i need a new kitchen

[johnboy1974]

guys i need some advice, i have decided to change my kitchen. i have never done this before so im not sure whats best.
the kitchen is small 3 meters long about 1.5 metres wide. theres 8 cupboards there just all ~~~~ed.
i would like them all replaced with a new sink and an integrated fridge and freezer. ive got 5 grand would this be enough, also ive got surveyer from b and q comming around to price the job is this the best option.

[Dreamer]

I would recommend you go to other kitchen fitters also.
B & Q whilst convenient are normally expensive with poor quality units. The best thing you can do is go to different kitchen fitters and give them the dimensions and ask for a rough quote. Do not let them come to your house until you are comfortable that you will be getting a good service for a good price. some of these companies adopt "hard sell" tactics and will persuade you to buy a ?3000 kitchen which really only costs about ?700.

There are companies that will spruce up your kitchen if the insides of the cupboards are in good condition. Ie they will replace the doors and drawer fronts and all the faceings and fit new counter tops. This can often be a cheaper option and does not require the whole kitchen to be ripped out.
Your best bet is to look up your local yell.com or local paper and give a few places a call. Do not even mention that you have a ?5000 or it will cost you that!! The integrated fridge, freezer, washing machine can all be purchased from local high street stores for very competative prices and they are not difficult to install.

Best advice. Spend a few weeks shopping around and checking out prices and if possible asking neighbours and friends or work colleagues in your area if they can recommend anyone but B & Q would be my last stop to be honest

[loncell]

i beg to differ with B&Q's quality , probaly the "off the peg" I.T. kitchen are of a lower standard but the cooke & lewis are fine.so my advise is ;-,
sign up with B&Q "tradepoint" , you only need a bill head with a company name on and a business card.i did both on the PC.
once you get the card you get 65% off cooke & lewis kitchen range and these units are decent enough.basically measure up your room were the doors/window are postioned and a rough idea what type of units and were the fridge washer want to be and take it along.

they will design you a kitchen there and then.you place the order and then shop around with the plans you got for a good kitchen fitter to install it.i've done this 3 times now on house refurbs but i installed myself all self taught and you save a bomb.

[chucklor]

Cooke and Lewis are decent kitchens, also check out Howdens, they used to supply MFI on the better quality kitchens and all the carcasses come assembled which is the most tedious job, I would not go for the cheaper Depot kitchens they are OK, but they will never be more than that....

[daithi]

i recently put in a new kitchen in ireland
and i priced B&Q, home base and cash and carry kitchens etc
B&Q were fair expensive along with hombase
they have lots of hidden prices like delivery and fitting
also they charge a fortune
for installing oven and hob extractor and sink etc

i ended up going with a small kitchen manufacturer that has some tasty work done and all to the same standards as the others

there a lot easier to chat to and bargain with
and installed the sink and extractor for me
i then got in an electrician to wire the hob and oven for fifty euro
the others charge about 50 euro per item

and he also included soft close drawers
as some of the others charge extra for this

5000 will buy a very good kitchen as its small and appliances to
get all the appliances in one place like i did and bargain with them
theres not many people walking into shops and splashing upto 2 grand for stuff

[manofthematch]

guys i need some advice, i have decided to change my kitchen. i have never done this before so im not sure whats best.
the kitchen is small 3 meters long about 1.5 metres wide. theres 8 cupboards there just all ~~~~ed.
i would like them all replaced with a new sink and an integrated fridge and freezer. ive got 5 grand would this be enough, also ive got surveyer from b and q comming around to price the job is this the best option.

be careful!! b&q just wanna sell you a kitchen and leave the fitting to you. yes they'll give you a fit quote but when u see it you'll think it's just a couple of boxes to put side by side i'll get someone else to fit, the local joiner ... when in fact you do need an experienced installer i.e. someone who does that week in week out!! avoid the nightmare and go a get a quote from your local specialist, they'll be keen for the business and will take you from A to B without much fuss. which area do u live in??

[cablefreejunkie]

b&q are good to get round your house and measure up and give you a working plan/layout,,whether or not you buy from them is your choice,also remember most units/carcas are all of the same quality its the doors and fixtures that will cost the most,have you thought about maybe keeping the carcas and just changing the doors etc and dropping e few out where you want to integrate an appliance,this can save you a lot of money,also good if you know a good joiner,,then its a new worktop spalsh of paint and tiles etc and the whole kitchen is transformed,if you put your mind to it you will save a few quid,,leave it all up to someone else and kiss goodbye to the whole 5 large

[LJLKichens]

Hi I deal with Howdens alot, i find there kitchens good quality. They only deal with with trade, i have an account that you could use to get a qutoe/design if your interested, ths way you dont have to have a builder in place just yet and can get the ball rolling. Let me know if your interested. You only need to visit a branch local and give them my account details.

[xant14]

Do not even mention that you have a ?5000 or it will cost you that!! ..... B & Q would be my last stop to be honest

Good point Dreamer on the money bit, altho B&Q would be my first stop.. I did the missus's hoose kitchen, measured up myself and went for a kitchen design from B&Q.. all done in plan, elevation and 3D colour.. thank you very much... for nothing too.
Then my idea was to take the plans somewhere else to buy the kitchen, but they came up with a really competetive quote that I was happy to accept, and spend the missus's money, ?2k ish for hers, with intergrated fridge freezer... Although thats 10 year ago now.

[cablefreejunkie]

ikea also do very good kitchens,good value for money,have you have a look there ? also have a look here
Ex-Display Kitchens, Used Kitchens for sale, Buy Cheap Kitchens - The Used Kitchen Company (http://www.theusedkitchencompany.com/)
bag yourself a real bargain
like i said before a good joiner is worth his/her weight in gold

[stihl260]

Im also in the middle of a new kitchen, so here my expereience.
I did the rounds B&Q, Homebase etc and walked away based on price and quality.
the cooke & Lewis to be fair was a decent quality, but unless you buy on offer ist still dear.

I know someone who has an account at Howdens, so got them to measure up , plan and price etc.

The problem with Howdens is their carcases are deeper than everyone elses , so your tied to their worktops ! unless you cut the back void down (which is extra work).

No issue with quality etc, depends on what range you go for price etc.

In the end we played Jacksons builders merchants (i have an account there) against howdends and buying our Kithen from them.

The units are better quality as there are made by a top quality major carcase maker.
Also the inside of the carcase can be matched to doors etc at no extra cost.

We are going for a shaker style pearwood, with a Darker granite style worktops.

We have got 28 (yes 28) units and cupboard total including a larder unit , plinth, 9mtrs of worktop inc breakfast bar for ?3,200 inc vat

They even offered to biuld the carcases for no extra charge as they are normally flatpack for that price.

My Kitchen fitter mate is charging me ?750 cash to fit it all.

I bought my Sink, tap and Ex display rangemaster Cooker and Capel extractor off Ebay and saved a Fortune.

My advice is get shop around and play one off against another.

Dont use in house fitters as thats where most places make their money.

find a good chippie/ kitchen fitter by recommendation from freinds work mates etc.

All of my work is being done by tradesman that all know each other and work closely together .

If you can do alot of the doney work yourself, knocking walls out, taking off tiles, removing the old units, chasing out walls for new wiring etc you will save alot of money.

My next door neigbour just Paid QKS kitchens (top quality and price) ?25,000 for his new kitchen to everything.

My kitchen will be of equal quality,bigger, more units etc, but because of my labour, ebay savings and knowing people in the trade will cost me a grand total of ?7000! and thats inc under floor heating.

[gunnwoom]

Hi all my advice would be avoid ikea kitchens no recess at the back of the units so no room for pipes or any electrical cables that may run around the walls the end panels are very thin as are the decor end panels the wall unit brackets are garbabge and can be very difficult to hang. Also avoid the cheaper b&q kitchens the doors delaminate very easily also if u do go for a b&q kitchen do not have them fit it the charge the earth and the designers always miss things like electrical sockets it would be cheaper to look thru the local rag and get a kitcheb fitter from there ask to see evidence of there work as well so u r sure they r upto the job. If b&q charge 2k for fitting the fitter will only get about ?800 of that if they r lucky (i know i am one)hope this helps

[Katherine5]

In a word, the best kitchen must be in good condition that you loved!
You also can visit your friends or neighbours, how to lay out and display some stores...

[polecat1982]

best bet is to save your money and just keep visiting home improvement stores looking for ex display models...thats what i did ..and bought 2 of the same kitchen for ?1000