www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk

Been out with the Boss today looking at kitchens, she likes the "Hatfield" from Magnet, currently offering 50% off, I have priced up like for like with the units that I currently have in the kitchen,14 units approx £3000 + solid wood work tops £750,plus all the extras handles plinths etc etc, anyone have any opinions good or bad of Magnet kitchens, or any tips or advice on where else to look. only have an extended L shape galley kitchen and a Max budget of 5k. intend fitting it myself so am looking at square edge work top, thinking the joins will be easier, (any tips welcome).will be asking for a lot more advice on best way to start fitting once we buy kitchen .
Thanks in advance

Try wrens...if there is one near you...

Minus one on Wrens. Fitted a large kitchen last year. Not at all impressed.

Magnets are ok, if they are still as good as they were years ago.

Try Howdens but steer clear of Lamona appliances.

Benchmarx are good also but again the Zanusi appliances they supply are 5hite.

it's not really 50%, it never really is when it comes to kitchens, just like buying a sofa from DFS which are always on sale

to quote magnet

Discounts shown above are off full prices charged between 26th November and 25th December 2012

So basically they pumped the price up for a month then brought it down to it's normal price

I fitted a Magnet kitchen about 18-20 months ago. Nice units, already made up carcases. Some of the instructions were a bit vague for certain things.
Only thing I could fault Magnet on was the actual ordering of the extras, off the kitchen plan. For instance they had an 890mm long/high, end panel, used as a flying shelf over an extractor unit, when the distance between the wall units was almost 1200mm. They also forgot to order a 600mm x 300mm bridging unit C/W door and hinges. The amount of plinth supplied was only just enough to cover the length of the base units (without any wastage whatsoever (not even to cover cuts made)

Thanks for reply's,
Not looking to buy any appliances other than dish washer. (So I can retire)
I appreciate that most companies that advertise sale prices are not all they seem, I am just looking for value for money or as near as possible.
I will have a look at Howdens and benchmarx to see what is on offer, can't find a wren supplier near me
Am I right in thinking that square edge work tops will be easier for a reasonably skilled DIYer to cut and fit, I am one of those sad b4stards with more tools than I know what to do with, including Dewalt router and trend worktop jig, (still waiting to learn how to use jig).
Will I still need to router out the underside of the worktops and clamp them together, and is there a special sealer to put on the joins.

Glad Wren are not near you........If you want to know the quality of them, it is the same fella who had Hygeina sold it onto MFI and went to the USA to do the same. It is him, back here. Gloss decor end panels only faced one side and edge. hence the cheap price. Units that far out of square they have to be fitted like it because you would need to bash feck out of them to square up.

I don't think there is anything such as a 'sale' any longer, not like the old days. when I did the stuff for Furniture Village I got staff discount on my gear. I bought 2 sofas for less than the cost of 1 sofa in the 50% sale!!

Square edged worktops you can butt up. if they have even a hint of profile you will need to do a partial masons mitre.

No need for clamps you can make a stretcher plate out of ply and use that.

have you had bother in the past with lamona appliances royaloak? weve fitted a canny few without any bother. obviously more of a budget appliance really.

the flat were in just now is on a wimpy estate. it has candy appliances. there propper rubbish.

4 Fridges and two of them the back legs slip back up on their own.....when you slide the fridge into position and any time between a week and 6 months after being in position.

4 Wine coolers and one of those was faulty

4 Dishwashers and one was faulty

Less than 8 hobs and one has been faulty

I might end the list there lol.

Thankfully most of our clients don't get the Lamona appliances.

Bit of a bigger budget and area than yours but Betta Living ripped our old stuff out and fitted all the units in less than 2 days, of course the granite worktop was another half day two weeks later! They have 60% sale but that is not uncommon.

royaloakcarpentry wrote:4 Fridges and two of them the back legs slip back up on their own.....when you slide the fridge into position and any time between a week and 6 months after being in position.

4 Wine coolers and one of those was faulty

4 Dishwashers and one was faulty

Less than 8 hobs and one has been faulty

I might end the list there lol.

Thankfully most of our clients don't get the Lamona appliances.

ahhh fair enough haha... didnt howdens sell serena appliances before lamona? they wernt too hot like. had a few problems with those.

fin wrote:

ahhh fair enough haha... didnt howdens sell serena appliances before lamona? they wernt too hot like. had a few problems with those.

No it was errrr something beging with 'B' can't remember now but they were Hygina rebranded. Serena was Allied kingswood aplliances 'Serena' being the name of one of the directors

Diplomat

ahhh aye ofcourse... there company is based at serena house also. we fit allied kitchens occasionally.

`Take a look at Symphony kitchens ,
my local builders has a kitchen wing attached and these seem nice quality at a fair price
my builders are Parkers all over south east
www.parkerbs.com