Kitchens - cheap vs expensive
Discussion
Friend of mine saw a gap in the market in our area around the Scottish Borders, and decided to drop everything and go into making kitchens with his brother a few years ago. He's a very clever chap now has a full production line making his own kitchen units and bespoke bedroom stuff etc etc. He's very technically minded and has designed the units to be far better than the crap that the big sheds kick out. So basically your getting high end finish at a reasonable price. He doesnt do what the big guys do by offering a price than knocking so much off, he gives the price and thats it. He can easily alter production to make what ever is required. So with lower over heads of the larger companies he is fitting into the gap in the market nicely and has been able to put out some really top end kitchens. He can just supply but he can offer fitting. If anyone is in the area and needs one look up Geko Cabinets on Facebook. Sometimes as I have found with other things its the companies that don't really need to advertise etc that can offer the best value for money.
I have to say I really would not recommend DIY Kitchens to anyone.
Firstly, the carcasses are not that well screwed together and it has made fitting a bit challenging.
Secondly, they seem simply incapable of sending undamaged plinths, pelmets or end panels. I would estimate 80-90% have been sent back as damaged, and even replacements have been sent back as damaged. Each time it takes a week or longer to sort, and my fitter is having to fit things more than once due to it, and it means we haven't got our fridge up and running as we haven't yet got an undamaged decor end after two attempts. This morning a length of plinth arrived that is outrageously poor:
Yet despite this they still won't give me a full refund for the wrong sized cupboard that they mistakenly transposed incorrectly from the plan.
Firstly, the carcasses are not that well screwed together and it has made fitting a bit challenging.
Secondly, they seem simply incapable of sending undamaged plinths, pelmets or end panels. I would estimate 80-90% have been sent back as damaged, and even replacements have been sent back as damaged. Each time it takes a week or longer to sort, and my fitter is having to fit things more than once due to it, and it means we haven't got our fridge up and running as we haven't yet got an undamaged decor end after two attempts. This morning a length of plinth arrived that is outrageously poor:
Yet despite this they still won't give me a full refund for the wrong sized cupboard that they mistakenly transposed incorrectly from the plan.
Edited by PrinceRupert on Friday 17th June 11:16
Following up on this ... newest best estimate on Neff ovens (x2), induction hob and extraction hood is mid September. Ordered on 10 March. That's just an estimate, it was mid July up until today.
In meantime we are operating with MDF worktops, a loaner Hotpoint and no hobs.
Extremely frustrating.
In meantime we are operating with MDF worktops, a loaner Hotpoint and no hobs.
Extremely frustrating.
Hello , hope you don’t mind if I jump on this thread.
It’s our first house, new build from independent builder and it needs a new kitchen as the current one was there knowing it was gonna be ripped out.
Poor photo, it’s a freeze from video and the whole kitchen looks much colder than it actually is, but shows the limited space we are working with.
This is my first house so it’s all quite new. Budget is about 50k and it’s impressive how we can get through that.
The misses and myself were having a hard time imagining what we wanted. We ended up sitting down with a lovely interior designer to try and come up with ideas that we like.
Nothing is set in stone, and so far we have had rendered up the below.
Now one side of the kitchen I chose the materials, colours and the appliances while the other was the wife. So there is definitely some contrast but we think it works.
We do like it, but there’s a couple of things we are not sure on. Ie the extraction fan. Would we be better with some sort of down draft system?
The wood behind the induction hob while very nice has me concerned re cleaning if after frying something will repeated cleaning affect the look.
I think what I’m after is just some more opinions.
I have asked a few friends and this isn’t really an area they pay much attention too. They like the look, but that’s the limit of there input really.
Anyway was hoping for any advice
It’s our first house, new build from independent builder and it needs a new kitchen as the current one was there knowing it was gonna be ripped out.
Poor photo, it’s a freeze from video and the whole kitchen looks much colder than it actually is, but shows the limited space we are working with.
This is my first house so it’s all quite new. Budget is about 50k and it’s impressive how we can get through that.
The misses and myself were having a hard time imagining what we wanted. We ended up sitting down with a lovely interior designer to try and come up with ideas that we like.
Nothing is set in stone, and so far we have had rendered up the below.
Now one side of the kitchen I chose the materials, colours and the appliances while the other was the wife. So there is definitely some contrast but we think it works.
We do like it, but there’s a couple of things we are not sure on. Ie the extraction fan. Would we be better with some sort of down draft system?
The wood behind the induction hob while very nice has me concerned re cleaning if after frying something will repeated cleaning affect the look.
I think what I’m after is just some more opinions.
I have asked a few friends and this isn’t really an area they pay much attention too. They like the look, but that’s the limit of there input really.
Anyway was hoping for any advice
There's 9k of ovens there but looks quite small for 50k. Perhaps the finishes are putting the price up.
Wood behind the hob probably isn't a good idea.
Feels a bit disjointed - is there anything between the two runs of units?
The extractor looks odd next to the wall cupboards as they are at a different level. Perhaps get a downdraft and lose the wall cupboards - maybe use some floating shelves.
Using the hob and the sink you're facing a wall which might feel odd.
Do you have enough usable work surface? Including near the ovens to put hot trays etc?
On the sink side, it would look better if what I assume is the dishwasher door followed the drawer lines - either having a groove on the door or a drawed dishwasher.
Appreciate this isn't a wholly positive response!
Wood behind the hob probably isn't a good idea.
Feels a bit disjointed - is there anything between the two runs of units?
The extractor looks odd next to the wall cupboards as they are at a different level. Perhaps get a downdraft and lose the wall cupboards - maybe use some floating shelves.
Using the hob and the sink you're facing a wall which might feel odd.
Do you have enough usable work surface? Including near the ovens to put hot trays etc?
On the sink side, it would look better if what I assume is the dishwasher door followed the drawer lines - either having a groove on the door or a drawed dishwasher.
Appreciate this isn't a wholly positive response!
montymoo said:
Hello , hope you don’t mind if I jump on this thread.
It’s our first house, new build from independent builder and it needs a new kitchen as the current one was there knowing it was gonna be ripped out.
Poor photo, it’s a freeze from video and the whole kitchen looks much colder than it actually is, but shows the limited space we are working with.
This is my first house so it’s all quite new. Budget is about 50k and it’s impressive how we can get through that.
The misses and myself were having a hard time imagining what we wanted. We ended up sitting down with a lovely interior designer to try and come up with ideas that we like.
Nothing is set in stone, and so far we have had rendered up the below.
Now one side of the kitchen I chose the materials, colours and the appliances while the other was the wife. So there is definitely some contrast but we think it works.
We do like it, but there’s a couple of things we are not sure on. Ie the extraction fan. Would we be better with some sort of down draft system?
The wood behind the induction hob while very nice has me concerned re cleaning if after frying something will repeated cleaning affect the look.
I think what I’m after is just some more opinions.
I have asked a few friends and this isn’t really an area they pay much attention too. They like the look, but that’s the limit of there input really.
Anyway was hoping for any advice
Did they also skip ceiling lights? It’s our first house, new build from independent builder and it needs a new kitchen as the current one was there knowing it was gonna be ripped out.
Poor photo, it’s a freeze from video and the whole kitchen looks much colder than it actually is, but shows the limited space we are working with.
This is my first house so it’s all quite new. Budget is about 50k and it’s impressive how we can get through that.
The misses and myself were having a hard time imagining what we wanted. We ended up sitting down with a lovely interior designer to try and come up with ideas that we like.
Nothing is set in stone, and so far we have had rendered up the below.
Now one side of the kitchen I chose the materials, colours and the appliances while the other was the wife. So there is definitely some contrast but we think it works.
We do like it, but there’s a couple of things we are not sure on. Ie the extraction fan. Would we be better with some sort of down draft system?
The wood behind the induction hob while very nice has me concerned re cleaning if after frying something will repeated cleaning affect the look.
I think what I’m after is just some more opinions.
I have asked a few friends and this isn’t really an area they pay much attention too. They like the look, but that’s the limit of there input really.
Anyway was hoping for any advice
I like it. The pale cabinet layout is rather Frank Lloyd Wright with hints of Falling Water.
The contrasting tall cabinets across the room also look good, what finish is that …. Death Star black?
I would say an overhead extractor does a better job than a downdraught but the downdraughts from Neff and Miele are pretty good. They do however steal a lot of space from the cabinet below the hob.
Some wood effect porcelain tiles are incredibly realistic these days and would be fine behind the hob but you need to see them and touch them to appreciate the difference in quality.
You won’t want to keep the coffee machine there for long if you like sausages.
Are they Gaggenau appliances ? I find them a bit lumpy and clunky and prefer Miele but that’s just personal. I’m fitting a Miele full surface induction hob at the moment and it’s a marvellous thing.
The contrasting tall cabinets across the room also look good, what finish is that …. Death Star black?
I would say an overhead extractor does a better job than a downdraught but the downdraughts from Neff and Miele are pretty good. They do however steal a lot of space from the cabinet below the hob.
Some wood effect porcelain tiles are incredibly realistic these days and would be fine behind the hob but you need to see them and touch them to appreciate the difference in quality.
You won’t want to keep the coffee machine there for long if you like sausages.
Are they Gaggenau appliances ? I find them a bit lumpy and clunky and prefer Miele but that’s just personal. I’m fitting a Miele full surface induction hob at the moment and it’s a marvellous thing.
49k? Is this a typo?
I'm about to have what I think is objectively a very attractive kitchen fitted (7.1m long) (as part of a much larger job) and it's coming in at 8.5k including appliances/separate island with power/quartz worktop (excluding fitting. I did a lot of shopping about for the best prices.
I shall post pictures in due course.
I'm about to have what I think is objectively a very attractive kitchen fitted (7.1m long) (as part of a much larger job) and it's coming in at 8.5k including appliances/separate island with power/quartz worktop (excluding fitting. I did a lot of shopping about for the best prices.
I shall post pictures in due course.
princeperch said:
49k? Is this a typo?
I'm about to have what I think is objectively a very attractive kitchen fitted (7.1m long) (as part of a much larger job) and it's coming in at 8.5k including appliances/separate island with power/quartz worktop (excluding fitting. I did a lot of shopping about for the best prices.
I shall post pictures in due course.
I mean high end appliances alone can cost more than 8.5k. My mid range Neff goodies were 6.5k.I'm about to have what I think is objectively a very attractive kitchen fitted (7.1m long) (as part of a much larger job) and it's coming in at 8.5k including appliances/separate island with power/quartz worktop (excluding fitting. I did a lot of shopping about for the best prices.
I shall post pictures in due course.
PrinceRupert said:
I mean high end appliances alone can cost more than 8.5k. My mid range Neff goodies were 6.5k.
They can be as expensive or as cheap as you like. My parents in law spent 400 quid on a dishwasher the other day and I can see no discernible difference to the one that I got off eBay as a customer return for 150 quid. If you shop around and are prepared to go and collect you can get some absolute bargains off eBay. People are sometimes almost giving the stuff away.
princeperch said:
They can be as expensive or as cheap as you like. My parents in law spent 400 quid on a dishwasher the other day and I can see no discernible difference to the one that I got off eBay as a customer return for 150 quid.
If you shop around and are prepared to go and collect you can get some absolute bargains off eBay. People are sometimes almost giving the stuff away.
Obviously but not everyone wants or needs to cheap out on their kitchen. If you shop around and are prepared to go and collect you can get some absolute bargains off eBay. People are sometimes almost giving the stuff away.
PrinceRupert said:
Obviously but not everyone wants or needs to cheap out on their kitchen.
Thanks Captain obvious. And you use the work "cheap" in a clearly negative way. Like it's going to be shyte. The fact someone has paid significantly more than they needed to doesn't make the end product any more enjoyable to use.
And there is obviously a balance to be struck. why would you spend a fortune on a kitchen for your first house ? This is not an observation at the poster who is spending 50k on his kitchen more a general one.
Ultimately, it depends on the value of the house - a £50k kitchen in a £750,000 house would be fine, in a £250,000 starter house it would be a waste (in my opinion). Unless of course the starter house is to be a forever home.
My only comment of the design is having utensils behind the hob would mean you'll be constantly cleaning them, would drive me nuts.
I like the design, units look lovely.
My only comment of the design is having utensils behind the hob would mean you'll be constantly cleaning them, would drive me nuts.
I like the design, units look lovely.
JQ said:
Ultimately, it depends on the value of the house - a £50k kitchen in a £750,000 house would be fine, in a £250,000 starter house it would be a waste (in my opinion). Unless of course the starter house is to be a forever home.
My only comment of the design is having utensils behind the hob would mean you'll be constantly cleaning them, would drive me nuts.
I like the design, units look lovely.
Personally I think a 50k kitchen in 750k house would be excessive for the average house in the south east of England. I sold my last house for more than 700k and the new owners absolutely loved the kitchen. It was at that stage nearly 8 years old and wasn't in bad nick and was a 15k jobby for magnet. My only comment of the design is having utensils behind the hob would mean you'll be constantly cleaning them, would drive me nuts.
I like the design, units look lovely.
Noone can tell anyone else how to spend their money obviously but, and I think this is especially true if you are involving an interior designer/architect, they are very keen to spend your money (and convince you to do so) when something a little less excessive would be equally as nice. I don't think id have got anymore for my house if it had had a 50k kitchen rather than a 15k one.
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