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.
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
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...
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.....
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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 ...
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 ;-)