kitchen recommendations

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Jonnyboy

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 23956
Location: under some rain.

Posted: Tue Nov 29, 05 12:52 pm Post subject:
Nothing wrong with free standing kitchens, or even ones that don't follow the norm. But I think it's a case of the environment they go into. You have an existing cottage of character where that fits in perfectly, whilst we have a new build that was designed around a large kitchen/dining room with galley kitchen and breakfast bar. It's simply a case of horses for courses IMHO.

Northern_Lad

Joined: 13 Dec 2004
Posts: 14210
Location: Somewhere

Posted: Tue Nov 29, 05 12:55 pm Post subject:

Jonnyboy wrote:

It's simply a case of horses for courses IMHO.

And if you're praparing horses for courses then you'll need a lot of worktop.

When do we get to see piccies of the new dwelling - your web-site's still a building site.

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45674
Location: Essex

Posted: Tue Nov 29, 05 1:01 pm Post subject:
Agree with JB, it all depends on the setting and your requirements, I like freestanding but wouldn't necessarily go for it.

Nanny

Joined: 17 Feb 2005
Posts: 4520
Location: carms in wales

Posted: Tue Nov 29, 05 1:08 pm Post subject:

i would have lliked a freestanding kitchen but becauseof all the animals and the cleaning aspect and the fact that the kitchen faces north'ish i went for a B & Q nice light easy clean set of units etc. the whole kitchen cost us �1500 and we did it all ourselves in 10 days (plus 2 yrs- i am still waiting for the lights to be replaced)

i still like it, can't envisage changing the layout.....i was impressed witht he quality even though we didn't go for the most expensive model and the end result mixed with a bit of our own eccentricity has worked out quite well

only one word of caution is that if you go for something at B&Q get all the bits in one go becaue your door handles won't be there a second time

in the end you will have what you want for as much as you want to pay for it.......salesman give me a pain in the backside anyway and i don't like them in my house

judith

Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 22789
Location: Montgomeryshire

Posted: Tue Nov 29, 05 1:11 pm Post subject:

I am in the rather unusual situation of having two kitchens in my house - both in need of refitting. The smaller of the two will be done first. It is a massive 7' x 7.5' and will be fitted to within an inch of its life.

My big kitchen - which is the one we are using now - is in the old part of the house and here I will be able to express myself with free-standing units. We have been here nearly 3 years now and my plans for this room have changed barely at all. It may be another 3 years or even more before it gets there, but I know exactly how it will look when it is finished. I've just got to find the pieces of furniture to go in it!

Jonnyboy

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 23956
Location: under some rain.

Posted: Tue Nov 29, 05 1:14 pm Post subject:

Northern_Lad wrote:

When do we get to see piccies of the new dwelling - your web-site's still a building site.

Fair point, I'll see what i can do, moving in has cut down on my free time.

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Tue Nov 29, 05 1:32 pm Post subject:
There is a difference in thinking one day you may sell and actually knowing you will sell. Tailoring a house towards who may buy it is a proven way of raising more money and worth it for many people. In an ideal world I wouldn't have to work.

bernie-woman

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 7824
Location: shropshire

Posted: Tue Nov 29, 05 1:38 pm Post subject:

Sarah D wrote:

I
We are very careful with our money, and make a little go a long way; to that end, we look at things with a view to the long term - expense
My main are of concern is this obsession with fitting your kitchen, building an extension, making an ensuite, converting your loft, fitting a whirlpool bath - whatever- with a view to selling your property some years down the line. We look at our house as our house - we live in it in the here and now, so we have what WE want. I cannot live my life thinking about what someone who may or may not buy our house may want some years ahead. We may never move again. We may move next month. .

I agree with all that you say Sarah - we too are very careful with our money, hence wanting to maximise what we can from the property we own. We have lived in this house for nearly 8 years and believe me we have lived in it with what we want, and how we want - the reality is that we will move from this house - definitely

It has taken a lot of soul searching to decide whether to move or not but we finally decided this summer that we do wish to move and unfortunately it is a definite fact that the area we wish to move to is more expensive for land and houses than Shropshire so needs must.

I am not re-fitting the kitchen wih anyone else in mind - hence why I will be spending more money on an oven as I cook alot. In addition I have to take the advice from the "professionals: on this and that is what we have done and they have confirmed that the majority of people wish to have a fitted kitchen - in addition to the grill no longer working and the kitchen sink leaking despite repairs - I am afraid the time is up for this kitchen

Whilst I would love to not worry about the re-sale price of my house I actually think we would be somewhat foolish not to

Sarah D

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 2584

Posted: Tue Nov 29, 05 1:40 pm Post subject:
Yes, but it's still living your life for someone else - not for me, is all I was trying to say.

bernie-woman

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 7824
Location: shropshire

Posted: Tue Nov 29, 05 1:41 pm Post subject:

Sarah D wrote:

Yes, but it's still living your life for someone else - not for me, is all I was trying to say.

I am not living my life for someone else at all - I wish to make as much money as I can from our poperty so that we can move where we wish to and achive our goal - who is this someone else who is going to benefit from that?

Sarah D

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 2584

Posted: Tue Nov 29, 05 1:46 pm Post subject:
I understand what you are saying, but it's not the way I personally see things, that's all.

dougal

Joined: 15 Jan 2005
Posts: 7184
Location: South Kent

Posted: Tue Nov 29, 05 1:56 pm Post subject: Re: kitchen recommendations

bernie wrote:

...We had a salesman come round last night from a small independent kitchen company and I feel totally sleazed out.
...
I would really like to use a small company but looks like we are off to B&Q and the like at the weekend - anyone got any recommendations or stories about companies we should avoid...

1/ One to avoid (though with several trading names) is "Kitchens Direct".
It could be said that their reputation with Trading Standards, Ofcom, and the Advertising Standards people is not as being a supplier with a reputation for the highest standards of ethical trading.
One example (Google will provide many more)
https://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/news/s/147/147858_rogue_kitchen_firm_forced_to_scrap_ads.html

Quote:

Maple Industries and Discount Kitchens Direct were named last year as the second most complained-about company in the UK in one internet listing. One of the men involved in forming the company was Vance Miller, a convicted criminal who had been behind two firms offering cut-price units which fell to bits.
Miller was behind Craftsman Kitchens Ltd and Craftsman Kitchen Manufacturing Ltd operating from premises in Manchester city centre, Bury and Rochdale.
Both were closed by the Department of Trade and Industry after an in-depth investigation by the Manchester Evening News.
Miller also became the first person in the country to be taken to court under supposedly tough new "Stop Now" legislation aimed at halting rogue traders.

2/ Ikea cabinets are pretty good value and (I believe) use purpose-grown timber. BUT their design can be unusual - extending right back to the wall.
This means there is no wasted "plumbing space" (but there is no allowance for plumbing!) Accordingly the install may need a little more carpentry skill. But it can be a low price high style solution.

sean
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42219
Location: North Devon

Posted: Tue Nov 29, 05 2:30 pm Post subject:
Travis Perkins are pretty good for worktops and they're FSC timber. The worktops, not the whole chain of builders merchants.

cab

Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429

Posted: Tue Nov 29, 05 2:41 pm Post subject:
Why are free standing kitchen units often so very expensive?

giraffe

Joined: 07 Oct 2005
Posts: 272
Location: Nottingham

Posted: Tue Nov 29, 05 2:45 pm Post subject:
a friend of mine used ikea garage benches as freestanding worktops in her kitchen. They lasted her for years.

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