new kitchen needed, advice please.

[footman]

Our kitchen is now 15 years old and looks it. I've decided to get it revamped. I'm undecided on the best way to do it, large national company on the web or small local people?
Experiences and advice most welcome.

 

[Jez]

It depends on what kind of quality you are after. For our rental properties we have found that the best deals are actually available through B&Q. You would have thought that trade suppliers would be cheaper but not in my experience (and i have done a lot of shopping around).

I would suggest a browse round there, decide if the quality is up to par for your own use, and take it from there.

 

[Dr House]

Ikea is really worth looking at. I know that what I will do next time.

 

[rpstewart]

Don't Ikea have some strange thing in their T&Cs which invalidates the guarantee on the kitchen if it's not fitted by their approved (read overpriced) contracters?

 

[brummie]

B&Q are the cheapest guaranteed (see their money back promise) - get a trade discount card and get 10% off too. No need to be a trade customer.

 

[V4NT0M]

My advice is go the whole hog, it's nice to have a good kitchen and it will probably add value to your house too.

 

[footman]

Ill check out B&Q as suggested, certainly would like a new kitchen!

 

[philjohn]

As above the Ikea kitchens aren't bad for the money, and tend to come in cheaper like for like than B&Q (unless they have a very good sale on). By like-for-like I mean with Ikea you'll be getting a proper oak door for your units (with certain of their ranges), with B&Q it'll be laminate on chipboard for the same price.

They are very easy to fit yourself, just time consuming (we refitted the kitchen in this place and the flat we had before).

 

[Jonny69]

Just for an example my mate is a kitchen fitter who tends to aim at the higher end of the market. He gets top quality carcasses and fittings and will leave the place spotless every night when he goes home. I don't know what your budget is but you probably want to find someone like him if you go for a local firm.

There isn't much in the actual carcasses themselves if I'm honest (having worked with him) because they're mainly standardised. Any doors and tops will fit on Ikea ones for example but a good private kitchen fitter may be able to get them to the same quality or better for a bit less. Personal opinion is it's the tops and fronts that make the difference. I'd use any old carcasses.

 

[brummie]

As above the Ikea kitchens aren't bad for the money, and tend to come in cheaper like for like than B&Q (unless they have a very good sale on). By like-for-like I mean with Ikea you'll be getting a proper oak door for your units (with certain of their ranges), with B&Q it'll be laminate on chipboard for the same price.

Thats wrong