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bernie-woman



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 7824
Location: shropshire
PostPosted: Tue Nov 29, 05 8:31 am    Post subject: kitchen recommendations Reply with quote
    

Following on from the appliances thread...

We had a salesman come round last night from a small independent kitchen company and I feel totally sleazed out.

He quoted us on a kitchen that I told him three times I did not like (too fancy) and I told him numerous times that I did not want integrated dishwasher and fridge - but did he listen !@!! Told me I could not choose what make of appliance, kept putting a wine rack everywhere (obviously sussed us out quite well) and he told us on numerous occasions how happy he was to be divorced now he has got a "fit" new girlfriend - honestly!!!@!@


I would really like to use a small company but looks like we are off to B&Q and the like at the weekend - anyone got any recommendations or stories about companies we should avoid

We don't want the cheapest kitcghen out there but also do not want to spend shed loads of money as we are hoping to move from this house within the next 2-3 years

Any recommendations appreciated

Sarah D



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 2584

PostPosted: Tue Nov 29, 05 9:02 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Why not do what we do? Avoid the fitted kitchen route all together. Spend the money on some nice wooden furniture - dresser, sideboard, cupboard, table, etc and use them. You can get some really nice furniture secondhand/refurbished, whatever, for a good price. This way you are more likely to know what it is amde of too, avoiding hardwoods, unsustainable, etc.
Then, when you move, you pick it all up and take it with you. Also has the advantage of not spending thousands on a newish kitchen that may well be ripped out by the new buyers of your house, and you are not lining the pockets of the mutil nationals.
It really is the way to go.

jema
Downsizer Moderator


Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 28098
Location: escaped from Swindon
PostPosted: Tue Nov 29, 05 9:20 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I hate anything involving a sales rep, you did not buy from him, the person who does therefore has to pay enough commission to justify that unsuccessful sales attempt and maybe half a dozen others

It can't be value for money, and small firm preference or not, we have to live in the real world where our money is tight.

I have tended to go round the B&Q's MFIs etc, and have looked for how robust the units actually are in terms of thickness of the chipboard etc.

I have fitted myself, but I did once find a local carpenter who fitted the worksurfaces with the nice professional joins quite reasonably.

I know it pays to really shop around. I played real hardball with B&Q on one kitchen, they had a half price sale and mistakenly had 2 10% of schemes running, with the small print failing to block both being used at once they protested a lot, but could not stop me getting my 10% off 10% off, I recall them peevishly pointing out that this was not 20% off

jema
Downsizer Moderator


Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 28098
Location: escaped from Swindon
PostPosted: Tue Nov 29, 05 9:22 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Sarah D wrote:
Why not do what we do? Avoid the fitted kitchen route all together. Spend the money on some nice wooden furniture - dresser, sideboard, cupboard, table, etc and use them. You can get some really nice furniture secondhand/refurbished, whatever, for a good price. This way you are more likely to know what it is amde of too, avoiding hardwoods, unsustainable, etc.
Then, when you move, you pick it all up and take it with you. Also has the advantage of not spending thousands on a newish kitchen that may well be ripped out by the new buyers of your house, and you are not lining the pockets of the mutil nationals.
It really is the way to go.


I think that one depends on kitchen size. I have a dresser, and would in general prefer that route. But modern kitchens are pretty much designed for fitted units, and if you are planning to sell any time in the next few years not having one will be disasterous for selling.

marigold



Joined: 02 Sep 2005
Posts: 12458
Location: West Sussex
PostPosted: Tue Nov 29, 05 9:27 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I agree with Sarah up to a point - unfortunately most potential buyers will expect to see a fitted kitchen

Depending on the space you've got to play with you could go for a combo of part fitted, part free-standing.

If you go the B&Q route go for as plain and simple as you can, but not quite the cheapest.

I bought the second-cheapest units available from Texas Homecare (think they are defunct now) for my kitchen 15 years ago and it still looks perfectly acceptable. The units are plain white melamine with oak trim and the work top is white too. It cleaned up nicely for my house sale with lashings of bleach . Not very ecologically sound, but cheap (a friend fitted it) and would be serviceable for many more years, though I suspect the new owners will rip it out.

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator


Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism
PostPosted: Tue Nov 29, 05 9:49 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

We were in a similar position Birnie. In the fututre I would love to go the individual furniture route but depending on who may buy your house if they see free standing units they may think they'll have to fork out £10k on top of the asking price as they will need to buy a kitchen and get it fitted before they move in! (Ask a local estate agent for their advice if you are unsure if this will happen). New owners may well rip out our kitchen within months of moving in but they shouldn't expect money off the asking price for that.

I decided to fit a units down two sides and then get a decent table that matched the worktops. This means we can move the kitchen around a bit and it lets the new buyers do what they want, either add their own table or add extra cupboards.

I did look at a supplier in the midlands that makes units out of solid pine, they seemed good value but as I've not purchased anything I have no idea what they are like.

bernie-woman



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 7824
Location: shropshire
PostPosted: Tue Nov 29, 05 10:22 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I would love to go the freestanding route but to be honest I am sure it would effect the re-sale of the property - the majority of people want to see a fitted kitchen.

It is really difficult trying to find the balance of spending a little but not too much. If I was staying in this house I would happily throw some money at it but as the kitchen stands at the moment it too would detract from the resale.

We have been to see a couple of estate agents to discuss maximising the money from the hoouse (I hate thinking like that, but it will help us to fulfil our ultimate dreams) who have all highlighted the kitchen as being dated and both have also suggested that we extend the house as others have done in our road to add an extra bedroom and en-suite (something else everyone looks for apparently) - so it is going to be fun, fun, fun after Christmas

jema
Downsizer Moderator


Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 28098
Location: escaped from Swindon
PostPosted: Tue Nov 29, 05 10:32 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

bernie wrote:


We have been to see a couple of estate agents to discuss maximising the money from the hoouse (I hate thinking like that, but it will help us to fulfil our ultimate dreams)


This discussion seems to crop up over and over again on these forums, the instinct of the downsizery person to do their own thing against the practical realities of the "real world". I think for all of us who have to worry about money, if we don't deal in the wicked ways of the "real world" we will soon be very poor downsizers and unable to ever live our dreams.

Jonnyboy



Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 23956
Location: under some rain.
PostPosted: Tue Nov 29, 05 10:41 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Bernie,

We started off with the bespoke route, we had a pretty good idea of our requirements and went to some small suppliers. they were coming out very expensive for kitchens of average quality (standard carcass, laminate worksurface, belfast sink - £7k!!!)

After a lot of thinking we have gone for the 'ivory arch' kitchen from B&Q, we tarted it up by going for solid wood worktops and belfast sink. Total cost was just over £3k with free dishwasher and it is exactly as per our design.

I'm happy with the quality of the carcasses, the hinges need an extra screw in them just to be sure imho.

If you want anymore info just let me know, I can post some pics of the newly installed kitchen if you want.

Oh yes, we got a joiner to install for £300 instead of the £1400 quoted by B&Q.

bernie-woman



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 7824
Location: shropshire
PostPosted: Tue Nov 29, 05 10:54 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Jonnyboy wrote:

I can post some pics of the newly installed kitchen if you want.

Oh yes, we got a joiner to install for £300 instead of the £1400 quoted by B&Q.


Yes please - I would love to see some pics - bizarrely just before I read your post I had just been looking at the ivory arch kitchen on the B&Q website -

We are also thinking of putting solid wooden worktop on

That is a massive difference in fitting price - how easy was it to find someone to fit it - and as I am girl and blonde to boot - what would I look for i.e someone who advertises themselves as a joiner or a kitchen fitter??

They guy last night quoted us £6000

Jonnyboy



Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 23956
Location: under some rain.
PostPosted: Tue Nov 29, 05 11:04 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

It might take a bit of ringing around but any have decent joiner/handyman could do it. To be honest I could have done it myself but didn't have the time as our move in day was approaching.

I'll post some pics tonight but for £3k we got.

1 full height larder cupboard
1 3 pan draw
1 belfast sink, taps and under cupboard etc.
1 integrated dishwasher, plus door etc
1 corner unit
1 wicker basket unit
2 pull out spice/bottle drawers
1 1000 double cupboard
1 600 cupboard
1 high level corner cupboard
1 high level double cupboard
2 x standard solid beech butchers block worktop
1 x breakfast bar solid beech butchers block worktop
1 x 900 indesit ectractor fan
pelmets, kickboards fitting kits etc.

Er, I think that was pretty much all of it.

gil
Downsizer Moderator


Joined: 08 Jun 2005
Posts: 18409

PostPosted: Tue Nov 29, 05 11:20 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

A service it might be worth using the big chains (MFI, B&Q, etc) for is their (free) kitchen layout planning stage. especially the ones that do both flat plans and 3-D computer mock-ups. As long as you can walk away at the end under no obligation, or say you need to go and think about it.

Useful if you don't know what you want your new kitchen layout to be like, or if the existing kitchen is very dated. Or if your potential layout is severely constrained by the building's structure (windows, doors, walls).

Ikea is rumoured to have reasonable, cheap carcassing (they use the same basic framework for all designs), and they will sell it separately. The other possibility, if you have regular-sized units, is to just buy new doors, drawers, end panels (the bits that show). Again, Ikea will sell separately.

'Dated' kitchens and bathrooms ? All the previous comments about estate agents and buyers' expectations (even if they're going to rip it out immediately) ring so true. FFS, as long as it all still works... Ephemeral fashion and this season's 'style' for houses, which are where you live long-term.

Having said that, I wish I did not have a pink bathroom suite and tiles, but can't justify replacing on purely aesthetic grounds, as it does the job fine.

Sarah D



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 2584

PostPosted: Tue Nov 29, 05 12:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I got the responses I expected to my post
This is the way I look at it.
We are very careful with our money, and make a little go a long way; to that end, we look at things with a view to the long term - we gather up bits as we go along, etc. This way there is no huge single expense all at once , whether for a kitchen, bathroom, whatever.
Any kitchen is capable of being furnished with freestanding furniture. Why have a wall full of cupboards which are quite often only half used, or full of stuff you don't actually need, etc. Find out exactly what you do need and get the amount of cupboard/storage space you actually need, instead of paying for un-needed storage space. Stuff expands to fit the space available. A good exercise in downshifting and simplifying your kitchen, especially where space is limited.
My main are of concern is this obsession with fitting your kitchen, building an extension, making an ensuite, converting your loft, fitting a whirlpool bath - whatever- with a view to selling your property some years down the line. We look at our house as our house - we live in it in the here and now, so we have what WE want. I cannot live my life thinking about what someone who may or may not buy our house may want some years ahead. We may never move again. We may move next month. We just don't know. Therefore, we live for the moment, in a house that suits us, right down to the purple hallway, because that is what we want now. If it's what we want for now and it makes us happy, then it gets done.

As for the fitted kitchen - everyone, with no exceptions so far, has come into this house and our last one and said "Oh I wish I had a kitchen like this/unfitted ktichen/it's lovely not to have to look at banks of cupboard doors, etc" or similar. We do live in the real world and realise that a lot of folks want fitted kitchens, double glazing and central heating. These are not for us, though, in our house, now. If someone buys it in the future and wants to install them and a 17ft jacuzzi bath, then that's their perogative. We won't be doing it for them, we're too busy living in our house as we like it for us.
I suppose what I'm saying is that we prefer to live in the here and now to suit ourselves.
I suppose if we ever did sell, then ours would be described as "individual" or "full of character" or somesuch
We have lived here just over 8 years now, and the kitchen is being done now; the advantage of having someone do it for you is that it is done quickly. 8 years is a long time to wait for a kitchen....... I have found for me, personally, though, that taking it at such a slow pace (only got Sundays to work on it), I have been able to change my mind a zillion times about things, quite often to the detriment of my OH patience and belief. If we'd done it 7 years ago, I would have been ready to change it by now, but he wouldn't

These are jusmy thoughts, and I don't really expect anyone to agree with me, but thought I'd post it anyway.
Maybe I really am the odd one out...............

ele



Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Posts: 814
Location: Derby
PostPosted: Tue Nov 29, 05 12:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Interesting points of view but I want to see photos of the kitchens talked about

Sarah D



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 2584

PostPosted: Tue Nov 29, 05 12:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

You wouldn't want to see mine at the moment.................
Up until last week my worktop was the top of the washing machine. It has now been moved out of the kitchen and my available space is about 2ft x 18" The dresser is in bits in the middle of the floor, there is no ceiling and I can't find the phone unless it rings.

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