So the time has come to replace our ageing kitchen, we’ve put it off for a long time but there is now no avoiding it. So, can anyone recommend where to buy such a thing, or perhaps even a suitable fitter in the West Midlands.

I’m worse than useless at DIY and have no interesting in fitting it myself, ideally I’d like a suitable person/retailer to come in, design the bugger, install it all and leave me with a finished kitchen and a bill.

So far I’ve had 1 trip to B&Q where they spent 2 hours designing us something that was basically my exactly like current kitchen and every suggestion we made was met with a sharp intake of breath then immediately ignored. If I wasn’t such a polite individual I’d have throw his PC through the window (but I am so I smiled and said I’d come back to him, obviously…). This has not exactly ignited my desire to pursue it further.

Also being talked about here:
http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/this-weeks-tradesmenwomen-question-goes-to-builderskitchen-fitters

but, I just visited http://www.diy-kitchens.com and will be buying from there.

We used B&Q and they were excellent, ‘designer’ came to the house to do the plans and came up with some really good ideas.

WREN are good. Also had some software on there site so we could have a play/design it ourselves.

B&Q, really?
Get yourself down to Magnet & then take their idea’s and use some-one to give your a more realistic price. Can recommend some local builders/fitters, not cheapest but quality job.. their actually doing next doors at the moment! (did ours 4 years ago)
Though howden’s who they usually use (though are getting pissed off with), will push for the money, saying all the kit is in stock.. when it isn’t. I’d ask howdens to supply a promissory note, when you pay, saying it’ll all be delivered in one go (as it in stock!) or you get money back (seriously!)

B&Q, really?

Yes really. Why have you personally had a bad experience with them?

Nope didn’t give them a chance, but I’d rather talk to a specialist, than a generalist 😉

Yes really. Why have you personally had a bad experience with them?

Yes. The two months they took to deliver my kitchen.

Ikea and ask for a recommendation for a fitter.

I’m pretty sure the guy that came out to do the planning was a specialist in his field, I guess high street isn’t artisan enough 🙂

B+Q… Nooooo! Used them twice for a client kitchen (extension meant addition to the existing) and both times was a painful experience. They took seven attempts to get the worktop right (seriously). Have used Ikea to good effect and they seem to last well. I believe they do deliver but my only experience is picking up from the shop. Not my fav use of time.

+1 for Ikea – we did ours last year, good planning CAD service in store, delivery was perfect, all bits present and correct. We used a joiner we know to fit.

I guess high street isn’t artisan enough

Artisan be bolloxed, I want a professional not some pissed artist! 😈
Take a look at B&Q pricing, I have, to fit a work top is stupid money (price per joint/fitting) & I’m suggesting guys who want a bloody good rate but are skilled professionals (what you’d pay a B&Q fitter for one work surface they’d do a days work)

Don’t use Wren

Complete cowboys

My kitchen is still half finished due to their half arsed work and non existent customer service

The wazzocks