Kitchens
Posted by: MichaelC on 04 July 2004
My hand has been forced and it is time to throw out the old and get a new kitchen. No upgrades for a while 
.
The question is - has anybody changed kitchens recently and if so what have you bought? Are there brands which should be left well alone or are there brands which come thoroughly recommended? Ideas will be welcomed because there is too much choice out there.
We have seen the MFI range (ok), the Crown range (ok), the Leicht range (interesting). Any others out there which should be looked at? Any which should be avoided at all costs?
The nightmare begins...
Mike
.The question is - has anybody changed kitchens recently and if so what have you bought? Are there brands which should be left well alone or are there brands which come thoroughly recommended? Ideas will be welcomed because there is too much choice out there.
We have seen the MFI range (ok), the Crown range (ok), the Leicht range (interesting). Any others out there which should be looked at? Any which should be avoided at all costs?
The nightmare begins...
Mike
Firstly, do you really need a whole new kitchen? If the carcasses are ok and the cupboards are all in the right place for you, could you get away with buying new doors and fitting them yourself?
If you want the whole thing:
B&Q are surprisingly good quality these days, much better than say 5 years ago - but make sure you go to one of their larger stores with the "Its" range, some smaller stores still seem to have the older, crappier range.
Magnet aren't cheap even with their permanent sale, but seem well-made and arrive ready-built (just need to fit doors) which is a big time-saver if DIY-ing.
Ikea are great value, if you have the means to get it all home and don't mind the inevitable return visit when you realise you forgot something.
Howdens are a trade-only place, make the kirchens for MFI. If you can get a letter of introduction from a friendly tradesman (or blag it, claiming you're a landlord, developer, whatever) they're worth a look.
I bought carcasses and drawer boses from B&Q and got a friendly carpenter (ok, my dad) to make the door and drawer-fronts for me and we fitted it ourselves. Saved a fortune and got a semi-bespoke kitchen for about the same cost as a B&Q one. Except mine's made from American Black Walnut and birds-eye Maple - try finding that in B&Q
Seriously though, if you know any competent carpenters then it's an option worth considering.
Steve.
It's a grand old team to play for...
If you want the whole thing:
B&Q are surprisingly good quality these days, much better than say 5 years ago - but make sure you go to one of their larger stores with the "Its" range, some smaller stores still seem to have the older, crappier range.
Magnet aren't cheap even with their permanent sale, but seem well-made and arrive ready-built (just need to fit doors) which is a big time-saver if DIY-ing.
Ikea are great value, if you have the means to get it all home and don't mind the inevitable return visit when you realise you forgot something.
Howdens are a trade-only place, make the kirchens for MFI. If you can get a letter of introduction from a friendly tradesman (or blag it, claiming you're a landlord, developer, whatever) they're worth a look.
I bought carcasses and drawer boses from B&Q and got a friendly carpenter (ok, my dad) to make the door and drawer-fronts for me and we fitted it ourselves. Saved a fortune and got a semi-bespoke kitchen for about the same cost as a B&Q one. Except mine's made from American Black Walnut and birds-eye Maple - try finding that in B&Q
Seriously though, if you know any competent carpenters then it's an option worth considering.Steve.
It's a grand old team to play for...