Recomendation for kitchen

[Oliver Ciaravella]

Hi, This isn't a post asking for information just thought I would post my personal recommendations about kitchen suppliers. Ok I have installed 3 kitchens so far one MFI, one renovated kitchen, and 1 Ikea kitchen.

Personally the hassle and cost of the renovation one means I will not be doing that again, The kitchen was simply a replacement of worktop, sink doors, and plugs, with handles etc. the hassle of working around the old carcases and other things meant I would not be trying this again, also the cost worked out about 800 with new oven.

MFI after we finally had the kitchen delivered after numerous phone calls and a few missing parts. The kitchen itself was like any other flat pack, not what I would consider easy to construct. Cost wise worked out about 2000

Finally the IKEA kitchen, for a flat pack it was soooo easy to install one quick look at the pictures then all the carcases were built, most things were planned to make construction an ease. (Although do have two metal bars that I have no idea where they go) Delivery was well within the quoted time. And cost wise for a large good quality looking kitchen worked out around

1400.

So personally If I will do another kitchen it will be an Ikea one. I'm sure most people have had bad experiences with them but for the cost and quality you cant really complain, and the ease of construction just helps make my mind up. Olly

[Lobster]

If you can blag yourself a trade account at a Howden's outlet (which isn't that hard to do!) you'll find they sell the same kitchens that MFI do, but at lower prices and with the units already built!

David

[Goo Goo]

I work for IKEA, and they do try extremely hard to make kitchens easier as time goes on, they're always lookign for new approaches etc, and methods to ensure your kitchens easy to build.

I've had one too, with my discount, and it was easy peasy; never MFI again, they genuinly made kitchens seem like a struggle/hard.

Anyway, you save loads with IKEA, some feel you need ot watch what you buy, as some of the cheaper items can be of rubbish quality. Having looked at lots of them, they all seem fine though :-)

[selfbuilder]

Good tip, was thinking of Magnet but I'm definately going check out IKEA aw well now.

[Oliver Ciaravella]

Yeah was looking at Howden's got some letter headed paper from a decorator but didn't think I would be able to set up an account.

[NotMe]

Only reason I do not touch IKEA kitchens is the lack of space behind the units.

I do around 3-4 kitchens per year in old (~100 years) tenement flats, and with the non-square walls, and "interesting" waste/electric/water supply arrangements I am always grateful for the extra 5-6cm at the back of the units to play with.

Hence almost always using MFI (well, Howden), although the next one (arriving next week) is a B&Q as I liked their particular design for the flat that I am doing up at the moment (I buy electricals/taps/sinks separately anyway).

HTH.

[Lurch]

On Sun, 06 Mar 2005 17:24:34 GMT, Lobster strung together this:

I was going to suggest that. I've never had a problem with Howdens kitchens. Good price, easy to fit, service space.

[Lurch]

On Sun, 6 Mar 2005 18:05:13 -0000, "Oliver Ciaravella" strung together this:

Make some up, or find someone with an account that will get the stuff for you. Some people will be happy to supply stuff for you to boost their trade account discount.

[Lobster]

Nor did I; just went in and told them I was just setting up my own business as a kitchen fitter or something and that was it. (For those of a certain age, it was a bit like Cleese in Monty Python's "Why do you want to join the Secret Service? Can you keep a secret? Yes? Fine, you're in!)

It's probably down to the individual behind the counter on the day as to how your approach is received. I don't get much bother now at most places (other than Travis Perkins - spit); if I get turned down I look incredulous and say "well I've always got trade from Howden's, why on earth not?" and that normally does the trick! There are clearly 'degrees' of trade discount though, and I know I don't get the same concessions that the bulk users do.

David

[Nicholas]

I did an Ikea kitchen at home and unless I win the lottery I'd do another...

Nicholas

[Oliver Ciaravella]

The bloke that delivered my ikea kitchen said he deliverd them to new builds costing 300-500K

[Lobster]

Bloody hell, it's amazing what some people will pay for a kitchen, innit?

[Oliver Ciaravella]

[chris French]

In message , Goo Goo writes

IKEA kitchens are fine, and of reasonable quality. The problem with them comes in dealing with he organisation. If they don't have the right thing, it's damaged etc. it can be a PITA getting it sorted.

[DIYSOS]

I too installed an Ikea kitchen last year and can second the recommendation, though without being able to compare with others (except on cost and appearanmce in shop).

Their 'modular' system, with frames, doors, hinges, shelving etc coming in separate packs made for a *daunting* pile of stuff on delivery, and boy was there a lot of packaging to get rid of. But it was all there - every nut & bolt, and assembled cleanly.

BTW as noted elsewhere, beware there is no space at back of Ikea base units for services.

Cheers,

DIYSOS

[Christian McArdle]

Come on, the MFI ones were absolutely standard flatpack very easy to assemble.

Except that there is no service channel, making them about 10 times more difficult to install. They're fine if you have no taps, washing machines, sinks, or hobs in your kitchen, though.

Christian.

[Christian McArdle]

The main problem is that they don't supply the coloured end panels. They expect you to bolt on chipboard to the standard white carcasses, which looks pants in comparison to the proper replacement panels supplied by MFI. Not a problem if white is appropriate, though.

Christian.

[Oliver Ciaravella]

yeah but in comparison to how easy it could have been such as just push and click (as in the ikea ones)

Didnt think this was a problem, i had to reroute all my pipe work along the floor and as this was the 1st time i did plumbing it was a breeze. the result is you get far deeper cupboards with full length draws

[bruce_phipps]

You had to reroute water pipes? That sounds daunting to a DIY newbie like me.

I would have thought the "refurb" job -- replacing doors & worktop -- to be the easiest. That's what I am thinking of doing for my first ever kitchen units job.

Bruce

[Oliver Ciaravella]

Plumbing really isnt daunting, if your doing a kitchen, rip the old one out then you have good access to the pipes. Turn The the water off, buy a pipe cutter (Wish I got one to start with), dont mess around with a hacksaw. Then either go for the pre soldered joints or push fit ones. Pre soldered joints are so easy to do two dry pipes rub down put bit of flux on each rub down the inside of the fitting then push the two pipes together apply heat then allow to cool. It really is that easy. working on old pipes is alittle more tricky making sure there is NO water as I found once. If you dont feel up to soldering just get the push fit pipes there easy just make sure you push them in hard enough.

A new fitted kitchen wont cost massively more and the look will be 1000% better than a revamped one.