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Richard
 
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Default Expensive kitchen or cheap alternative?

Hello All,

I thought I'd ask for your opinions on purchasing a new Kitchen.

I have been trying to decide if spashing out 8-10K on a new kitchen is
really worthwhile or settling for an equivalent B and Q jobbie at a
quarter of the price would be better or serve us just as well. I had
kitchens Direct in not so long ago and they qouted me 14K which I
thought was a complete Pi!s take and have had other qoutes from people
like John Lewis and Nichols for around the 8-10K price mark. Today
whilst browsing through B and Q which has become my second home
recently I stumbled on their kitchen range and quite like the gloss
white offering they have. The money for this in comparison seems like
peanuts. One of my mates recently spent 32K on his kitchen!!!! it
looks real impressive but Im not sure you couldn't of got something a
third of that price which would of basically looked the same.

Can someone tell me if there really is that much difference in quality
to justify spending 10K on a new kitchen. We plan to stay in the house
for a long time and have plenty of other things that we could be
spending our money on as we have basically renovated the whole
downstairs thanks to a lot of help and advice from you folks.

My mrs was telling me that on one of the DIY programmes recently it
was mentioned that the average proce paid for a kitchen is 2K.

What questions should I be asking?

Any comments greatly appreciated as usual.

Cheers

Richard
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Andy Hall
 
Posts: n/a
Default

On 8 Nov 2004 11:19:40 -0800, (Richard) wrote:

Hello All,

I thought I'd ask for your opinions on purchasing a new Kitchen.

I have been trying to decide if spashing out 8-10K on a new kitchen is
really worthwhile or settling for an equivalent B and Q jobbie at a
quarter of the price would be better or serve us just as well. I had
kitchens Direct in not so long ago and they qouted me 14K which I
thought was a complete Pi!s take and have had other qoutes from people
like John Lewis and Nichols for around the 8-10K price mark. Today
whilst browsing through B and Q which has become my second home
recently I stumbled on their kitchen range and quite like the gloss
white offering they have. The money for this in comparison seems like
peanuts. One of my mates recently spent 32K on his kitchen!!!! it
looks real impressive but Im not sure you couldn't of got something a
third of that price which would of basically looked the same.

Can someone tell me if there really is that much difference in quality
to justify spending 10K on a new kitchen. We plan to stay in the house
for a long time and have plenty of other things that we could be
spending our money on as we have basically renovated the whole
downstairs thanks to a lot of help and advice from you folks.

My mrs was telling me that on one of the DIY programmes recently it
was mentioned that the average proce paid for a kitchen is 2K.

What questions should I be asking?

Any comments greatly appreciated as usual.


I found that going to several local kitchen specialist firms (not the
outfits like Kitchens Direct, Moben, etc.) and inviting ideas,
discussing materials etc. was a good option.

One factor in deciding what you are willing to spend is in your
expected stay in the house. If you were planning to move within a
few years you probably wouldn't get much of a return on significant
investment, although a reasonable quality kitchen can help to sell the
property. If you anticipate staying a long time, then I think it's
reasonable to look on the kitchen in terms of what you like, choose
quality things and pay more.

I think that the average of £2k mentioned by a DIY program could be an
average for a basic set of stuff for a small kitchen bought from a DIY
shed. They don't have top of the range brands for appliances
typically either.

For the kitchen, I specified hardwoods for doors and certain panels
together with pre-made carcasses in thicker than normal material.
Worktops are granite and natural stones have been used for walls and
floor. Windows and doors were replaced with custom made oak
versions. A complete rewire and replumbing exercise was done,
utility room fitted out and an Aga installed. The end result
was and is very pleasing. Cost was north of £10k and south of the
amount spent by your friend.

I have just been completing a refit of my study. For that, I've
used some of the doors and drawers from B&Q's Solid Oak range.
Normally I would now have made the doors but needed to finish the job
reasonably quickly and didn't have the machinery or time to do so.
The quality of these doors isn't anywhere in the same league as the
kitchen ones but they are not bad for what they are.
I didn't bother with B&Q's carcasses because I felt that they are
fairly poor quality, they actually let the doors down - so I made my
own with cut panels, biscuit jointed etc. It is something of a
custom job anyway, as I built filing drawers into the deep kitchen
drawer sizes.

The basics to look for are

- quality and constuction of carcasses and doors - thickness and
construction of carcasses.

- worktop materials

- lighting

- fittings

- appliances

- check very carefully what is included and what is not.

Above all, take plenty of time and don't be pressured into buying. If
you go for a local firm, ask for references. For the better ones be
prepared to wait.







--

..andy

To email, substitute .nospam with .gl
  #3   Report Post  
Kevin Golding
 
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I've just fitted my new Ikea kitchen and I'm VERY please with the
quality of the units.

Also Ikea do a free 3D kitchen designed program (for Windows) which can
be downloaded from
http://www.ikea.co.uk/ms/en_GB/rooms.../download.html

p.s. I'm nothing to do with Ikea except being a happy customer!

Richard wrote:
Hello All,

I thought I'd ask for your opinions on purchasing a new Kitchen.

I have been trying to decide if spashing out 8-10K on a new kitchen is
really worthwhile or settling for an equivalent B and Q jobbie at a
quarter of the price would be better or serve us just as well. I had
kitchens Direct in not so long ago and they qouted me 14K which I
thought was a complete Pi!s take and have had other qoutes from people
like John Lewis and Nichols for around the 8-10K price mark. Today
whilst browsing through B and Q which has become my second home
recently I stumbled on their kitchen range and quite like the gloss
white offering they have. The money for this in comparison seems like
peanuts. One of my mates recently spent 32K on his kitchen!!!! it
looks real impressive but Im not sure you couldn't of got something a
third of that price which would of basically looked the same.

Can someone tell me if there really is that much difference in quality
to justify spending 10K on a new kitchen. We plan to stay in the house
for a long time and have plenty of other things that we could be
spending our money on as we have basically renovated the whole
downstairs thanks to a lot of help and advice from you folks.

My mrs was telling me that on one of the DIY programmes recently it
was mentioned that the average proce paid for a kitchen is 2K.

What questions should I be asking?

Any comments greatly appreciated as usual.

Cheers

Richard

  #4   Report Post  
Richard
 
Posts: n/a
Default




Hello All,
I thought I'd ask for your opinions on purchasing a new Kitchen.
I have been trying to decide if spashing out 8-10K on a new kitchen is
really worthwhile or settling for an equivalent B and Q jobbie at a
quarter of the price would be better or serve us just as well. I had
kitchens Direct in not so long ago and they qouted me 14K which I
thought was a complete Pi!s take and have had other qoutes from people
like John Lewis and Nichols for around the 8-10K price mark. Today
whilst browsing through B and Q which has become my second home
recently I stumbled on their kitchen range and quite like the gloss
white offering they have. The money for this in comparison seems like
peanuts. One of my mates recently spent 32K on his kitchen!!!! it
looks real impressive but Im not sure you couldn't of got something a
third of that price which would of basically looked the same.

Can someone tell me if there really is that much difference in quality
to justify spending 10K on a new kitchen. We plan to stay in the house
for a long time and have plenty of other things that we could be
spending our money on as we have basically renovated the whole
downstairs thanks to a lot of help and advice from you folks.

My mrs was telling me that on one of the DIY programmes recently it
was mentioned that the average proce paid for a kitchen is 2K.

What questions should I be asking?

Any comments greatly appreciated as usual.

Cheers

Richard



Hi Richard,

We've been trudging very slowly towards our 'fit once and never replace'
kitchen for a considerable time now (inconveniencies like redundancy and
suppliers who never quote have not helped the process). After much
deliberation SWMBO has decided that we will have an ALNO kitchen
supplied and fitted by John Lewis costing just a shade under £20K.
Deciding factors included single source of supply and fit from a very
big company, a designer who has visited us many times as requirements
have changed and has always arrived on time every time. Oh and she
likes the units and the stone surfaces that will be supplied. Why
spend so much? The kitchen is the room that we spend most time in, the
ALNO units seem to be the best constructed that we can afford - we
aren't in the Stoneham/Smallbone league (and frankly having seen the
MIL's kitchen we aren't sure that we want to be!) and John Lewis have
been really helpful and obliging.

We tried to get the same kitchen from a bloke in the village (support
local suppliers etc). However, he hasn't given us a quote so obviously
doesn't need the work????

Richard

--
Real email address is RJS at BIGFOOT dot COM

The information contained in this post
may not be published in, or used by

http://www.diyprojects.info
  #6   Report Post  
N. Thornton
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Richard wrote in message ...

Hi Richard,

We've been trudging very slowly towards our 'fit once and never replace'
kitchen for a considerable time now (inconveniencies like redundancy and


suppliers who never quote have not helped the process). After much
deliberation SWMBO has decided that we will have an ALNO kitchen
supplied and fitted by John Lewis costing just a shade under £20K.



If you DIYed you could make quite a kitchen for 20k. Solid marble
worktops, or whichever stone takes your fancy, Miele appliances,
double wide 6 ring cooker, polished slate wall tiles, artifical sun
for the evenings, a massage-while-you-cook chair, underfloor heating,
french doors, triple sink, oak, mahogany or cherry cabinets, limed oak
or pine ceiling, crystal wineglasses, saboteur knives, silver
cutlery... and we're still not upto 20k yet.


NT
  #7   Report Post  
The Natural Philosopher
 
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Richard wrote:

Hello All,

I thought I'd ask for your opinions on purchasing a new Kitchen.

I have been trying to decide if spashing out 8-10K on a new kitchen is
really worthwhile or settling for an equivalent B and Q jobbie at a
quarter of the price would be better or serve us just as well. I had
kitchens Direct in not so long ago and they qouted me 14K which I
thought was a complete Pi!s take and have had other qoutes from people
like John Lewis and Nichols for around the 8-10K price mark. Today
whilst browsing through B and Q which has become my second home
recently I stumbled on their kitchen range and quite like the gloss
white offering they have. The money for this in comparison seems like
peanuts. One of my mates recently spent 32K on his kitchen!!!! it
looks real impressive but Im not sure you couldn't of got something a
third of that price which would of basically looked the same.

Can someone tell me if there really is that much difference in quality
to justify spending 10K on a new kitchen. We plan to stay in the house
for a long time and have plenty of other things that we could be
spending our money on as we have basically renovated the whole
downstairs thanks to a lot of help and advice from you folks.

My mrs was telling me that on one of the DIY programmes recently it
was mentioned that the average proce paid for a kitchen is 2K.

What questions should I be asking?

Any comments greatly appreciated as usual.


I have boufht tow and tow haves kitchens for this house.

The cheapo stuff is Hygena - got from currys and MFI. Its not too bad,
all plastic/chip ofcorse, but looks OK and will last about 10 years or
so. Cost was about 500 for a kichen, 150 for utility room and about 350
for my workshop...including worktops, but not of course fitting, or
inits,which I had, apart from a nice ceramic hob cooker I picked up S/H
opr £100.

I got teh more expensive stuff from www.aerna-kitchens.co.uk - solid oak
shaker style doors, and better caercaes than teh wbove, sort of 15-20
year life expectacy.

I think the units were a couple of grand for a very big kitchen with oak
block worktops. I fitted most of them myself, but about 600 quids worth
of carpenters time was needed fo the worktop, and fettling in details.

Theres 6 grand of aga and electric companion in there too, 700 quid of
built in fridge, 400 of built in washing machine and 500 of water
softener. Plus a cheapo belfast for about the ton with taps.

I spent about a grand on slate flooring. So maybe £13k for a complete
installaton in a 35 sq meter kitchen. The absolute lot including aga.
Frankly, the Hygena one is entoirely adequate functionally, it just
looks a buit plastiky. Some nice tiles have helped...

To have the big one installed would have probably taken it up towards 20
gtarnd. Its hard to see how one can spend more other than on hand made
solid wood units, or over the top ditzy appliances. Or granite etc.

So what is teh difference beteen '8-10 grand' and about 2 grand?

The doors look nicer.

The stuff will last about 15 years instead of 7.

That is IT. Otherwise its no bloody different!




Cheers

Richard

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The Natural Philosopher
 
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Richard wrote:

and John Lewis have
been really helpful and obliging.



Those units are exactly what www.arena-kitchens.co.uk uses. But prices
are way cheaper online. However, installation may be an issue if you
don't want to DIY.

But use John Lewis to assist in design, then buy elsewhere, install
yourself, is probably as good as it gets.
  #9   Report Post  
Richard
 
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The Natural Philosopher wrote:


Those units are exactly what www.arena-kitchens.co.uk uses. But prices
are way cheaper online. However, installation may be an issue if you
don't want to DIY.

But use John Lewis to assist in design, then buy elsewhere, install
yourself, is probably as good as it gets.


Interesting site. Can't see any reference to ALNO though and my
understanding (from ALNO) is that the units are German.

The non-DIY stance is that SWMBO quite rightly thinks that I will not
finish the job to an acceptible standard and she can earn the money to
pay a fitter in less time than it will take me to do the installation..

Rgds Richard


--
Real email address is RJS at BIGFOOT dot COM

The information contained in this post
may not be published in, or used by

http://www.diyprojects.info
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Richard
 
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The Natural Philosopher wrote:



Those units are exactly what www.arena-kitchens.co.uk uses. But prices
are way cheaper online. However, installation may be an issue if you
don't want to DIY.

But use John Lewis to assist in design, then buy elsewhere, install
yourself, is probably as good as it gets.


Just had a look at 'Keek' (the appliance supplier on the Arena site) -
the washer/drier that JL are supplying is cheaper from them than from
Keek!!!!!

I'm astounded.

Richard

--
Real email address is RJS at BIGFOOT dot COM

The information contained in this post
may not be published in, or used by

http://www.diyprojects.info


  #11   Report Post  
tony sayer
 
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Default

In article ,
writes
On 8 Nov 2004 11:19:40 -0800,
(Richard) wrote:

Hello All,

I thought I'd ask for your opinions on purchasing a new Kitchen.

I have been trying to decide if spashing out 8-10K on a new kitchen is
really worthwhile or settling for an equivalent B and Q jobbie at a
quarter of the price would be better or serve us just as well. I had
kitchens Direct in not so long ago and they qouted me 14K which I
thought was a complete Pi!s take and have had other qoutes from people
like John Lewis and Nichols for around the 8-10K price mark. Today
whilst browsing through B and Q which has become my second home
recently I stumbled on their kitchen range and quite like the gloss
white offering they have. The money for this in comparison seems like
peanuts. One of my mates recently spent 32K on his kitchen!!!! it
looks real impressive but Im not sure you couldn't of got something a
third of that price which would of basically looked the same.

Can someone tell me if there really is that much difference in quality
to justify spending 10K on a new kitchen. We plan to stay in the house
for a long time and have plenty of other things that we could be
spending our money on as we have basically renovated the whole
downstairs thanks to a lot of help and advice from you folks.

My mrs was telling me that on one of the DIY programmes recently it
was mentioned that the average proce paid for a kitchen is 2K.

What questions should I be asking?

Any comments greatly appreciated as usual.

Cheers

Richard


I fitted the B+Q white gloss range about 2 years ago. I am very
pleased with it and as I have to live with it that is all that
matters.
I used good quality handles and other accessories and many people
comment on how nice it looks.

Personally I think there is a lot of snobbishness attached to fitted
kitchens. A house in our street has had three families in it in 4
years and each one has ripped out the kitchen and replaced it!

You say you like the look of the B+Q kitchen go ahead and buy it and
look at how much you will be saving to spend on other things.


My missus has been going on about a new kitchen for as long as I can
remember, BUT I still haven't had and quality assurance document from
her that the grub will improve)
--
Tony Sayer

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tony sayer
 
Posts: n/a
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I have boufht tow and tow haves kitchens for this house.

The cheapo stuff is Hygena - got from currys and MFI. Its not too bad,
all plastic/chip ofcorse, but looks OK and will last about 10 years or
so. Cost was about 500 for a kichen, 150 for utility room and about 350
for my workshop...including worktops, but not of course fitting, or
inits,which I had, apart from a nice ceramic hob cooker I picked up S/H
opr £100.

I got teh more expensive stuff from www.aerna-kitchens.co.uk - solid oak
shaker style doors, and better caercaes than teh wbove, sort of 15-20
year life expectacy.

I think the units were a couple of grand for a very big kitchen with oak
block worktops. I fitted most of them myself, but about 600 quids worth
of carpenters time was needed fo the worktop, and fettling in details.

Theres 6 grand of aga and electric companion in there too, 700 quid of
built in fridge, 400 of built in washing machine and 500 of water
softener. Plus a cheapo belfast for about the ton with taps.

I spent about a grand on slate flooring. So maybe £13k for a complete
installaton in a 35 sq meter kitchen. The absolute lot including aga.
Frankly, the Hygena one is entoirely adequate functionally, it just
looks a buit plastiky. Some nice tiles have helped...

To have the big one installed would have probably taken it up towards 20
gtarnd. Its hard to see how one can spend more other than on hand made
solid wood units, or over the top ditzy appliances. Or granite etc.

So what is teh difference beteen '8-10 grand' and about 2 grand?

The doors look nicer.

The stuff will last about 15 years instead of 7.

That is IT. Otherwise its no bloody different!


My missus has been going on about a new kitchen for as long as I can
remember, BUT I still haven't had a quality assurance document from
her that the grub will improve)
--
Tony Sayer

  #13   Report Post  
Richard
 
Posts: n/a
Default

(MBQ) wrote in message om...
(Richard) wrote in message . com...
Hello All,

I thought I'd ask for your opinions on purchasing a new Kitchen.

I have been trying to decide if spashing out 8-10K on a new kitchen is
really worthwhile or settling for an equivalent B and Q jobbie at a
quarter of the price would be better or serve us just as well. I had


Do you intend to DIY or buy a complete package? If the former, then
remember you can mix and match from any supplier if B&Q don't have the
door knobs or worktop you want or you want to go upmarket with
lighting, etc.

I found the B&Q "it" range to be very good quality. Delivery was on
time, no damaged units or shortages and very easy to install. I do
recommend the premium drawer system if you buy from B&Q.

MBQ


Great thanks for all your input.

I have just finished with the kitchen designer from our favourite
company so far (John Nicholls), this is the third visit and the price
is looking more like 15-18k now with appliances (Neff) and granite
floors, worktops and a few mods She has been very good and like the
JL designer has never been late, one downside is that she has been
rather un-inspiring. I like a designer to fill me full of ideas and
and to be enthusiastic I felt like I was leading all the time, not
sure if thats good or not really. Hope she doesn't read UK-DIY!

Anyway another question does anybody have any experience with the
Sheraton range of kitchens we're looking at the Mattonella which is
not a flat pack?

Also are nearly all carcases chipboard? that doesn't sound good to me

As far as DIY installation is concerned I'm not sure of this yet, I
have very limited experience with wood (Just read my skirting board
post!!! ) but could save myself 2.5K and another 1.5K for the laying
of some granite tiles. With a little help from a few mates and father
I think this may be possible.I have recently laid some granite tiles
in my hallway and it was back breaking work but I think it will be
worth the saving and it was a job well done.

Meanwhile I'm going to check out the B and Q IT range. Im still not
convinced that paying 15-18k is really worth it

BTW I liked the ALNO range I had a quick sqiz @ their website and
ordered a brochure.

Thanks all

Richard
  #14   Report Post  
Richard
 
Posts: n/a
Default

The Natural Philosopher wrote in message ...
Richard wrote:

Hello All,

I thought I'd ask for your opinions on purchasing a new Kitchen.

I have been trying to decide if spashing out 8-10K on a new kitchen is
really worthwhile or settling for an equivalent B and Q jobbie at a
quarter of the price would be better or serve us just as well. I had
kitchens Direct in not so long ago and they qouted me 14K which I
thought was a complete Pi!s take and have had other qoutes from people
like John Lewis and Nichols for around the 8-10K price mark. Today
whilst browsing through B and Q which has become my second home
recently I stumbled on their kitchen range and quite like the gloss
white offering they have. The money for this in comparison seems like
peanuts. One of my mates recently spent 32K on his kitchen!!!! it
looks real impressive but Im not sure you couldn't of got something a
third of that price which would of basically looked the same.

Can someone tell me if there really is that much difference in quality
to justify spending 10K on a new kitchen. We plan to stay in the house
for a long time and have plenty of other things that we could be
spending our money on as we have basically renovated the whole
downstairs thanks to a lot of help and advice from you folks.

My mrs was telling me that on one of the DIY programmes recently it
was mentioned that the average proce paid for a kitchen is 2K.

What questions should I be asking?

Any comments greatly appreciated as usual.


I have boufht tow and tow haves kitchens for this house.

The cheapo stuff is Hygena - got from currys and MFI. Its not too bad,
all plastic/chip ofcorse, but looks OK and will last about 10 years or
so. Cost was about 500 for a kichen, 150 for utility room and about 350
for my workshop...including worktops, but not of course fitting, or
inits,which I had, apart from a nice ceramic hob cooker I picked up S/H
opr £100.

I got teh more expensive stuff from www.aerna-kitchens.co.uk - solid oak
shaker style doors, and better caercaes than teh wbove, sort of 15-20
year life expectacy.

I think the units were a couple of grand for a very big kitchen with oak
block worktops. I fitted most of them myself, but about 600 quids worth
of carpenters time was needed fo the worktop, and fettling in details.

Theres 6 grand of aga and electric companion in there too, 700 quid of
built in fridge, 400 of built in washing machine and 500 of water
softener. Plus a cheapo belfast for about the ton with taps.

I spent about a grand on slate flooring. So maybe £13k for a complete
installaton in a 35 sq meter kitchen. The absolute lot including aga.
Frankly, the Hygena one is entoirely adequate functionally, it just
looks a buit plastiky. Some nice tiles have helped...

To have the big one installed would have probably taken it up towards 20
gtarnd. Its hard to see how one can spend more other than on hand made
solid wood units, or over the top ditzy appliances. Or granite etc.

So what is teh difference beteen '8-10 grand' and about 2 grand?

The doors look nicer.

The stuff will last about 15 years instead of 7.

That is IT. Otherwise its no bloody different!



Interesting to hear this as this is what I kinda thought. Thanks for
the web site, I stumbled across this sometime ago and had been looking
for it again for sometime. I will definately get some prices from
these people.

Cheers NP.




Cheers

Richard

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