Are B&Q or Homebase kitchens ok or are there better for the price?

[Lavendersbluedillydilly1969]

We are finally thinking about replacing our kitchen which is the original one from when the house was built. It's an awkward shaped kitchen with just two walls to fit against so looking for clever ideas.
Neighbours have a B&Q kitchen that looks quite nice (wood effect though and I'm looking for a white or cream gloss) and I'm just a bit overwhelmed about the choices available.
Budget would be upto 5000 I think plus appliances so not really budget but definitely not an expensive one.
Any thoughts on where would be good to start? Ideally I would like to gt a couple of companies out to have a look and make suggestions on how to maximise the space and storage.
If anyone can help it would be most appreciated. This is likely to be the one and only time I get a new kitchen so would really like it to be the best we can afford.
Thanks.

[HappyAsASandboy]

We've self-fitted B&Q kitchens before, as has my sister. They're good quality I think, and have so many different shapes and sizes of cupboard that you can make something that really fits your room.

If your budget is £5k, I would go for B&Q. Unless your kitchen is huuuge, you'll have enough left for reasonable worktops.

Ikea worktops are much better (and a fraction of the cost) of B&Q if you're going for laminate tops.

[Lavendersbluedillydilly1969]

Thank you Happy, not sure if we would self fit but worth considering as would save a few pennies. We're they good at helping you plan or did you go with it done and just buy what you needed?
I've seen ikea kitchens and they look ok and I like the length of warranty on them but not sure about pipe spaces behind cupboards as read they don't have a rear void.

[ColouringInQueen]

A few years back we bought a Homebase kitchen (oak effect, laminate top). I think it was very good value for money and quality wasn't bad at all. They were not the most organised shop to deal with which was the only negative really. But me and OH managed to fit it (our first kitchen) and it looks great! Think it was about £2K.

[RedBushedT]

I've got a homemade kitchen. Self -fitted (by ex) three years ago. It's lovely & lasting well. Got oak worktops from a local builders merchant & got a joiner in for them & the effect is good.
I'm very happy with it

[RedBushedT]

Homebase! Bloody phone. Not homemade lol

[pickles184]

B&Q and Ikea use very cheap materials, they look good at first, but the quality of finish is generally poor and will look tired and worn long before many other suppliers especially in the gloss ranges. Homebase have recently upgraded their kitchens so are definately worth a look, it's also worth speaking to local joiners/kitchen fitters as they will have accounts with Howdens, Benchmarx, Ridgeons etc.. and you will generally get a lot more kitchen for your money from them. It's always a good idea to get quotes from at least 3 places, if the one you prefer is more expensive you can often persuade them to price match the cheapest quote

[Gumps]

I second howdens.

[HalleLouja]

I would never buy a B&Q kitchen. The one in my house is from there and falling apart rapidly after 6 years of being installed. Not great.

[HalleLouja]

Mine looked great to begin with. I think Wickes kitchens have good reviews.

[mrssmooth]

Howdens all the way! Their cabinets are made from thicker wood/mdf, generally seem to be better quality, and most importantly, our Howdens kitchen cost £3,000 less than B&Q's quote!! It cost (including handles, soft close hinges, sink & tap, eye-level oven, ceramic hob and cooker hood) £3,600. Fitting it cost £600 (by a lovely local carpenter).

[Tizwozliz]

Lack of service void doesn't have to be an issue. Pipes can be rerouted below plinth level or you can use an extra deep worktop to create your own service void.

We were moving our gas supply anyway so we made sure they rerouted it so it would be at floor level. That cost £100. The difference between our Ikea quote and the next cheapest was ~2 grand so the cost of moving the gas was neither here nor there.

I've heard a lot of people say tradesmen have refused to fit an Ikea kitchen, if that's the case then I'd steer clear of them anyway. They might be different from the norm but I'd not trust any who thought they were too much like hardwork because having fitted one they're ridiculously straightforward.

kitchen being fitted

[Tizwozliz]

And ikea have options that other companies don't include in their 'budget' ranges, e.g. tall wall cupboards which might be relevant if you're talking about maximising space.

No comment on their design service as we didn't use it. Our experience of other companies design service was them operating the design program on the computer for you, there was v. little input on what would work, suggestions to maximise space etc.

[Pannacotta]

Tiz your kitchen looks lovely, which doors do you have?

[Tizwozliz]

They are Ädel off white

[Iggly]

Ikea. My SIL has an ikea kitchen going strong 8 years later.

The cupboards are thick (18mm?), same for doors. Feel very sturdy - just make sure they're put together properly at the start. We have a billy book shelf which is about 15 years old so I trust ikea.

[Furball]

We have a B & Q kitchen in solid oak and they also fitted it.

I have no complaints about it, it still looks good after 6 years.

They come out and load your room onto their computer and show you what the finished item should look like.

That is a free service and there is no obligation to buy, so you could get them out and see what they say - you could even take their idea forward with someone else if you wanted

[Iggly]

Also we heard similar about tradesman and ikea but I think it's because they can't be arsed with the construction and the store can be a pain if things are missing (not an issue with us). I also think its a snobbery thing as they might think you have less £££.

The internal fittings are made by Blum so sturdy.

Also used the online design software - was great!

[ouryve]

The ordinary B&Q ones are pretty decent for the price. Not the Cooke and Lewis, though - they even look like they're falling apart in the shop.

[Iggly]

this blog is very useful re kitchen

[Tizwozliz]

One of the reasons we chose Ikea was because there is one fairly local to us and we thought it would be easy to sort things out if we were missing anything etc.

Our order was missing a couple of hinges only, but we just popped to Ikea at 8pm on Friday evening and they were supplied with no issue. We also had a door that was warped when we removed it from the packaging, again we just took it to Ikea and they swapped it there and then.

When my colleague had a B&Q kitchen fitted she had to wait 2 weeks for a replacement item!

[Lavendersbluedillydilly1969]

Thank you everyone, it's given me a lot to think about.
I think I will try Homebase, Ikea and Howdens to start with. Homebase and Howdens are in Cambridge so not too far, nearest Ikea is lakeside so a bit more of a trek from the fens.
Must say Tiz, I think I want gloss doors but your kitchen is lovely.

[PipkinsPal]

My boyfriend bought a Cooke & Lewis B&Q kitchen to fit himself. The amount of times parts that were delivered damaged and he had to wait in (he is rennovating house so doesn't live there) for replacements and the damaged to be taken back was unbelievable. In fact the damaged and replacements were not at the same time. He complained so much they gave him a few hundred quid off but told him it was a final payment. As a result he cancelled the granite worktops because if they messed those up he would not have any re-course. The kitchen does look lovely but he bought the handles off Toolstation as they were cheaper than B&Q.

[MinimalistMommi]

Polter we plan on going same route as you. Our kitchen is small so I think we will be able to get great quality and still afford it

[fussychica]

Our kitchen is very small so thought would be very cheap but it's so awkward we are looking at bespoke as none of the major companies can supply suitable units to make best use of the space. Howdens were pretty good but only have very shallow wall cupboards which you can't get a standard dinner plate in - WHY?? Wickes had nothing suitable.
I like grey but both my bespoke guys are having trouble supplying grey doors - bloody nightmare.