Big Mark Posted April 3, 2008 Share Posted April 3, 2008 Got to buy 2 new kitchens, one for a development property and one for my own home so am interested to see who you guys recommend and say to avoid. Both kitchens have to feel like quality products (quality drawers that don't stick or wobble etc) Got a design meeting at B&Q today, just as a starting block. Also have brochures for Moben & Kitchens Direct (same brochure)and been on Matrix Kitchens website (not heard of them before). I've read about a kitchen company up in Oldham seems to get a lot of very bad reviews. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael Posted April 3, 2008 Share Posted April 3, 2008 MFI seem to pop up on TV as being rather poor, what are IKEA like? They certainly look the part and have some decent little touches to things. I used to sell kitchens but only very basic DIY shop flat packs, perhap they might be OK for the properly you are selling on if you garnish it up with a quality worktop? Homebase / Focus etc probably still do them and when I left they felt like quality units and were very cheap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Digsy Posted April 3, 2008 Share Posted April 3, 2008 My girlfriend recently bought one of the more expensive ones from Homebase and it was a total disaster. She ended up having all of the doors replaced because of a manufacturing fault. We fitted it ourselves and the instructions were shocking. All carcasses shipped with standard hinges so if you went for any of the more exotic door designs you got a whole separate shipment of hinges and other fittings and no info on how it was supposed to go together. The cooker plinth was a flimsy item that totally relied on having a line of coupboards each side of it to give it strength (which her design didn't have) so that had to be modified. Soft close drawers went together on the wonk and had to be rectified. The design that Homebase did allowed two doors to open into each other (the door of the built in dishwasher hit the on an nearby cupboard) so we had to make a stupid little fill in panel to create some space. Because we are both Engineers and both massively into doing everything just right it took weeks to install… I suspect that if you had someone put it in for you they would work minor issues like these in a flash - or they might just bung it together how it said on the tin and you'd end up with something that looke a bit shoddy. Its probably a bit of a minefield with a lot of random luck throen in. Oh - and be careful of those "designers" in the stores. They basically do whatever the computer tells them and they can end up, for example, using posh end panels at £30 a pop to create spacers in the runs of floor and wall units. Sarah saved about £100 by spotting that one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Ads Posted April 3, 2008 Share Posted April 3, 2008 I don't think Kitchens Direct are the same as Moben, KD just use Mobens images and designs CMIIW. We had a Moben Kitchen installed about 12 months ago now, very professional and helpful. Great quality kitchen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Mark Posted April 3, 2008 Author Share Posted April 3, 2008 I do like the look of Kitchens Direct and Moben, especially for my own home. The development property is going to be worth around £400k hence the need for a quality look and feel. Just had a look on ikea website. Their stuff looks good quality. Might have to make a trip to one of their stores for a better look. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewOW Posted April 3, 2008 Share Posted April 3, 2008 I've just ordered a new kitchen and bathroom from Wickes. Gave them the measurements, and between us put together a really nice layout and with 50% off (on selected kitchens) at the moment, it really was a bargain. Solid wood worktops too. Delivery confirmed for 29th April. I wouldn't use MFI IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Headroom Posted April 3, 2008 Share Posted April 3, 2008 Just had a look in Wickes and they have some good looking stuff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lui Posted April 3, 2008 Share Posted April 3, 2008 Magnets Trade do some great kitchens at fantastic prices I use them all the time great goods @ great prices & excellent service what more can you ask for Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Mark Posted April 3, 2008 Author Share Posted April 3, 2008 I put a Wickes one in my parents many years ago and it's still going strong. I went in yesterday but their design bloke wasn't there. Didn't see any stone worktops in the brochure or display kitchens though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Headroom Posted April 3, 2008 Share Posted April 3, 2008 I put a Wickes one in my parents many years ago and it's still going strong. I went in yesterday but their design bloke wasn't there. Didn't see any stone worktops in the brochure or display kitchens though. They had a contemporary looking one that looked and felt very good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamieP Posted April 3, 2008 Share Posted April 3, 2008 We deal with Howdens a fair bit but you have to be in the trade to use them and all the units come built, if you buy from B&Q/ wicks/ magnets most of the time they are flat packed which is a pita. http://www.howdens.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SupraGirlie Posted April 3, 2008 Share Posted April 3, 2008 Howdens did my parents kitchen, very pleased with it. But your builder would have to get it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jake Posted April 3, 2008 Share Posted April 3, 2008 I've done a couple of Howdens kitchens and TBH the quality isn't great. As Jamie says, the carcasses come pre-built, with is great for the fitter, but apart from that I wasn't at all impressed with them. Didn't seem any better than B&Q units to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamieP Posted April 3, 2008 Share Posted April 3, 2008 I've done a couple of Howdens kitchens and TBH the quality isn't great. As Jamie says, the carcasses come pre-built, with is great for the fitter, but apart from that I wasn't at all impress with them. Didn't seem any better than B&Q units to me. They are owned by mfi so basicly the same kitchens except better carcasses, iirc all flat pack are 18mm and the howdens pre built are 21mm, imo they are the best of the budget kitchens, a good fitter will make the world of difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jake Posted April 3, 2008 Share Posted April 3, 2008 Are you saying I'm not a good kitchen fitter? Yeah, I was told they're the same as MFI stuff. Why is 21mm chipboard better than 18mm? If 18mm is adequate, which it is IMO, what's the point of 21mm? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyP Posted April 3, 2008 Share Posted April 3, 2008 My last two kitchens were from Howdens and I've found them to be very good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamieP Posted April 3, 2008 Share Posted April 3, 2008 Are you saying I'm not a good kitchen fitter? Yeah, I was told they're the same as MFI stuff. Why is 21mm chipboard better than 18mm? If 18mm is adequate, which it is IMO, what's the point of 21mm? Im not saying that;) Probs not a lot in it if put together with care tbh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlotte Posted April 3, 2008 Share Posted April 3, 2008 My kitchen is wickes, but we went to Homebase for them to do the drawings for some reason! The carcasses are really good quality and they are those non slamming doors. I'd definitely recommend them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewOW Posted April 3, 2008 Share Posted April 3, 2008 The carcasses are really good quality and they are those non slamming doors. The whole reason for buying them! We just loved the soft close doors and drawers They also come with an option for colour coded carcasses (especially with the kitchen we chose), so no ugly white edges showing through the ends of doors etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wez Posted April 3, 2008 Share Posted April 3, 2008 The whole reason for buying them! We just loved the soft close doors and drawers You can fit these to any kitchen. I have fitted two B&Q kitchens and both came out fine, just spend a little more on the finishing touches. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
probrox Posted April 3, 2008 Share Posted April 3, 2008 We deal with Magnets and Howdens at work and find there Kitchens to be pretty good. We get the units built up from both, no flat pack. Also use Rixonway Kitchens and Moores Kitchens. Both situated up north but deliver around the country. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Posted April 3, 2008 Share Posted April 3, 2008 All down to the fitting imo. I've installed a few and the one we have now is an MFI and it's decent quality. Looked at more expensive ones and no better in quality to be honest. The only thing I'd slag MFI for is the worktops, we got ours from an independent supplier as they were that much better. I've heard Moben are crap, any fitter worth his weight will work for himself and set up supplying as well rather than working for a big company. An average kitchen fitted well will look great and last ages, pay extra for a 'name' and have it fitted by a bodgers and it'll be crap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Mark Posted April 3, 2008 Author Share Posted April 3, 2008 The development property had a Howdens Kitchen fitted by the previous owner less than a year ago and it is awful. It looks cheap & nasty and it badly fitted. Plus after Howdens wouldn't even give me a price or some doors last year cos I wasn't trade I won't ever be using them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Mark Posted April 3, 2008 Author Share Posted April 3, 2008 Spent 2 hours at b&q's with their 'designer' this afternoon. Other than being able to use their design software he didn't really do much designing. Instead I had to make all the suggestions and solve problems. Wickes tomorrow and then I'll try Moben and or Magnets. Might pop into John Nicolls over the weekend. They are bloody expensive but hopefully they have a designer that can actually design. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mathew Posted April 3, 2008 Share Posted April 3, 2008 the company i work for always deals with howdens. i dont find thier stuff anything special but went to pick up a couple of bits and pieces from them for work and found out (shown on the receipt) that my company(not technically my company) get a discount of 65%-75% on products from them!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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