Fitting new kitchen - looking for best price for stuff

[4hero]

Hello,

I'm currently in the middle of designing a new kitchen, and was looking for some advice on websites you may recommend for buying accessories like:

• Built in appliances (fridge freezer, washing machine, dishwasher, oven)
• Taps
• Lighting
• Sockets, dimmers, switches

I would prefer good quality brands like bosch for the appliances if possible. It's just that there are so many sites selling this stuff, I'm not sure who is reliable?

Would also like some top quality ceiling mounted flush speakers, but not sure what's best?

Any help would be excellent!

[andy43]

In my experience you're best off finding a local graded appliance place and seeing what they have or what price they can get new stuff in at. We've got ovens etc locally at better prices than online.
Other option is ebay - there's quite a bit of graded or exdisplay kit on there, you need to check the seller out thoroughly though.

[garycat]

4hero said:

Hello,

I'm currently in the middle of designing a new kitchen, and was looking for some advice on websites you may recommend for buying accessories like:

• Built in appliances (fridge freezer, washing machine, dishwasher, oven)
• Taps
• Lighting
• Sockets, dimmers, switches

I would prefer good quality brands like bosch for the appliances if possible. It's just that there are so many sites selling this stuff, I'm not sure who is reliable?

Would also like some top quality ceiling mounted flush speakers, but not sure what's best?

Any help would be excellent!

I went though this exercise and best prices I found were...

Appliances - http://www.bootskitchenappliances.com/ - especially if you have an advantage card.
Taps/Sinks - http://www.sinks-taps.com/
Sockets - www.toolstation.com

Kitchen - www.wrenkitchens.com
Hob/Hood - http://www.premierrange.co.uk/

[DrDeAtH]

just look in google under online appliance stores.


have had good results with www.365electrical.com
and trade direct appliances

[4hero]

Thanks for the info so far folks!

Garycat, did you use www.wrenkitchens.com? The site looks excellent, just not heard of them before. Would like a little more info on quality of materials and finishing if possible please?

Any more help would be very much appreciated!

Neill

[grumbas]

4hero said:

Would also like some top quality ceiling mounted flush speakers, but not sure what's best?

JBL kit I've heard is very good, especially with the ceiling mounted sub!

I'd start a tread in Home Cinema/Hifi for recommendations when you're ready to buy.

[northandy]

DrDeAtH said:

just look in google under online appliance stores.


have had good results with www.365electrical.com
and trade direct appliances

Used these myself and they were good.

I used kelkoo.com for prices once i knew what i wanted.

[theboyfold]

4hero said:

Thanks for the info so far folks!

Garycat, did you use www.wrenkitchens.com? The site looks excellent, just not heard of them before. Would like a little more info on quality of materials and finishing if possible please?

Any more help would be very much appreciated!

Neill

I'm watching this thread with some interest as I'm about to install a new kitchen. Thought you'd be interested to have a look through this thread.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php...

I've not read it, but it seems there is lots on there...

[4hero]

theboyfold said:

4hero said:

Thanks for the info so far folks!

Garycat, did you use www.wrenkitchens.com? The site looks excellent, just not heard of them before. Would like a little more info on quality of materials and finishing if possible please?

Any more help would be very much appreciated!

Neill

I'm watching this thread with some interest as I'm about to install a new kitchen. Thought you'd be interested to have a look through this thread.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php...

I've not read it, but it seems there is lots on there...

Just been reading it

Still tempted with wren, nothing major to worry about on mse.

[theboyfold]

I'll be interested to know how you get on? I'm not going to be doing anything for a couple of months. I'm not sure about buying something that I can't go and see easily beforehand.

[4hero]

Going to order a sample door from them. Will keep this thread updated with the progress!

[theboyfold]

I've finally read through the thread on MSE about Wren and it's interesting how they seem to distrust every new poster on there, I guess they have had issues in the past.

I'll be keen to hear your comments on them, as I've never bought a kitchen before I'm going into this whole thing a little blind at the moment!!

[garycat]

Yes I bought my kitchen from Wren, the Marlowe range, and I was *very* impressed with quality of the carcasses (ready built with doors fitted) and the drawers soft close mechanism. I designed it online then went to one of their showrooms to check the quality 'in the flesh' and go through the order with one of their salesmen. It was ready 3 weeks after ordering, and the after sales service was also very good.

Bad points are:
- its cheaper to get appliances, taps, handles, sinks etc elsewhere
- their 50mm laminate worktops are a pig to work with
- their sales people n the showrooms give a hard sell on extras like plinths, cornices etc so I've ended up with stuff I don't need.

[Simpo Two]

garycat said:

I was *very* impressed with quality of the carcasses (ready built with doors fitted)

Having fitted my own kitchen and a neighbours', I find a frontless box easier and lighter to handle and fix, rather than have to contend with a door flapping about getting in the way and adding weight!

[Terzo123]

I had a new kitchen fitted last year. The kitchen itself is a glass black number from Howdens

I don't think i used the same place twice for the appliances. Apart from the American Style Fridge all my appliances were Bosch.

It was all ordered on line. Once i had worked out what appliances i was after, i put the model number into Google and searched for the lowest price.

Saved quite a bit doing that. The hardest bit really was working out what appliance to go for as there are so many variations.

[4hero]

An update!

Since May I've been planning my new kitchen. It's not just a straight forward replacement, as there's audio/pc, new electrics, knocking down wall and pretty much a complete re-design of what was there. It's a challenge...

Anyhow, after Wren being mention I decided to jump in and give them a try (after ordering a sample door from them). Also spent a bit of time researching them online to see what others were saying about them. I have to say that the whole experience with dealing with them, purely via email and telephone, has been superb. They have done all they can to help, and the customer service has been top notch. Any time they said they would call back they have, and all the staff are very knowledgeable when going into more technical questions.

Just received my kitchen from them yesterday



All unloaded, the packaging is excellent! The build quality and finish of the units is fantastic, far far better than b&q et al. All units have soft touch as standard, everything is pre-built, I'm a very happy man. B&Q quoted me £9,700 for this very kitchen (with me installing it). I got exactly the same (including bosch appliances) from Wren for just under £5k.



Starting to knock wall down:



And a shot from 5 minutes ago, hurry up plaster, dry dammit New ceiling up, cables for new lighting in, audio cables etc in, new electrics/extra sockets added, room completely re-plastered.



Thanks for all your help with this, I'll keep this post updated with any progress.

Neil.

To re-cap:

• Decided on the Arne range
• Went through their Kitchen Planner
• Wife wanted a second opinion on my design (women ), b&q came out and designed one the very same as my design (but almost double the price, even with their "50%" off)
• Wife approved my design and left me to get on with it
• Ordered kitchen from Wren
• Wren talk the design through with you on the phone unit by unit, just to make sure everything is perfect (including which way the doors open). Once happy the order is placed. I make a couple of changes after the order was placed, and they had no issues with this at all.
• Kitchen was delivered exactly the same time and day they said
• 1 happy customer
• Just need to install it now...

Edited by 4hero on Saturday 17th July 00:09