Howdens nonsense

The flat will be empty

I can't move into it until it has a new kitchen as it currently doesn't have an old one

yes, my mistake.

I can see no corner wall units

tim

which in my new kitchen is the only space that I am going to have :-)

tim

I think the fitter quotes you the book price, and thus has another 80% profit (as people dont like paying large amounts for the skilled fitting)

I think the quality of the fitter is more important than where you get the units from, or how near their shop is.

There must be online places where you can do initial draft designs, which can then be incrementally improved

Why bother with that? With at least Magnet and Wren, go into their place with a decent measured drawing of the kitchen space, and they will do the preliminary design (at least), FoC. I can't imagine that the others wouldn't offer this too.

I don't think you've done the maths

Book price 12 grand

discount price, 2 and a half to 3 grand (similar to offers punter will have received from the sheds)

Guesstimate installation price 3 grand

total punter expects to pay 5-6 grand

Now, how is the installer going to sell you the kitchen at 12 grand, even if he discounts his installation fee to zero?

So far all of the online planners I have discovered are crap

tim

The one that I have from Wren is not in a useful form for getting other people to quote.

It's not even in a useful form for Wren to easily modify it for different quality doors etc

tim

We spent some time seeking offers for our kitchen redesign 10 years ago. It was an interesting experience, and the approaches of the various companies varied wildly.

Some happily produced detailed costed designs, and had no qualms about my keeping them. They were happy to accept input and adapt them following feedback.

The most upmarket firm had to be pressed hard to even put on paper the outline of their quote, to record what they were offering in return for the vast sum they wanted me to shell out. With little grace they produced a scruffy handwritten note. I got the impression they were more accustomed to being asked simply to do the job, no questions asked.

In the end I went with a local firm, and am still happy with the outcome, and all the design choices that we made. Even 10 years on, I still think of it as "new".

Chris

-ditto-

And our experiences echoed yours.

eh? Wot's wrong with a camping stove and washing up in the bathroom?

"The Trade Book" Autumn 2017

p38 external corner curved p44 internal corner straight

That's an end of line decorative cupboard

that not a "useful" corner unit

it a normal unit, with one door blocked off (by the cupboard next to it)

tim

tim... posted

I'm looking at it now. The Howdens bill of materials describes it as "1 BFY5472 Bfy Wh Nh 631 CC L Shaped Cnr Wall". Admittedly four years ago.