O/T Kitchens

Discussion in 'Bulletin Board' started by DannyWilsonLovechild, Sep 5, 2018.

  1. Dan

    DannyWilsonLovechild Well-Known Member

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    We're having an extension done next year and starting to look at kitchens. We've had a look at Magnet, Benchmarx (part of TP) and Howdens so far. Wondered if anyone has had experience of any of them and what sort of quality they were once they'd been installed a while?

    Been told about a company called Shaker Kitchen co (which seems a middle range option, good quality but cheaper than the designer. bespoke kitchens) but not approached them just yet.

    We've also been suggested Minerva as a worktop type. Has anyone had a Minerva worktop, and what was their view of it?

    I'm in London, so sadly we couldn't look at any Yorkshire independents.

    Any input welcomed.

    Thanks all.
     
  2. roy

    royston tyke Well-Known Member

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    Got mine from www.diy-kitchens.com who believe it or not are from South Kirkby. They have a massive showroom open to the public on weekends. Don’t rule them out just because they are online. Go to magnet, howdens etc... get them to plan your kitchen and take the dimensions to DIY or even better, get your local joiner/kitchen fitter to plan it out for u like I did.

    They are massive online and their units are all solid back too which helps with durability. Loads of styles to choose from too. I had mine finished in April and love it. I picked a Altino kitchen in light grey and to me it look and feels amazing for the price. Take a look and let me know what u think
     
    Last edited: Sep 5, 2018
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  3. Austiniho

    Austiniho Well-Known Member

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    Magnet were pretty good for mine. Had them fitted by a local joiner. They must be good as my wife hasn’t broken them after 3 years...
     
  4. Micky Finn

    Micky Finn Well-Known Member

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    We've just had a Magnet kitchen fitted - very pleased with the end result, and John the fitter was a proper craftsman. Our house is 400 years old, so there's not a straight surface to be had anywhere, but he built all sorts of framework up to give himself a fighting chance. Oak worktop, Belfast sink - looks ace. He's tiled as well and done a really neat job. Couple of minor cosmetic issues still to sort out, but we're happy. Bit £££, like, but.....
     
  5. Dan

    DannyWilsonLovechild Well-Known Member

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    Thanks Royston, will have a look.

    Magnet was the first we looked at and caught the final day of their summer sale, we put down a refundable deposit to secure the prices and looked around. Sadly on reflection, the colour we thought we wanted in the style we liked just isn't quite right. We ruled out Wren (refused to book an appointment unless we agreed in advance we'd buy from them!) and were disappointed with quality and ranges at Benchmarx. Howdens don't yet have the colour in the style we liked, but the guy seemed to know his onions, but they wouldn't give a quote til we confirmed we'd use them either. Truly bizarre!
     
  6. Das

    Dassett tyke Active Member

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    http://unitech-oxon.co.uk/
    Take a look at these. I have been a kitchen fitter for over 30 years the last 12years running my own company. Have used these since going on my own, based in banbury, they deliver pretty much nationwide and manufacture their own carcasses. Really good quality and small enough to care. Highly recommended.
     
  7. Stephen

    Stephen Member

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    Hi,

    Im in London too we used these guys for the work tops https://marble-granite-quartz.com/ let them know what you want and they'll send samples that are similar, then they come down template it fit the next day or so. I got the units bespoke from a mate in Barnsley in the end who only deals to trade, but if you do think of Magnet we got a lot cheaper price from the Barnsely branch than we did the local north London one.
     
  8. Sco

    Scoff Well-Known Member

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    Have you tried Ikea? Their kitchens were decent, although can't comment on the long-term as we moved out about 18 months after fitting one.
     
  9. Dan

    DannyWilsonLovechild Well-Known Member

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    The carcasses are pretty good, my Mum had one and it was very sturdy. Apparently they shifted fairly recently from using wood on their doors and frames and now have a very high plastic content (architect suggested Ikea carcass and ShakerCo fronts as an option). I know they are insanely good value, but I cant bring myself to go down the plastic fronted route.
     
  10. Donny Red

    Donny Red Well-Known Member

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    Martin Moore has opened a new showroom in North London. We used to use his families kitchens
    ( George Moore's kitchens ) for years in the design suite at work. Another firm they used were Rixonway who
    are based in Dewsbury. My son and partner used Wickes for their cottage in Holmfirth. It looks very good
    and appears to be very durable.

    http://www.martinmoore.com/?gclid=C...K0wfLx8rJLDAbHxbv68lbxUZLdTxiryxoCM34QAvD_BwE
     
    Last edited: Sep 5, 2018
  11. Sup

    SuperTyke Well-Known Member

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    There are pros and cons to them all and the general quality doesn't change a great deal.

    They'll all give you quotes without committing but a few lime howdens are supposed to be trade only so to get a quote without committing you'll have to go through a tradesman and use their account
     
  12. shed131

    shed131 Well-Known Member

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    Got to agree ..

    Got to agree... had Howden's out ..sales guy measured up... I looked in the brochure... pointed out the kitchen that the wife wanted...sales guy says....( Deep in take of breath ) ooh your wife's got expensive taste...haven't they all I reply...yes he says but would you be shocked if I told you that kitchen would cost you 8grand ...not at all says I....but would you be shocked if I told you I won't be spending 8 grand........ 2 work tops sink unit 5 base cupboards 5 wall cupboards trims and edging.all furniture..£2.500 fitted... same kitchen same quality from DiY kitchens....no brainer...they deliver all over the country give them a call
     
    Last edited: Sep 6, 2018
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  13. Sup

    SuperTyke Well-Known Member

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    Do you mean howdens? If so how did you get them out? Via a joiner or just on your own?
     
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  14. Dod

    DodworthRover Well-Known Member

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    B and q as good as out really if u get a good deal in sale
     
  15. Sup

    SuperTyke Well-Known Member

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    B&q are terrible quality kitchens. The cook and Lewis ones are good but the normal B&q are horrible. The sales also aren't a good deal as the price is doubled for a month or so prior to the 'sale' which just puts it back to the usual price
     
  16. Sooty9

    Sooty9 Active Member

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    I second Royston Tyke diy-kitchens have a great range, much larger that Magnet and Howdens etc....

    I use Magnet on a regular basis tho for my rented property. Simply because there local, ready built units, cheaper than most and if anything is wrong I can go back to them the same day with them being local
     
  17. Donny Red

    Donny Red Well-Known Member

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    You are right to avoid plastic coated DWLC. We had one fitted for our 25th anniversary by a firm in
    Manchester FDK Kitchens. When I did my research I learned that the doors were made from MDF
    and we're coated in a type of PVC cladding which was very resilient and could be scrubbed etc, without
    showing any scratches. Brand new, the units looked brilliant and we had a wooden floor installed at the
    same time and everything look very good. Go forward ten years and we found that as the kitchen is south facing,
    the effects of sunlight through the windows and steam especially near the cooker and kettle was having an adverse
    effect on the units doors. They started to crack and the adhesive binding the PVC cladding to the MDF melted with the result that they started to lift. When I tried to contact FDK to buy replacements I found they had been wound up.
    The carcasses were still in good condition, so I got in touch with a company in Birmingham who specialise in kitchen
    makeovers. They came along , matched the existing trim up to the nearest colour of solid wood door in their range
    and the jobs a good 'un. Cost me £2 k for twelve new doors but three years on, it still looks good and the doors are
    wearing well.
     
  18. shed131

    shed131 Well-Known Member

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    Yes Howden's .... B&Q also offer a planning service... Get your guy who's fitting the kitchen to ring howdens they only deal with trade... guy comes out leaves you plan for the kitchen ...
     
  19. Dan

    DannyWilsonLovechild Well-Known Member

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    visited Howdens last weekend and had a plan produced. Ridiculous nature though is you cant see a price til you "arrange" a fitter. But how do you know you want to use Howdens, let alone a fitter used to fitting their kitchens, if you can't take price into the equation?

    Can understand they don't want to be doing free plans for people, totally understand that, but to block a decision making process, you're probably pretty likely to get people frustrated and they then look elsewhere.... like me ;-)
     
  20. fat

    fatalbert Well-Known Member

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    I used Howden's recently and they were excellent.
     

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