What the f***k am I going to do about my kitchen - full service magnet, Ikea with conrete/quartz worktops or B&Q or shall I just shoot myself

[splodge2001]

I'm having more trouble with this than natural childbirth (though at least with a kitchen I can decide im not going to go through with it)

We live on the 7th floor of a central london mansion block (so access isn't great) and we don't have a car. Our kitchen is a small galley and it desperately needs replacing. We have no cash - we'd borrow from the mortgage at a favourable 2.5%.

I am totally confused about what way to go. So far we have become casually acquainted with Magnet (seems to be good quality but 10k minimum), Ikea (also seems to be 10k minimum inc appliances, Cooke and Lewis at B&Q.

I'd like a high gloss white kitchen with no handles on doors, quartz or concrete worktops and clever storage solutions. I'd like to do it as cheaply as possible but also with the minimum hassle. I get unstuck at this point coz I can't put a value on the hassle aspect. DH is good with DIY but we dont have a car and its not worth him taking time off work to do it. Our flat is tiny and DD is only 3months, so hassle needs to be kept to a minimum.

What shall I do? I'm an awful project manager /planner can't work out where 2 start. Can't visit lots of DIY places as we have no CAR! yesterday went to B&Q on Old Kent Road and was a bit too stressful trying to find somewhere to BF (ended up in ASDA cafe.

Does anyone have any advice - ways to get minimum hassle at little cost. Could I buy own appliances and worktops to save, are fitters from Magnet/Ikea a needless expense or are they much more efficient.

AND AND AND what about concrete - so fa only found intimidating interior design website that supply and am a bit embarrassed to call in case they laugh at me for daring to think I can possibly afford it.

One more thing...if you're getting worktops by someone else at what point to you call them in - when the kitchen is already done?

ps. why am i so stupid? I have a Bsc from a top Russell group Uni and I really really cant my head around an f-ing solution for my horrid kitchen.

We did ours a few years ago. Couldn't get my head around why Magnet quoted so much either and there was, ahem, something of the double-glazing salesperson about their staff for my tastes.

If you wanted to spend that sort of money, you could go somewhere like this (may not cover your bit of London though). They did our much larger than yours kitchen for about £15k including granite worktops. We bought the fridge and cooker ourselves online - there are good savings to be had.

IIRC concrete worktops are very heavy and need to be done by somebody very capable not to look a bit rubbish? I also think they are a very acquired taste and would be unlikely to appeal to most buyers, so not sure they would add the value you hope. If you want to add value, you need to think about what everybody else would be looking for iyswim, rather than your own personal taste.

Given your financial circs, unless you actually need a new kitchen, I wouldn't go into this at the moment just to try and add value.

Splodge - that's great information. I knew that J-Lew used Mereway carcasses (sp?) so thank you for the contacts!

Benchmarx are definitely the way to go if your looking for a new kitchen!
They are a fairly new business, only a few years old which is why many people wouldnt have heard of them, but have already become a huge competetor of the well established Howdens/Magnets.

Regarding previous comments, the reason Benchmarx and Wickes have simular kitchen ranges is because they both buy from the same supplier (Gower) and are both part of the Travis Perkins family. Wickes is retail while Benchmarx is trade, meaning their kitchens come readily assembled as apposed to flat-packed.

Although trade, Benchmarx are happy to deal with the end buyer, something that Howdens lack as they only usually seem interested in dealing with the builder. The Benchmarx staff are helpful, friendly and know what they are talking about! With previous experiance they actually listen to what it is you want for your kitchen, as apposed to trying to get as much money out of you as possible. Their prices are also much cheaper than Howdens.

So if in the market for a new kitchen, I would highly reccoment you pay a visit to your local Benchmarx or give them a call!