advice on my new kitchen, plus fitter needed Southampton

[MancTommo]

Hi All, Name is Gary. Don't normally do forums, but having read through number of threads and looking at pictures, think you might be able to help.

I am getting a new kitchen and to be honest is has been unreal. Have seen everyone from betta Living, Homebase, local kitchen company and in between.

I have had some ridiculous quotes, including fitting quotes.

I think I have decided on my worktop, Platinum White Quartz from Silestone,

I am also getting complete new integrated Miele appliances. This alone is not cheap so to keep costs reasonable and because I am getting high end appliances, sink, taps and worktop etc etc, dont see the point in spending over the top on my kitchen. I just had a quote from B&Q on their Appleby white gloss kitchen which is the first reasonable quote I have had.

They have told me its a Lacquer door and it is the same door I have been looking at elsewhere but is a lot less money. The carcuss is not as nice as seen as has the pre drilled holes in, but hey can live with it if saves me £5-£10K.

What are your thoughts, and can anyone tell me if there is a better kitchen around the same costs. I do have a tradepoint card so got a good discount.

Plus they put the stuff together before delivery. I still need a fitter to put all together, including all the appliances etc, so any in Southampton area you could recommend.

any help greatly appreciated

[nsk]

Hi Gary

Sorry if this seems blunt, but I really dont understand your logic?

You are looking to put in cheap carcasses but are happy to splash out on appliances and tops?


I would advise spending money on your carcasses, they will after all be supporting a solid weight (tops) for a very long time.

I wouldn't be looking at the cheap option, its does not make any sense to me at all.


On the subject of the doors, there will be a clear difference between the ones b&q have showed you and what you have seen elsewhere, they will not be the same doors regardless of what they a telling you.

[Daniel]

I think NSK might have just said what the majority of the forum was thinking.

In my opinion its like buying a Fiesta and then fitting a Ferrari V8 to it ...... doesn't make a huge amount of sense !!

[PJK]

I agree with the others mate to be honest. Fur coat and no knickers springs to mind! Drop down a notch to neff appliances.

The comment about the fitting fee worries me though. Do not get the cheapest fitting price!! This will turn round and bite you is the ass mate.

[Fitter Steve]

I think you guys are overlooking how hard a kitchen purchase can be from a customers point of view. all suppliers tell you how their kitchens are better for whatever reason and from joe publics point of view all cabinets are chipboard so how can they really be different? We know they are due to type of chipboard and fixing used, how they are put together etc but for some they all look the same.

MancTommo is obviously spending a lot of money to be able to 5 to 10 k just on cabinets and doors by going b and q so i wouldnt say the budget is that small for this kitchen.

in this case saying spend less on ur appliances and more on cabinets imo isnt a great solution. get the miele appliances if thats what ur heart is set on but maybe do a bit more homework on the cabinet side.
I do not rate cooke and lewis that much but to be honest they arnt that bad compared to say homebase ( which would prob cost more)Id put cooke and lewis on par with wickes kitchens and something like Howdens. all 3 are good enough to last a decent amount of time but there is better out there for the same money.
my advice would be to try get another kitchen fitter round, hopefully from here, and see what they are offering

[Daniel]

I totally agree Steve that perhaps we have overlooked the main piece of advice that the OP was looking for ..... i.e. recommendation of a cabinet supplier.

But I still believe it is ill advised to have such large variations in quality levels when specifying a kitchen. Unfortunately the sum of your parts is only as strong as your weakest link, and thus, VERY GENERALLY, if you spend less in this industry you get exactly that.

I think in general it is sound advice to say spread your budget more evenly and get good quality all round rather than exceptional in places and poor in others - which is exactly what the OP would be getting if he purchased Miele appliances and Quartz tops with B+Q units.

Either way perhaps more info from Manctommo, i.e budget for cabinets and fitting, might help clear a lot of things up, and save us from toing and froing posts

[Fitter Steve]

Hi Daniel, I agree with you that knowing the budget we would be able to offer better advice. But I have to disagree that in this industry if you spend less you get less quality. Homebase is a prime example of this. IMO on quality with Ikea but twice the price. Thanks not because Ikea kitchens are cheap. Its because Homebase are overpriced. I think moreso than most industries you need to shop around when purchasing a kitchen if youre wanting the best quality for your budget.

I for example go through quite a bit of hassle sometimes to get the best kitchens for my customers for their budget. I have both Howdens and Benchmarx very close to me no to mention b and q trade where I could get kitchens from for much less hassle but I decide not to as the ones I get a much better quality for the same price