawer for pots - couldn't live without it now... and would you believe, I actually had to be talked into it.

noddyholder · 10/03/2009 14:39

I have the ikea pre oiled oak tops and they are great Really good value aswell but agree not with a small drainerless sink,need a dishwasher!

NotSoRampantRabbit · 10/03/2009 14:47

Just bought kitchen from Ikea - am soooo excited.

I have secret drawers in plinths (supposedly for tea towels, but am thinking vodka).

NorbertDentressangle · 10/03/2009 14:50

We have a Howdens one -DP is in the trade so uses them a lot.

Another warning about B&Q -DB and SIL had a small kitchen priced up with them and it was actually more expensive in their sale than it was pre-sale .

NorbertDentressangle · 10/03/2009 14:51

Sorry, meant to add that Howdens have always been good in our experience.

jeanjeannie · 10/03/2009 15:22

Am pmsl@ at plinth drawers for vodka - and to think I was wondering what to do with mine!

Big pots for drawers are one of the best things we put in our kitchen - love 'em!

Starbear · 10/03/2009 17:04

So that's way my mum insisted on those plinth draws, we did wonder she was so squiffy and we couldn't find the bottles. She's a 1970's mum and keeps sherry I guess

bettany · 10/03/2009 18:24

I've had an Ikea kitchen before and it was really good.

digitalgirl · 10/03/2009 18:36

If you live in London - there's a company that did my kitchen who's prices are comparable to Magnet, but MUCH better quality and MUCH better service. It's run by two guys who design, supply and fit it themselves (as opposed to contracting it out to cowboys). This is their website - look at the Ital range.

samsonara · 10/03/2009 19:52

If you are looking for a designer kitchen shop around as there are good deals about. If you want a fast Kitchen, ie available quickly, Wickes have some takeaway kitchens, and some are 50% off, 40% off, if you like any of those and order online or over the telephone, you get an extra 15% off.

27T · 10/03/2009 20:25

I have renovated 4 houses to sell on in the past 3 years. I always use Ikea base units on the little stainless legs (no kick panels - they always look tacky) with Ikea Oak doors (which are a quality bit of kit).

I then splash out on 44mm thick Oak, Teak or Wenge worktops (from a place in Cornwall). I then quarry tile the floors right under the units (on little legs remember).

I put flourescent light strips under the base units and in the evening they look like they are "floating".

I use either expensive glass mosiac tiles for the splashbacks above the worktops or, if I want to save money, I have 2mm stainless steel (or brass or copper) sheet laser cut (they can do the electric socket cut outs and everything). I just glue it straight to the walls using no more nails or sikaflex.

Add a French ceramic double drainer sink and some nickel plated taps and you've got a stunning kitchen for less than £2500.

procrastinatingparent · 10/03/2009 20:32

Just had an IKEA kitchen - picked it up ourselves, installed by our builders, worktop ordered separately. I love it - I think it is very good quality for the price.

And I have drawers everywhere.

Original poster
MuddlingThru · 10/03/2009 20:50

Thanks for all the responses. Definitely sounds like B&Q are to be avoided. I think Wickes and Ikea will be my first port of call.

27T - It sounds like you know what you are doing and I like the idea of the light strips under the base units. Although it would obviously mean losing the plinth drawers to hide the vodka in!

OP posts:
27T · 10/03/2009 20:59

Ikea do a kit of modular strip lights for this. Don't buy their oak worktops - they are only 2 metres max length and the grain in them is not particularly nice.

Barncrest.co.uk do them up to 4 metres long in all sorts of woods. For tiles try Walls and Floors (google it).

You should be keeping the vodka in the freezer. Remember you can't have a big enough fridge freezer. I have bought several of the 50's style Hotpoint fridge freezers for my own projects and family and friends. Looks like the SMEG but twice the size and a quarter of the price.

fineally · 10/03/2009 23:11

27t, where do you get your laser cut stainless steel? I need some to make backing plates for hobs. B&Q and Screwfix do them but they are too expensive/not big enough. Thanks and useful advice.

27T · 10/03/2009 23:45

Fineally - if you just want a plain rectangle of s/s then it doesn't need to be laser cut. Just get contact a local sheet metal fabricator and they'll cut it with a gullotine (cheaper). Tell them you want the polished finish stuff that comes with the protective blue plastic film on.

If you want something fancier then laser cutting is what you need and anything you can draw can be laser cut in s/s, aluminium, brass, copper etc etc. I have a friend who cuts very complex brackets for me for my hot rod projects. He can take your drawings and digitise them.

His website is;

www.whengparts.com/

It majors on car parts but he can do anything at all. Tell him Blackjack off the NSRA forum sent you and ask for his best price. He lives in the London area.

Starbear · 11/03/2009 07:46

27T very good post. I will take your advice

jb707 · 15/03/2009 21:56

Hi, Howdens will now sell to anyone- even me! Just got some doors from them. They need the cash.

Integrity7 · 13/02/2021 12:06

Useful advice - wish you would sort mine out am disabled and hate DIY/ employing trades people locally as something always seems to get messed up.

Swipe left for the next trending thread