I want to do my kitchen. My current plan is to get IKEA units and put them in myself (though could get an independent contractor to do that). I want lovely granite worksurfaces fitted on top, which will need to be professionally fitted. I've been looking around at different places and got some ok rough estimates for what I want. I'll probably get a new sink from the worksurface people and maybe a hob, as that will need to be installed at the same time as the worksurface.
Anyone else after a kitchen/bathroom in the sales?
- Thread starter Cloo
- Start date
Cloo
Banana for scale
Had an amusing visit from a kitchen company last night where gsv got so sick of the sales speil (and the guy had no idea how to go off-script) that we ended up chucking him out before he got to the design! They also had a bit of weird pyramid-selling thing going on where they’ll pay you commission for recommending them and getting a sale, and they calculate your discount based on how useful they think you’ll be to them in that respect (eg asking about jobs, number of family etc) 
We were bothering to see them as we were quite keen on one of their designs, but seeing it again, it wasn’t as nice as we thought, plus it was becoming clear they were too pricey. And the whole sales thing was tedious.
The other annoying thing is bathroom/kitchen people not showing up. The guys from last night were supposed to see us last Friday but didn’t turn up and didn’t call to say they were delayed/not coming, which there is so no excuse for in this day and age. Ditto Dolphin bathrooms, who claimed their designer was having car trouble, oh, and their mobile wasn’t working.
We have actually asked them back, as gsv’s wangled some potential extra discount from them for letting us down before.
The bathroom's looking fiddlier, and possibly more expensive, than the kitchen at the moment, in fact
We were bothering to see them as we were quite keen on one of their designs, but seeing it again, it wasn’t as nice as we thought, plus it was becoming clear they were too pricey. And the whole sales thing was tedious.The other annoying thing is bathroom/kitchen people not showing up. The guys from last night were supposed to see us last Friday but didn’t turn up and didn’t call to say they were delayed/not coming, which there is so no excuse for in this day and age. Ditto Dolphin bathrooms, who claimed their designer was having car trouble, oh, and their mobile wasn’t working.
We have actually asked them back, as gsv’s wangled some potential extra discount from them for letting us down before.The bathroom's looking fiddlier, and possibly more expensive, than the kitchen at the moment, in fact
lillia
Dancin'
Just a thought, and tbh a long shot, but if you fancy a rustic-y type kitchen then have you thought about speaking to a joiner about making you cabinets/doors etc in your choice of wood and fitting them for you?
My Mum and Dad spent ages looking for a decent rustic kitchen to go in their house and they eventually went this route... they now have a gorgeous solid wood kitchen that cost the same as a shop bought and fitted one but is completely individual. Worth having a chat to timber suppliers to see if they can recommend someone at all - their guy gave them details of some of his previous clients so they could have a look at his work. Unfortunately they're in Cornwall or I'd pass on his details... As I said it could be a complete no-hoper and maybe they just struck gold!
My Mum and Dad spent ages looking for a decent rustic kitchen to go in their house and they eventually went this route... they now have a gorgeous solid wood kitchen that cost the same as a shop bought and fitted one but is completely individual. Worth having a chat to timber suppliers to see if they can recommend someone at all - their guy gave them details of some of his previous clients so they could have a look at his work. Unfortunately they're in Cornwall or I'd pass on his details... As I said it could be a complete no-hoper and maybe they just struck gold!
Cloo
Banana for scale
Interesting - TBH we've found the look we're happy with at Ikea, so I doubt a carpenter can beat it.
That said, my parents did have a beautiful traditional kitchen handmade at their place in Slovakia - I've joked to gsv that flying over a bunch of Slovak carpenters and putting them up in hostel for a week and getting them to do it would probably be cheaper than getting it done here. It might not be a joke, actually...
Turns out the first builder has come through with a quote now, so please God we can get moving soon.
That said, my parents did have a beautiful traditional kitchen handmade at their place in Slovakia - I've joked to gsv that flying over a bunch of Slovak carpenters and putting them up in hostel for a week and getting them to do it would probably be cheaper than getting it done here. It might not be a joke, actually...
Turns out the first builder has come through with a quote now, so please God we can get moving soon.
mattie
missing in inaction
I'm going through the same thing Cloo, for our kitchen all the big sheds quoted stupid money for what is basically a pretty simple fit (over 3 grand for fitting, quite how they got to that figure I'll never know). The sales would have lopped quite a bit of money off the kitchen itself, but we spoke to local fitter who recommended a small local company (Howdens, not sure if they have anything near you but they've a good reputation) as he can get trade prices for us.
We had the same with our bathroom, Dolphin quoted 9 grand for a pretty compact room, we eventually got a recommendation for a fitter and paid about 3 and a bit all up, we could have done it even cheaper but the missus went a bit mad on the tiles and taps.
Heartily recommend a private fitter, ask around at work, you'll be surprised where recommendations come from - you can even ask other tradepeople, your plumber or electrician may know a decent fitter.
eta: It looks like Howdens (http://www.howdens.com/) may be more widespread than I thought - I was under the impression they were predominantly West country. A further benefit is that the y provide ready-made cabinets, which reduces the fitting cost as they don't have to be assembled from flatpack. You have to get a quote through a private fitter, which is annoying as it's quite hard to budget.
We had the same with our bathroom, Dolphin quoted 9 grand for a pretty compact room, we eventually got a recommendation for a fitter and paid about 3 and a bit all up, we could have done it even cheaper but the missus went a bit mad on the tiles and taps.
Heartily recommend a private fitter, ask around at work, you'll be surprised where recommendations come from - you can even ask other tradepeople, your plumber or electrician may know a decent fitter.
eta: It looks like Howdens (http://www.howdens.com/) may be more widespread than I thought - I was under the impression they were predominantly West country. A further benefit is that the y provide ready-made cabinets, which reduces the fitting cost as they don't have to be assembled from flatpack. You have to get a quote through a private fitter, which is annoying as it's quite hard to budget.
pennimania
still dre and drooling
We are having our new kitchen from H owdens - but as our house is being torn apart anyway and our apparently resident builder is doing the fitting. thought their designs would be noxious but quite liked at least one, which after all is all you need.
Cloo - you might enjoy looking at Ikeafans.com- if you haven't seen it yet. Mainly American - but deals with every little bit of Ikeaishness you could ever think of!
is doing the fitting. thought their designs would be noxious but quite liked at least one, which after all is all you need.Cloo - you might enjoy looking at Ikeafans.com- if you haven't seen it yet. Mainly American - but deals with every little bit of Ikeaishness you could ever think of!
ricbake
working out how
Kitchens from IKEA are good but there are two difficulties
1. actually buying it and getting all the bits with out spending 3 full days in the store.
2. The units are designed to fit flush in square timber framed houses with all pipes and cables well out the way.
First problem is solved by having them deliver it . If your not in their delivery area have it delivered somewhere that is and pick it up, It saves a lot of grief.
Second problem can be got around by pushing the base unit forward and drylining up to the underneath of the wall units - it works really well if you can afford to lose the inch or so from the room.
Corner carosel units are brilliant.
Ikea taps, sinks, basic ovens and hobs are good value.
I am still living with the first one I put in 12 years ago!
1. actually buying it and getting all the bits with out spending 3 full days in the store.
2. The units are designed to fit flush in square timber framed houses with all pipes and cables well out the way.
First problem is solved by having them deliver it . If your not in their delivery area have it delivered somewhere that is and pick it up, It saves a lot of grief.
Second problem can be got around by pushing the base unit forward and drylining up to the underneath of the wall units - it works really well if you can afford to lose the inch or so from the room.
Corner carosel units are brilliant.
Ikea taps, sinks, basic ovens and hobs are good value.
I am still living with the first one I put in 12 years ago!
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