new kitchens

[compo]

Has anyone got any experience of MFI? We're in the lucky position of getting a new kitchen in the summer, before baby no.2 arrives!! But we're novices at this sort of thing. We don't want to use B&Q because we've had bad experiences in the past. Any recommendations?
Also, we need the floor redoing as it's a really manky carpet. What would be the best thing to replac it with? Would the kitchen be fitted and then the floor need to be done by a builder or the floor done first? Any help greatly appreciated!!

had v. bad experience with mfi. Design was good (better than moben) so we ordered it due to be delivered on x date, got fitter (not mfi) in, stuff arrived missing cooker and other important bits. Customer services dreadful (rang the evening before stuff was due to arrive at 9 the next morning to tell us what wasn't turning up) and when I raged at them they were rude to the point of putting the phone down on me (I could go on but won't ....). The missing stuff was then due to arrive A MONTH later. Thanks to a helpful person in the store it did arrive sooner but only because they sourced it from someone else. Hmm what else.... the worktops have been dreadful (wood and split terribly) and the dishwasher broke down twice in the 18 months since we had it)...

Have known other people to have similar problems so wasn't a one off. I could rant all day about them . Would never use them again.

I have never actually dealt with MFI for kitchens ... but I am an interior designer and I sell them along with many other things. I think that they are probably quite reasonable ... or how about magnet? You can use a number of things on a kitchen floor but we normally recommend either vinyl flooring or ceramic tiles as they are practical and easy to keep clean. You should get your builder to fit the floor first and ensure that they run the flooring under any appliances - so that if you ever have to pull them out for maintenance etc it is easy to so without having different levels! If you get any quotes done and you want a second opinion on layouts etc .. you can always drop me a line! Hope that helps a bit.

I did the same as Hazellnut and had same experience with MFI - when using a independant carpenter. THe kitchen is great its just the frustration of things not being delivered on time. If i were to do it again, i would use MFI fitters as they then have to chase all the missing parts instead of yourself! plus they would be used to jobs taking longer because of this and it won't cost you any extra.
MFI did make one major cock up in my plans which meant the carpenter had a bit of juggling to get things to fit properly.

To be honest, i think you will hear good and bad about all shops like MFI, but they are probably the most reasonably priced after Ikea.

If you want to use an independent carpenter, it could be worth you looking at buying units from ikea as they are cheaper.

I did actually have a friend that used an MFI fitter and this DID help with everything being delivered on time BUT they didn't finish off a few things and it took months to get them back to make things good.....

thanks for the replies. Especially cjmummy - we might take you up on your offer!! So would we need to get a builder in to remove all the units etc and then do the floor? What would we do about the appliances? Just throw everything away and order the new kitchen straight away? Seems a bit of a juggling act to juggle 2 different sets of workmen?

my mum had AWFUL experience with MFI as well... wouldn't touch them with a bargepole.

compo ... ideally you need to rip out the old units and appliances so that you can lay the new flooring before the new units go in. we normally suggest that you put a fridge and one of the bigger base units into another room temporarily .. whilst you are doing the work. You can then plug your toaster, kettle and microwave etc in and leave them on the old unit in the living room or hall .. and keep the basics of food and plates etc inside the unit. you may be quite a while without a working kitchen. you can keep any old appliances if they are in good condition but we often suggest that if they have seen better days then they may not do your new kitchen justice!

almost all kitchen companies muck you around with timing on delivery and/or certain parts being out of stock. Ideally order the kitchen well in advance of getting the builders in and double check that every piece has been delivered. there is nothing worse than a whingeing contractor who says he cant get on with the job without some widget or other! similarly, check on the appliances and their availability - it is often far cheaper to buy them yourself on line than through a kitchen company unless they are part of some deal they put together for you.

any decent builder should be able to do the whole job for you .. including ripping out the units and flooring plus any old tiled splashback. they should then re-do the floor, put in any new electrics and plumbing, build the units etc, put in the appliances, put the work tops on, plumb in the sink etc and tile the splashbacks and any other decorating.

If you find your budget a bit tight you can always save money on ripping out units yourself .. it is pretty quick and easy to do ... just leave anything tricky for the builders.

We decided on a freestanding kitchen from \link{http://www.habitat.net/uk/main_uk.htm\Habitat} (click on kitchens) We've chosen the Canella one, it may be more expensive on the actual units, but they are more chunky than usual and also there will be no installation costs.

My mum and Dad have just ordered a kitchen with mfi and they are also doing the flooring for them. Laminate i think. They did bugger them arond a bit and messed up the original order and didnt get back to them until weeks after they said they would after my dad ringing up over and over again, but it is all sorted now and they are awaiting delivery of the units. So will have to wait and see what happens

I used Homebase for my kitchen the price was very reasonable for real oak (half price and 20% off weekend)and they delivered on time I but they don't fit them.. I hired a fitter and the total kitchen with tiling on the floor and walls was just under five grand and it def.looks more than that!

I have a friend who used to work for mfi and he says they bump up prices and are a bit shoddy to be honest I did visit them all the same and I also felt they were very pushy.

My floor was laid after the kitchen was completed (just make sure what ever you do lay is under appliances that may need to be moved)I opted for tiles because they are hardwearing (just a bit cold) but you could also look at good quality vinyl....mine should be completed by Tuesday (hopefully was supposed to be Friday!)good luck with yours

So is the first step to ring round and get people to come and see what they could do with the kitchen do you think? It does sound tempting to use a place that could fit the floor as well. I think we'd use the actual shop to instal units rather than a builder because then they can chase missing parts etc

yep, unless you want to take some rough dimensions yourself and go and look at a few to get an idea on price and designs

Hi compo, just thought i would update you on my mum and dads mfi kitchen.
Well where do i start, the fitter drilled through a gas pipe and then smashed my mums fire when trying to fix it cos of gas leak, they didnt send enough plinths(spelling?), two of the doors were chipped, they left old kitchen, tiles etc in a heap outside the back door to be collected after the kitchen had been fitted, very rude fitter who told my mother that loads of women try to shag him when he is fitting their kitchen, oh the list is endless. My mother is on the verge of a nervous breakdown and very much wishes that she went with Moben.

We went with Magnet last time, and had the kitchen built by dh's cousin (painter and decorator). I think that Magnet units are great, six years later they still look really good, and we have had no problems at all. We had a few minor hiccups with the installation, but the Magnet people were very nice, and dh's cousin sorted things out. We got the surfaces from B&Q because we didn't like any of the Magnet ones. I am just buying a new place which needs a new kitchen (the current one is seventies shiny brown formica!) and I am not feeling inspired by anything - I have about eight brochures so far, but they all look the same. Still I'm a way off completing, so maybe something will catch my eye soon.