Kitchens are a bloody rip-off, tips please

[Streetrod]

When we did ours we wanted a high end look but our main criteria was that it had to fill the space properly. This thing was that standard 600mm units left gaps around doors etc, as both SWMBO and myself are tall we also wanted higher worktops. After getting the same run around from all the usual suspects we had our's custom built.

That way we ended up worktops that were 700mm deep on the run and 60mm higher than normal and an exact fit. Costs were not good though, Corien worktops came in at £7500, Appliances at £6500, at that was with a large discount but we did get some very cool doors made of Parapan which is a solid acrylic and had to be made to order in Germany. Again expensive

Total cost was £29,000, but that was actually less than the other companies wanted to charge us for their standard boxes, still hurt though but I must admit it does look and work very well.

[Simpo Two]

Podie said:

rsv gone! said:

Podie said:

When designing a kitchen, try and use fewer units that are as large as possible. For example a 1000 unit will cost less than 2x 500s.

Might sound obvious, but the "designers" in stores are really just salesmen who know how to maximise spend.

I used to fit (only) kitchens and I always recommended the opposite. Two smaller cabinets are stronger than one larger one. This is especially relevant with wall units.

Interesting, and worth knowing.

When I was planning a cloakroom refurb a few years ago I needed a unit 800mm wide. It came in three depths from (IIRC) 180mm to 540mm. Consulting the price list the 540mm one was significantly cheaper. I asked the salesman 'So I could buy the 540mm one and chop the back off?' and after a moment he said 'Er, yes!' So I did, and the spare material made a nice shelf inside

[whoami]

Streetrod said:

Total cost was £29,000

Looks good.

Did the £29K include fitting?

[Streetrod]

whoami said:

Streetrod said:

Total cost was £29,000

Looks good.

Did the £29K include fitting?

Thankfully yes

[croakey]

Should be noted that Tradepoint card holders can get an additional 20% off their trade price on kitchens (not appliances) for the next 7 weeks

[oldbanger]

Costco advertise kitchens in their customer services area. Not sure of price but the display kitchen in my local is a decent quality.

[DS3R]

Streetrod said:

I know you've shown that picture (or certainly similar pictures) before, but my goodness, it does look good. whoever knew this site could make strong-jawed goatee'd company directors weak at the lnees with MX5's and kitchens!

[Piersman2]

SuperHangOn said:

To give an example Wickes "Base E/Wg curve 300"... £536. Over £500 for a chipboard cuboard. And thats apparently half price! How do they get away with it?

Any thought on how to lessen the blow?

Are there any deals going or tricks I can use to get this done cheaply without it looking obviously cheap n nasty? Thanks!

Well first off, don't even waste your time looking at anything out of the normal, curved units and anything 'special' will be where these firms make their profit.

The things that make a kitchen look good are the finishing touches. Nice looking well fitted worktops, nice splash backs, properly finished edges and filler pieces. You don't need to spend a fortune, it just needs a bit of effort to make sure everything is fitted well.

I did my kitchen last year. Room is about 6M long with approx 10m of base units and 5m of wall units. I reckon I did the whole thing for about 4K, including appliances of cooker and built in dish washer. The units were cheapos from Focus and the worktops were from Selco. I fitted it all myself and took the time to make sure everything was just right. Everyone, without exception, has commented on how impressed they are and how nice it looks.

If you can't fit yourself, find a local kitchen fitter and go through the options with him. Give him the heads up on the fact it's only for re-sale and he'll sniff out the best price/options.

Keep it simple/basic.

[Piersman2]

DS3R said:

I know you've shown that picture (or certainly similar pictures) before, but my goodness, it does look good. whoever knew this site could make strong-jawed goatee'd company directors weak at the lnees with MX5's and kitchens!

I know it's all subjective and personal taste, but £29K?? Flipping heck. I just couldn't spend that on a kitchen. And that one looks very 'on trend' , which is great for now, but in 5-10 years?

[VictorMeldrew]

Anyone any experience of this company? http://www.doors2size.co.uk/carcasses-for-kitcnens... Prices looks reasonable.

[Chimune]

dmitsi said:

Which one did you go to? We had no problem picking stuff up from them. They said they would sell to the public but weren't allowed to advertise.

rang edinburgh. I am in newcastle. I did push but perhaps I'd have more luck visiting a showroom ...

[rovermorris999]

Is there anyone like these people near you? http://www.murdochtroon.co.uk/
Solid wood, no chipboard or mdf and nicely finished. And cheap as the labour to make them is at Lincolnshire rates. Only really do 'country' style stuff though so if you want a contemporary look probably not for you.
I have no connection with this company, have merely looked over their stuff closely at their shop. I believe they fit countrywide.

Edited by rovermorris999 on Tuesday 15th May 09:16

[dmitsi]

Chimune said:

rang edinburgh. I am in newcastle. I did push but perhaps I'd have more luck visiting a showroom ...

I would pop into the place instead of phoning. They may not be allowed to say over the phone that they can sell to the public, but we had no problem here (Shoreham I think). We were sent in their direction by a guy from Wickes when we needed some extra untis.

[DS3R]

Piersman2 said:

I know it's all subjective and personal taste, but £29K?? Flipping heck. I just couldn't spend that on a kitchen. And that one looks very 'on trend' , which is great for now, but in 5-10 years?

I have a similar space. And where I have about 10% of the budget, I have a need for inspiration- which I get from this.

5- 10 years? I don't know what was trendy 5- 10 years ago. Beech shaker-style I guess, it's what went in to most new builds. Which still looks pretty good in the right setting, and is still very much for sale.

[Streetrod]

DS3R said:

Piersman2 said:

I know it's all subjective and personal taste, but £29K?? Flipping heck. I just couldn't spend that on a kitchen. And that one looks very 'on trend' , which is great for now, but in 5-10 years?

I have a similar space. And where I have about 10% of the budget, I have a need for inspiration- which I get from this.

5- 10 years? I don't know what was trendy 5- 10 years ago. Beech shaker-style I guess, it's what went in to most new builds. Which still looks pretty good in the right setting, and is still very much for sale.

Piersman2 I hear what you are saying, and yes £29K is a silly amount of money but in the great scheme of things I could have spent a hell of a lot more with very little effort. My kitchen could not be simpler in its design if I tried. The idea was for a clean easy to care for kitchen of a very high quality.

The proof in the pudding is that local real estate agents who have seen it have said that I have added a minimum of £100k on to the value of the house just because of the quality of the kitchen. My neirbours have done similar refurbishments but with much cheaper kitchens and have had their properties valued a lot less than mine.

Now will it be on trend in 5 - 10 years time? Who the hell knows, but I do think it is unlikely to offend many. I like both contempory and traditional features which I have combined in my 1930's house. But I also hate modern features that you can immediately date and look out of fashion a couple of years after they are installed.

I still wince when I think about how much it cost but hopefully it will pay off in the end when we sell. In the mean time it is a pleasure to use and easy to look after.

[Piersman2]

Streetrod said:

DS3R said:

Piersman2 said:

I know it's all subjective and personal taste, but £29K?? Flipping heck. I just couldn't spend that on a kitchen. And that one looks very 'on trend' , which is great for now, but in 5-10 years?

I have a similar space. And where I have about 10% of the budget, I have a need for inspiration- which I get from this.

5- 10 years? I don't know what was trendy 5- 10 years ago. Beech shaker-style I guess, it's what went in to most new builds. Which still looks pretty good in the right setting, and is still very much for sale.

Piersman2 I hear what you are saying, and yes £29K is a silly amount of money but in the great scheme of things I could have spent a hell of a lot more with very little effort. My kitchen could not be simpler in its design if I tried. The idea was for a clean easy to care for kitchen of a very high quality.

The proof in the pudding is that local real estate agents who have seen it have said that I have added a minimum of £100k on to the value of the house just because of the quality of the kitchen. My neirbours have done similar refurbishments but with much cheaper kitchens and have had their properties valued a lot less than mine.

Now will it be on trend in 5 - 10 years time? Who the hell knows, but I do think it is unlikely to offend many. I like both contempory and traditional features which I have combined in my 1930's house. But I also hate modern features that you can immediately date and look out of fashion a couple of years after they are installed.

I still wince when I think about how much it cost but hopefully it will pay off in the end when we sell. In the mean time it is a pleasure to use and easy to look after.

As with all these things, you spends your money and takes your choice.

But that kinda money just makes me choke, I spent about that having a 6M*4M 2 storey extension built on my house, spending that on just a kitchen would physically hurt me.

But then I am a tight bd when it comes to this stuff.

[A.C.E]

Streetrod said:

just beautiful!!

[Minemapper]

Great thread. We're shopping for two kitchens at the moment. Went to Magnet on Monday. Less than impressed when the guy's opening line was, "so which kitchen have you decided on?"....When, after 15 minutes of him extolling the virtues of Magnet's warranty to me, I had to lead the discussion down the path of who we were and how we would use the kitchen, I knew it was a lost cause.

Now I have some hope again.

[evoivboy]

Minemapper said:

Great thread. We're shopping for two kitchens at the moment. Went to Magnet on Monday. Less than impressed when the guy's opening line was, "so which kitchen have you decided on?"....When, after 15 minutes of him extolling the virtues of Magnet's warranty to me, I had to lead the discussion down the path of who we were and how we would use the kitchen, I knew it was a lost cause.

Now I have some hope again.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=207&t=1149228&mid=0&nmt=my+new+kitchen

[ukwill]

Haven't personally used them, but this place might be worth a browse:

http://www.theusedkitchencompany.com/