My latest series - 1100 to 3000 Sq ft house - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-jYrWMxWvGvc.html My Instagram - instagram.com/youtube_reno?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
Wow, I can't believe the amount of effort that would have gone into making this video. Thank you so much - it's so informative. My dad is in the property renovation business and he always buys his kitchens from IKEA and it takes him a week to fit them. I might suggest DIY kitchens to him seeing as their come put together
Spot on Video, I'm a Kitchen fitter based in Kent and I agree with your reviews of the different Kitchen brands and their showrooms, I fitted most of the Brands you reviewed apart from John Lewis. I'm going to tell my customers to watch this before they think about ordering their new kitchens .....cheers
Great video, unfortunately the final comparison chart is completely obscured with play next and subscribe overlays. No frame is free to see the chart in its entirety.
Great video, very informative, especially for people who have no idea where to start and what to be looking for. Thank you for the effort you put in to make this content 🙌 x
Great help, this will be the first time im getting a new kitchen, so much out there in terms of kitchens and definitely dont want to pay too much if it's not worth the extra money. It would be great in terms of the showrooms giving a price list for Individual unit costs of units so you have a rough idea in order to chop and change units according to your budget.
Very clear and honest , i found wrens to be very high pressure sales technique, And under press to pay deposit as kept being in formed we know best and would be an idiot not to pay.
Thanks for all the brand comparison, really handy information. Do you know which company has the 22 mm carcasses as i thought most carcasses are a standard 18mm?
I would never buy anything from a salesman / company who give ridiculous discounts off massively over inflated prices in the pretence that they are giving me a fantastic deal. It's a blatant con, and if they think I'm stupid enough to fall for it they don't deserve my business! I had a similar experience with Everest when I asked them to quote for double glazing. He tried to convince me that I should be looking to spend ten percent of the value of my home on windows as a benchmark. I live in a three bed period property in south London, so you can imagine the cost was ridiculous. I asked him if he would do a similar house in the north, worth £100,000 for ten percent of its value, and he floundered and tried to make excuses why his stupid rule didn't apply in that instance. Needless to say I kicked him out.
DIY kitchens DO have a online kitchen cad design tool which is really useful and they check you’re order to make sure it fits, ive used it for my own kitchen
@@paulstevenson8979 Hi Paul. It took me about an hour to get my head around the menu but in the end managed to do it and plan my kitchen. All in all about 4 hours.Quite pleased with myself actually! Sent plan to DIY kitchen for their approval and just waiting for a reply. Thanks.
Funny. My experience with Wren was not good. I found them to be shady in giving individual pricing - just a total price. Also, I felt the high-pressure sales technique not helpful
Thanks for that Nick. Things may have moved on a bit since you did this, but it’s really useful to hear a builder’s view of the market. We’re currently dealing with a ridiculous Howdens price and trying to negotiate our 75% off, I’m a patient man, but it’s starting to grate, and we may just go elsewhere. I’m impressed with Wren, they are very customer focussed, they also do 0% over 5 years which is a great sell. Will definitely check out DIY kitchens, and Magnet, can’t do flat pack I’m afraid so IKEA, wickes are out. Thanks again!
Really informative video Nick, thank you. Very clear, honest and not rushed. A good overview that will help a lot when purchasing my new kitchen to replace my one from 1996! Keep up the good work.
DIY kitchens actually have a planner you can use to design your kitchen and then it will generate a shopping list. You can also submit it to be checked by their designers and they will mention anything they think maybe a problem or could be improved.
I just got my kitchen from Wren, seems like I had a very different experience: I received several beautiful CAD renders and even their new virtual reality experience. Really impressed. I went for their Infinity range which is still fully built but comes the standard 450mm drawers and 18mm thick doors, was surprised as it even came out cheaper than Howdens and Benchmarx quotes after their discounts. Definitely recommended.
Joe G I liked Wren, they have excellent features that others didn’t and are well made. But they are more expensive than others. Otherwise can’t really fault them
I'm waiting on a design from wren, I dont like the fact that the assistant suggests that I leave the layout to him without asking about what I really want and where I want it. He said the handlesless was the best selling and Matt finish on the infinity range but I sort of like the gloss better. Any ther tips on buying from wren, like can you haggle on the price or is it fixed. Any help would be usefull
Has anyone got any experience on after care if they find any faults later on, in terms of if they are willing to replace damaged parts or if they show reluctance to solve problems.
excellent video and comparision, made me change my mind on some things. Wondering if you tried IKEA units with Custom Fronts or Plykea doors, comes more expensive but wondering if it worth it!
Very useful - thank you. For me the two things that really matter are price and durability. Poor showrooms and service don't matter a jot to me once the things installed.
DIY Kitchens now have CAD software with online help. I designed my kitchen and sent it off for pricing and they come back with any alterations I had to make. Had a mini break in York so pencilled in a visit to their showroom in South Kirkby. Definitely worth every penny. Ordered some samples which came very quickly and as a added bonus they gave me a 10% discount for being a key worker. Highly recommended
I enjoyed this video however one thing I picked up on is your description of an 18mm carcass being inferior to a 22mm carcass. In fact 18mm is the industry standard and even DIY kitchens don't offer 22mm. I think you are confusing 18mm and 22mm doors rather than units. Additionally calling any of the fully assembled is not true as even though they claim to supply rigid kitchens the fitter still has to fit the hinges and doors. A true rigid kitchen has doors, draw fronts, wirework pre-assembled. What people should be looking at when buying kitchens is the quality of the doors (PVC wrapped vs Laquored for example). Other than that I'd recommend staying away from Wren, B&Q and Howdens personally (and I do not work for a competitor that you have listed so I'm somewhat impartial).
An amazing video. Exactly what we were looking for but how disappointing not to be able to see the final comparator page at the end. Possibly the most important bit of the video if you dont have an eidetic memory :(
How are finding DIY kitchens vs Howdens? Prices seems to be the same for my chosen kitchen. It feels howdens might have an edge if the order is incorrect as you can go back and return stuff (I hope?)
Best video ever, thank you for creating this comparison kitchen video for us brits, my dream kit when be from Howdens but it could be ikea , much appreciated and I’ve subscribed 👌🏾👌🏾👌🏾👌🏾👌🏾🔥🔥🔥🔥
id love to get a kitchen with wren they seem to have a best quality for our price range and gave us a good quote, ive just heard to many nightmare reviews about them they sound like cowboys
Excellent work - we're about to embark on a new kitchen and this has really helped set our minds at rest about Magnet and Wren. I have seen some nightmare stories about Wren but I'm hoping they are the exception to the rule, especially if you go for the Infinity Plus range as you have done here.
Take a better look they are far from exceptions and did you miss the fact very expensive or turn a blind eye to that bit. Had a quote from Magnet 6k more expensive than DIY. |When told them going to DIT said we could of matched the price. To late had your chance and tried to take me for a mug.
Hi Nick. I have to add my comment re Magnet Kitchens here in Edinburgh. The installation went well until…we have ongoing issues, out splash back is still not fitted, it took three weeks to have the guy come back to measure, out cupboard tops were replaced but although lying in their office still haven’t been fitted & out extractor unit doesn’t work, still not repaired. In spite of phoning they don’t reply, in fact I called yesterday, Thursday, was promised a call today & I’ll have to call them back as no reply yet. The customer service is a total shambles here in Edinburgh!!! Maybe someone from Magnet is reading this & can sort out their Edinburgh office, I live in despairing hope. Regards, Derick.
Do any companies do free 3D kitchen planning consultation which you do not have to commit to buying from them where you can also take the plan with you?
Nick - firstly a big thank you for time and effort in doing this and sharing your views etc. Having also done a few renovations/refurbishments etc I concur with most of yours and your fitters comments. However.....I am not sure how balanced it is to compare flat packed with ready built? With some of course it is not an option but other suppliers do offer both flat packed and ready built options and it would have been nice to see like for like in these, although I think only DIY are shown as having 22mm carcasses? If I may add my 'twopenneth'....For those employing a fitter or allocating time to the new kitchen fitout the build up factor for flat pack (even if it all is there and goes together well) can add quite a few hours overall and therefore has a cost to be factored in.
They're all a rip off! Thousands of pounds for chipboard boxes screwed to the wall. Impractical worktops that scratch regardless of the material and some of those are thousands more. Plastic push fit plumbing a man with no thumbs could do.
Why do people talk negatively about ikea so much. Builders for some reason have some thing against them. Thank you for the non biased view and great video.
@Nick Morris Great video and DIY Kitchens are top of our list when we move into our new home hopefully in the next month or two. One question though as although some of their doors are certainly 22mm thick, the carcasses are listed as being 18mm chipboard according to the specs? If they're well made then I don't see that as an issue but is that correct or is there an option I've not seen that allows you to spec 22mm carcasses?
Great Video, currently looking at kitchens and getting quotes so seeing this has helped, did you find Benchmark and wickes the same doors and cabinets just benchmark had pre assemlbed them? any reason you did not go for the Infinity range and wren instead of the plus range? the main gripe I have with all these comanies is getting an itimised quote is very hard before you place the order, I would like to see what I am paying for, Wickes refused to give me anything not even a printout design to go away and look over,
Good evening, I really hope your all well. That was not a fair representation of Wren as they offer three types of cabinets ( flat packed/ ready built 18mm & bespoke 22mm) you went straight to Infinty Plus. Also CAD drawings are provided in full 3D. With motion.
Can only go on what I've installed and was offered I'm afraid. Salesmen couldn't wait to get rid of me, which was strange as I've ordered through them so often in the past too! Shame.
Great video - very informative - I was a bit confused why you compared a Wickes solid wood - true framed shaker kitchen in comparison to all of the other non framed MDF painted/foil or vinyl wrapped doors - The Heritage range is one of the few solid wood kitchens (not MDF) which is of a superior quality to every other kitchen reviewed - The Milton range would have been a better comparison to use and would have smashed the price of all of the competition - The comment that the drawers were flimsy doesn't seem honest also as they are supplied by Blum - (who also supply some of the competitors in this review) - If you compare 'apples with apples' then Wickes are leaders in value for money and especially customer service
Thank you for this. This was my first comparison video so have learnt a lot since. Would love to know your thoughts on my 2023 one - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-DkNmhyEFX5U.htmlsi=RVWbRiT-CG3EQR7-
Great video overall, never seen one like this before. Certainly not how I’d rate it though. I’d say from years of expertise day in and day out that Wren and Ikea are at the bottom of my list followed by B&Q. Wren are really dodgy sales people and will rip you off if they can, Ikea just do the opposite to every other kitchen company with their unit designs and they’re the only kitchens I will refuse to fit, B&Q are very flimsy and should be avoided unless you have a very blow budget. Also B&Q has a cabinet maker that makes every single unit 2-3mm too big. So when you have a long row of units you find that the kitchen doesn’t fit.
Just been to Wren's and had completely the opposite experience to you. If you're worried they are going to be pushy tell them you are going elsewhere for a quote later.
So incredibly helpful! Embarking on a full refurb and have been getting headaches from the choices available - you really helped narrow it down for me! Thank you!
Looking at putting in a new kitchen in my house when the sale goes through my plan is to fit it myself having never done a kitchen before I will fit all the kitchen then get somone in to fit a marble worktop who would u suggest buying it from ideally I want it pre assembled to save time
This is brilliant About to undertake my second renovation and il be using this to help inform my decision. Please do another for bathrooms . Great work
I purchased the Infinity range from Wren and it was THE WORST kitchen units.The doors are are handle-less but the J is not deep enough for you to put your fingers to get a grip to get them out. I now have to buy handles for the doors.The drawers are low sides left and right with a bar across the top meaning that things can fall out. The units arrived damaged but really it is because the units are very low quality - cheap chip board. I complained to customer service and was offered £100+ discount and a void in my warranty. I think if I put handles on the doors they would void the warranty too. I am waiting for the worktop to be installed next week. I would like a full refund for the kitchen from Wren,and if the worktop is bad I would like refund for that too.
where do you get the idea that pre built cabinets are better that flat pack, have you considered that when a pre built is delivered it takes up a hell of a lot of space and not all kitchens are delivered on the day of installation, pre built are also more liable to damage during transport and if there is damage installation is halted untill a replacement is made and delivered. flat pack takes up less space when delivered and when built by an experianced fitter is just as tough as anything else even if its only 15mm cabs. if flat pack is damaged you genrally receive replacements within 3 days and if its fit critical you can swop parts from other boxes, pre built is also harder to alter when going round fowl pipes or other obsticles. if your fitter was having problems with chipping then i would suggest that he is using poor quality tools or blades if you are going to do a review then you should also include things like customer and after sails service as a 25 year kitchen fitter and having installed all the kitchens you mention except ikea i would personally reccommend 1 Homebase excallent product if installed correctly 2 Wickes for the same reasons with all the companies it dosent matter which range of kitchen you choose the cabinet is the same quality and if you can only afford cheep doors and panels then you get what you pay for
Seems a bit strange to compare a flat pack kitchen at one supplier to a top range kitchen factory built at wren when they also do flat pack. These are all totally different ends of each suppliers spectrum. I appreciate the video but for comparison it’s not really like for like
Hi Nick. Thanks for making the video, very useful content. Im a self employed kitchen fitter in London and looking for extra work, where and what would you recommend me to do? Thanks in advance
sir,, can you help me ? i am after putting a worktop in my shed its 7x7 and want something heavy enough to take the weight of the machines lathe mill drill ect ect
We had an IKEA fitted 7 years ago .. we were told by a builder that IKEA kitchens are fantastic. We were very pleased we used the kitchen planner then someone from IKEA came to double check before installation. I would throughly recommend IKEA
I went to Howdens, they came to measure up, took my email address, never saw them again. Phoned twice but they wouldn’t speak to me. Phoned their manager, she didn’t seem bothered, so I didn’t bother using them. Going to DIY kitchens instead.
I have worked in w few of these companies and will always recommend IKEA. The drawer mechanism are good and quality hinges. Better than some others I would mention. For the price it is much better than most others.
Mee5ful: I too have always used IKEA, Nick's comment about them being difficult and time-consuming to make and fit is a little unfair. It rather depends how many times you have done them - the more you do them the quicker and easier they are. I especially like the fact that with IKEA you can specify each and every piece you want - for example I only ever have one shelf in all cupboards, and I always have the wall unit size of shelf for the base units. This enables you to see what is on the lower shelf, and more importantly to actually reach items at the rear of the lower shelf. Extremely good value, never had an issue with quality. But the main thing is: the price is right !!
Really found this useful. I live in Kent and am bemused trying to get a reliable fitter. They must all be busy . Nick - I'm an average diyer , I have the time to have ago at this, is it viable ( replacing like for like, nothing fancy ) how much longer , on average, would it take to fit a kitchen , flat packed v ready to go ? If not what advice would you give to find a good fitter, I'm in the ME12 area. Many thanks.
Great vid Nick, this has been most helpful as I’m in the process of purchasing a kitchen...really opened my eyes and given me much needed knowledge...👍
I have recently fitted a Wren kitchen in my own home. I found them pretty good to deal with until they have delivered. They are then extremely poor and unprofessional to deal with. I will not deal with them again. Easy to get taken in by the glossy showrooms...
good video. My only criticism is that except in one case , there is no mention. of what type of doors panels or drawer fronts are being used .Looking at each example I would guess that Foil/pvc or vinyl wrapped MDF has been used . This from knowledge and experience is an inferior form of door finish because after. a few years, the wrapping tends to peel away ,I have Benchmarx Turin myself which is 8 years old and is already beginning to peel behind two two doors. The one exception would appear to be the Diy Kitchen example you included which has a lacquered finish on MDF on its door and other frontages.That to me would be the preferred choice Its important to mention that because it raises a question about durability .Benchmarx may well offer 25 years warranty on their cabinets but only 5 years on their doors which kind of speaks for itself .All their doors would appear to be pVC wrapped bar one , Somerset, which according to them is made from "solid wood frame with veneered centre panel".Howdens are better in as much as they offer more painted options but DIY Kitchens are by far the most economical painted doors. One thing I do not understand is almost universal use of MFC from cabinet construction when Melamine faced MDF has better screw holding and load bearing capabilities making it much more durable. I notice for example, than in the USA Ikea market kitchens which use that material instead of MFC for their cabinets .Why is the same option not available here ?My guess is because people except MFC as the standard and therefore, do not demand what to my mind would be a better alternative
This is such an incredibly helpful video- thanks Nick! Was thinking of going with DIY kitchens and this has cemented the deal. Thank you for the effort in pulling this together!
Great in depth review. Thank you Nick for taking the time to make the video. It’s a big step ordering a new kitchen and I feel your post has made me more aware of some things I had not considered. I was learning towards a Wren kitchen and I’m pleased about what you said about Wren. 22mm carcasses will be better too.
Very thorough, informative and unbiased video. Helped me to decide which direction I shout head at a time when I was trying to decide between B&Q, Hawdens and Benchmark.
Thanks Nick. Amazing video which is particularly useful to me who is new to UK. I always wondered why the wall / high cabinet cannot be installed up to the ceiling is the ceiling is kind of standard one to avoid dust in between. Can I request the kitchen company to build/install up to the ceiling ?
Thanks! Yes you can go up to the ceiling; lots of options, top boxes popular for extra space or just losing the space behind an end panel or similar to take it all the way up.
