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New kitchen - any recommendations?

25 replies

Grommit · 29/02/2004 19:38

I am thinking of getting a new kitchen and would like to hear your experience/recommendations and especially where not to go!

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pupuce · 29/02/2004 19:39

There was a thread from Jasper on this.... I recommend IKEA - VERY good value but do get someone competent to fit it.

squirmyworm · 29/02/2004 19:43

hi grommit - we're half way through getting one fitted with magnet - will keep you posted. They seem ok so far and they do all the fitting which was what we wanted, being total incompetents ourselves. They've a nice range, will do all the design work for you plus building in electrical surveys, disposal of all the old stuff, moving of pipes etc if necessary. And they've a sale on I think at the mo (I know, most of them have permanent sales on). We're getting the works - a big fridge, range cooker, hood, new sink, all new units, flooring, lighting, tiling etc etc so we should be able to give them a thorough testing! they start this week so watch this space

spacemonkey · 29/02/2004 19:54

I got mine last summer from B&Q. I'm REALLY pleased with it. The fitters were fantastic and had completed the job within 4 days. Brilliant

noddy5 · 29/02/2004 19:57

I have designed and decorated many kitchens and usually just use a carpenter and get something much cheaper and completely original

Demented · 29/02/2004 21:07

Every kitchen we have ever had has come from B&Q, DH fits them himself and no matter how much we shop around we always seem to come back to B&Q.

CountessDracula · 29/02/2004 21:14

www.unpaintedkitchens.co.uk

Unbelievably good value if you want a painted kitchen. They arrive constructed but unpainted, you have to get someone to put them in.

suedonim · 29/02/2004 21:23

We wanted a complete service and chose Magnet, after trailing round everywhere. It was installed just before Xmas and they took four days to do a large kitchen and futility room. We're delighted with both the kitchen and the fitting service. The men even installed a cat flap, and planed some doors for us, which most definitely wasn't on the spec! Oh, and there was no hard sell.

bossykate · 01/03/2004 12:29

our kitchen is magnet and i'm very pleased with the end result. the quality of the units is excellent for the price. however, found the quality of service v. poor - and as far as the "management" of the process went, we had to do it ourselves! so i recommend the product, if you can bear to put up with less than excellent service - IME.

bobsmum · 01/03/2004 12:54

We got ours from Moben - fitted last year. The designer was good and sussed out our budget and expectations really quickly (ie ditched the marble worktops and diamond encrusted taps).
He offered loads of alternative layouts and was up for a bit of haggling on the price too. As long as you're persistent, and refuse to sign until you're 100% happy, they'll drop the price chunk by chunk. We paid £6000 in the end for the whole thing including fitting. Fitter was a real handy andy type and more than willing to do any extras (light switches/plug sockets etc) for cash-in-hand - allegedly
V good quality - fitted in 2 days.

bobsmum · 01/03/2004 13:00

Oh dear - just read the Dolphin thread - have we been conned? I thought Moben were ok?!! Will wait for the cracks to show

bundle · 01/03/2004 13:04

ditto pupuce's Ikea comments, ours is great and was cheap (£1,000, plus another £1,000 to fit - including sink/taps/extractor fan - though it's not a huge kitchen)

Crunchie · 01/03/2004 13:11

bobsmum, I don't think the conplaints were about the quality, more the price and the sales people. If you were happy and feel you paid a fair price, no problem.

Personally being 'in the trade' as it were I would not touch any of the big boys (Magnet etc) as I think they are overpriced and inflexible.

WHat is your budget? If you have around £10K look for an independant local kithen co. Try the KBSA - kitchen bathroom bedroom specialist association - to get recomendations of memebers. This is a body that makes sure cowboys can't be memebers.

If your budget is less than IKEA are supposed to be good quality, but there are ALWAYS bits missing which is a pain in the . B&Q takeaway range is pretty good, also easy to pick up more bits. MFI can be sporadic! They can be brilliant, and they will arrange fitters etc. A lot is down to the fit of the kitchen, rather than the unit costs. I spent £12k on my kitchen with about £2500 for the units, £1500 for the cooker £2000 for the granite worktops, about £4000 was fitting/building work, and electrics. But this included building a wall, re wiring the lighting in a big kitchen/diner, new ceilings etc etc. and £2000 on other appliances (fridge/sink/taps/dishwasher etc)

Where are you? I could try to get a specific recomendation if I know where you are and approx budget.

Kittypickle · 01/03/2004 13:26

We had a new kitchen in our old house a couple of years ago. We went to a local company someone recommended. They designed & built all the cupboards so that things like the boiler was disguised. Fitting took 3 days, happened when it was supposed to and went very smoothly. The end result looked absolutely brilliant and cost roughly the same as an MFI kitchen. It might be worth trying some of the small local firms to see what they come up with.

twiglett · 01/03/2004 13:31

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CountessDracula · 01/03/2004 13:48

twiglett sounds like you are doing the same as us. What sort of look do you want?

monkeygirl · 01/03/2004 14:09

We had a new kitchen fitted through MFI just before Christmas. The fitters were great, and I thought the units were fine (though people would probably tell me they were overpriced) but what I wasn't impressed was was the original advice and service we got. But then I think that had more to do with the absolute idiot of a saleswoman/adviser we got. Next time I would get them or someone similar to design it (for free), maybe buy the units from them but get my own fitters in cos that would make it considerably cheaper.

But please don't make the mistake I made and contact Kitchens Direct! A 'designer' came round but refused to discuss everything with me because my dh wasn't there. And he said we would have to decide everything on the same day (no time to think about it). I was so mad I sent him away but have received a phone call from their sales department every week since September without fail. No matter how polite, pleading or rude I am they still will not take me off their list so I have to resort to telling them to f**k off or just hang up without talking. Give them the wide berth!

Crunchie · 01/03/2004 14:21

I don't know of any in that area personally, but check out KBSA They are usually a good bet to start with.

Sorry I can't help more, but make sure you get loadsand loads of quotes

Grommit · 01/03/2004 14:36

Crunchie - I am in Hemel hempstead - no exact budget yet but would think around £7K

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Grommit · 13/03/2004 13:18

Just got a quote from MFI for lovely Shrieber kitchen -looks like around £7K - this includes all cupboards and free standing dresser,sink, oven, hob, extractor hood but not fridge dishwasher or washing machine or tiling or flooring - does this seem mad?

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twiglett · 13/03/2004 13:29

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fairydust · 13/03/2004 15:50

My friend went to Ikea last week and they were taking one one the show kitchen out so her dh asked what they did with it and they said bin it - he offeted them £300 for a £2500 kitchen and they couldn't sell it to him quick enough.

robinw · 14/03/2004 09:24

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aloha · 14/03/2004 09:46

Fairydust - Wow!!!

Grommit · 14/03/2004 10:11

THanks robinw - will do more research - not ready to hand over £7000 yet!

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robinw · 14/03/2004 11:56

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