Best place for quality kitchen units

[elgreco]

Hi to all you knowledgeable gents. We are extending the rear of the house and fitting a new kitchen. I’m confident in fitting the units etc. Just not too sure where to get them from, looking for decent quality and reasonable cost. I want it to last as we are not the type to change every couple of years. 
thanks

Tom

[Saltings]

Howdens would be a good place to start   good solid cabinets ready made     saves a days labour on  flatpack  assembly   

[Smiler23]

DIY kitchens, there in Pontefract but do deliver, I fit slot of kitchens over a year and these are top class, at a very affordable price..they also come fully assembled, doors, drawers baskets etc, all you have to do is push legs on and do handles

[archi]

I would also agree on diy kitchens they are I believe the trade arm of Ultima and my hinge covers have Ultima.

Howdens aren’t that cheap even with trade discount from what I have seen at work.

[Walker570]

Pity Team Tractor is so far away he would build you one to be proud of.

[WalkedUp]

I don’t rate DIY Kitchens quality but their value for money is good. Yesterday on site was a £40k Leicht kitchen and that was not any better quality. I hate kitchens as you pay a lot for rubbish that will be thrown away quickly. My preference is the more expensive Wren ones with thicker doors. Very, very cheap if you choose right and just as rubbish as the rest. 

The best kitchens we have done have been built by specialist joinery companies from real wood. 

[markm]

Half way through our first fit after knocking down a dividing wall. Of the ‘off the shelf’ stuff wren is the best (apparently from our joiner).  We spent hours looking / reviewing. Eventually we went with a local big company who manufacture their own (we had a tour of the factory after we signed before anyone suggests they just buy them in) and the price difference wasn’t that much. At the end of the day, 99% of kitchens are chipboard and laminate so it’s all the same.  The big difference is they make the kitchen to size, rather than best fit and use panels to fill in. 

[Saltings]

carcases are carcases 18mm or going back to the 70s 15mm as shed diy are doing  now cheap junk chipboard compaction quality is also junk       18mm chipboard compaction is better quality     if it looks smoother  rather than orange peel finish in the sunlight its better quality              its the bling bits on the front you have to choose carefully  re quality and drawer boxes  metal frame and solid base or cheap junk    getting a replacement door in two years         dew to shrink wrap failure  from sheds impossible not interested    companies who supply the trade have a good rep  i have replaced doors dew to failure of bonding and delaminating of wrap  ( not solid wood )    12 yrs after fitting    no dramas    if it looks good without a badge       it is        and pay way way more for a designer badge        its all bought in  from different suppliers / manufacturers   and the fitter puts it all together  been there done that many  many times       you could  always look on evil bay  face ake book  somebody removing a 30k kitchen  now 1k or less      work out what you need  60% may fit and look the dogs danglies           grannet tops can be cut to fit and joined to suit your needs    good luck         if in doubt get in touch  pm your number  what takes me hours to write i can explain in minuets  

[Centrepin]

Sheffield kitchen supplies. 

My daughter in law 🤫

Absolutely the best, DIY or fitted.

[Cranfield]

On 10/06/2021 at 07:29, markm said:

Half way through our first fit after knocking down a dividing wall. Of the ‘off the shelf’ stuff wren is the best (apparently from our joiner).  We spent hours looking / reviewing. Eventually we went with a local big company who manufacture their own (we had a tour of the factory after we signed before anyone suggests they just buy them in) and the price difference wasn’t that much. At the end of the day, 99% of kitchens are chipboard and laminate so it’s all the same.  The big difference is they make the kitchen to size, rather than best fit and use panels to fill in. 

A recent similar experience to this.
Looked "locally" , we inspected their stuff, checked references, etc.,
They helped my wife design it, they made it and fitted it.
We chose and purchased the flooring and the tiles (my wife insisted), they fitted everything.
Most of our appliances were less than 2 years old and were retained, free standing.
Only the fridge/freezer was replaced and that was a built in.

I have had friends buy ready made, with a local chap to fit.
Their problems started when there are any shortages faults or mistakes with the units supplies.
Hanging around waiting for stuff.
If its made locally any probs are dealt with quickly.
 

[KurtH]

Get Howdens to do the plan and quote etc Then use the plans to purchase it from DIY Kitchens and save yourself thousands 👍🏻

[Demonic69]

Ikea. Just make sure you get their worktops and fit the units according to the instructions

[poppythedog]

Do any of the main manufacturers use solid wood these days? I will be having a kitchen installed in a few months but I don't like chipboard.

[udderlyoffroad]

1 hour ago, poppythedog said:

Do any of the main manufacturers use solid wood these days? I will be having a kitchen installed in a few months but I don't like chipboard.

Many people say that, almost no-one is prepared to pay for it!! 

Plenty of chippies out there would love to make a kitchen from solid wood.  My brother made one once from reclaimed roofing timbers.  Looked ok, if rustic.

BUT, composite wood materials are popular for a reason - less subject to movement, twisting, buckling, susceptibility to moisture....etc.

It's a little like all these people saying they want a proper, utilitarian replacement for the Defender.  Almost nobody saying that actually is someone who would buy such a vehicle.

Sorry to cast Neusustrums about you if you are genuinely prepared to break out your cheque book to pay for it, but if you're looking at 'main manufacturers', it's probably not the kind of money you're prepared to spend.

 

[garjo]

We are in the process of looking for a kitchen, as someone knows very little about this it's a bit of a nightmare. We want something which will last and can repaint etc. At the moment looking at a company called kitchen stori, does anyone know anything about this company? Would appreciate any advice on what to look out for. Ta

[harrycatcat1]

On 11/06/2021 at 12:19, KurtH said:

Get Howdens to do the plan and quote etc Then use the plans to purchase it from DIY Kitchens and save yourself thousands 👍🏻

Are these them?

 

https://www.diy-kitchens.com/kitchens/helmsley-bespoke/details/

[archi]

2 hours ago, harrycatcat1 said:

Are these them?

 

https://www.diy-kitchens.com/kitchens/helmsley-bespoke/details/

Yes, I have some wren units and also some by the above guys and I believe they are better than wren if or the quality of the hinges etc 

[harrycatcat1]

15 minutes ago, archi said:

Yes, I have some wren units and also some by the above guys and I believe they are better than wren if or the quality of the hinges etc 

Interested as my daughter is after a new kitchen,  thanks 👍

[Smiler23]

I fit all of the above brands of kitchen, for me personally if I was getting a kitchen tomorrow I'd choose DIY, then wren.. Howdens I only use now to get plan and list then send to DIY, for roughly 50% cheaper

[39TDS]

Just had Howdens kitchen fitted and very pleased but DIY would be the alternative, only heard good things about them. Got Howdens at trade so not too bad (missus paid for it anyway :D)

[vampire]

On 11/06/2021 at 01:11, Saltings said:

carcases are carcases 18mm or going back to the 70s 15mm as shed diy are doing  now cheap junk chipboard compaction quality is also junk       18mm chipboard compaction is better quality     if it looks smoother  rather than orange peel finish in the sunlight its better quality              its the bling bits on the front you have to choose carefully  re quality and drawer boxes  metal frame and solid base or cheap junk    getting a replacement door in two years         dew to shrink wrap failure  from sheds impossible not interested    companies who supply the trade have a good rep  i have replaced doors dew to failure of bonding and delaminating of wrap  ( not solid wood )    12 yrs after fitting    no dramas    if it looks good without a badge       it is        and pay way way more for a designer badge        its all bought in  from different suppliers / manufacturers   and the fitter puts it all together  been there done that many  many times       you could  always look on evil bay  face ake book  somebody removing a 30k kitchen  now 1k or less      work out what you need  60% may fit and look the dogs danglies           grannet tops can be cut to fit and joined to suit your needs    good luck         if in doubt get in touch  pm your number  what takes me hours to write i can explain in minuets  

Exactly this word for word.👍

[NorfolkAYA]

Loch anna

[John_R]

There's a firm next to my work unit who makes the carcasses from MDF. I see sheets of it, plus various plywoods and venneered boards arriving most weeks.  They have a spray booth and all sorts in there. I don't know what they do for the doors, I've not looked that closely. 

 

Edit:  

The MDF is used more for the units that are hand painted.  The majority of the normal carcasses are made from MFC ie chipboard in all the range of surface finish. 

Edited June 23, 2021 by John_R