Hi,

There are currently big discounts from the Hygena kitchen range at Homebase. Has anyone had any recent experience of them, in terms of the quality of the product? I understand that they've changed hands a few times over the past decade.

Ben

They're as good as anything you'll find in the likes of Wickes B&Q et al...18mm carcasses, decent quality, not top end, but more than adequate..

I find that often with these places it's the designers or the fitters who cause any installation problems, so if you can find a decent /recommended fitter you'll be better going that route.

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Verwood Handyman
I Know it says I'm On-line, but I might have just left myself logged in, whilst I'm out....

Thanks for your reply wine-o.

Do you know anything of the space at the back of the carcass to allow for pipework? I've read some information that suggests IKEA do not leave any space at the rear of the carcass and it has to be butchered to fit. Do you know if Hygena also do this?

It's a choice between IKEA and Hygena really, my girlfriend prefers the plum gloss fronts of the Hygena, but I'm trying to make sure the door won't fall off after 5minutes!

Hygena do have a service void, and as you say the Ikea units do not..some kitchen fitters refuse to work with the Ikea units for this reason.
Personally, given the choice of those two, I'd go for the Homebase units.

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I Know it says I'm On-line, but I might have just left myself logged in, whilst I'm out....

I have done an Hygena kitchen from Homebase and I found it to be fine. The units are a bit wafty but once screwed together they are solid. There is a decent void at the back for pipes (cannot recall how much). I had fun and games with a carousel corner unit that had to be cut about a bit to fit. The only comment I would make is that the after sales service was a bit naff. There was a damaged door and a few fittings missing and that took a bit of time to sort. But for the price it was good value.

DWD

Thanks for your replies.

Are there any other manufacturers in the same price bracket that you would recommend?

Have a look at Howdens http://www.howdens.com/product-range/ki ... ollection/ not sure of prices though. Wickes seem quite good generally and BnQ are good value in the main. The things that bump up the price are the extras but it is these that make the kitchen. Often you can source the worktops, sinks, taps and appliances separately at a better price so do not get sucked in to buying the complete package without researching.

DWD

The carcases will be the same throughout the Homebase range, the variable factor is the doors and decor panels. This will be the same for B&Q, Wickes etc etc.

Howdens supply their carcases pre-built, this does save a lot of time and faffing about. Howdens are trade only (or supposed to be) . Travis Perkins have launched a rival company to Howdens called BenchmarK and their kitchens are of similar quality.

I would imagine that there are only so many manufacturers of kitchens and many sheds will share a common supplier.

Homebase, B&QQ, Wickes.... blah blah blah never do BIG discounts.

What they do is give you 50%-60% off an already inflated kitchen UNIT price to make them an acceptable price BUT what they don't do is discount all the trims like plinths, cornice, pelment, handles, end panels.... etc. etc. are all charged at the full inflated price.

It's all very well paying £95 for a 600 base unit but when a length of plinth is £100 (normally around £25 trade) or a length of pelmet £160 (normally £35 trade) it quickly turn in to an expensive kitchen

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thanks for all your replies, very helpful.

Decided against the Hygena kitchen, purely because its not available in any showrooms so you cannot see exactly what you are purchasing until it arrives.

Popped into b&q to look at tiles yesterday, stuck my head in the kitchen section - they do a high gloss aubergine, so arranged for a free measure up and design at home.

It sounds as if there isn't a massive difference in quality at my price range.

In terms of the worktop, I think b&q charge £300 per 3m x 60cm x 4cm for a solid beech worktop. I looked on worktop-express, a similar product was £110. Quite a bit of a difference...

As already posted they will mace you up for all the bits that go with your kitchen, good idea to shop around as you are doing.

A couple of cautions with B&Q,

1. Make sure that they deliver all your kitchen in one go, I have heard tales of waiting months for some bits to be delivered

2. Don't use their contractors for an install, they get paid peanuts and I have heard nightmare tales about poor workmanship.

Most worktop suppliers include a 2m length of laminate trim for the ends of the w/top. B&Q however expect customers to buy the laminate trim on a roll (usually at £25 a pop)

As upagumtree says, B&Q's home delivery service is somewhat lacking (missing parts/wrong parts) and can mean waiting a month or more. I used to build kitchen displays for B&Q,(the ones you see instore) but would never consider using their own (sub contracted) fitting teams.

The quality of units rests on a few variables:-

18mm MCF vs 15mm MFC carcass. I would never recommend 15mm MFC.

4mm Hardboard Backing panel vs 6mm MDF or 15mm MFC. 4mm should be avoided. too flimsy.

Prebuilt vs Flat Pack - Flat pack are lower quality and waste time - a total false economy.

The DIY sheds are never better value than the trade places or kitchen fitters would go there all the time. I use a local firm which is about 20% more expensive than Howdens or Magnet Trade which are the two main trade suppliers. The local guys build 18mm MFC carcasses, install all drawers, hinges and doors for you, as well as offering excellent after sales service. They will put together bespoke carcasses for boiler units, lip panels for you and the quality is much higher, as well as the service being better.

I find that as a fitter, people take me seriously when I say that the quality is worth the extra, and when they are spending £ 10000 on the whole project, saving £ 300 on the kitchen units usually makes little sense.

thanks for all your advice.

i'm roughly working on a budget of 3k for the kitchen units and a couple of appliances (integrated dishwasher & fridge freezer + extractor hood). I'm not having wall units fitted as its a relatively small galley style kitchen (approx 3.5m x 2m) in the hope of reducing that claustrophobic look - I don't need many base units either if i convince the missus to have the 1000mm and 600mm ones lol.

Realistically, at my budget, I can't see that there will be a vast difference in quality - the cooke and lewis kitchen at b&q seems to fit the bill really (18mm carcass, will check the back when the consultant comes round) and more importantly, its the right colour for the missus. reviews of the cooke and lewis kitchens come back quite positive, unless you guys have different opinions.....?

From my own research and judging by your opinions on here, i will avoid the b&q fitters. the layout of the kitchen will be exactly the same (give or take 20mm) so i'm going to take on the challenge of installation myself under the watchful eye of my mate's dad (hes a fitter)

You'll probably find that at those sort of prices you'll be getting a fairly similar spec. everywhere..

Good plan getting an independant fitter...any chance of having him/her there whwen the salesman from B&Q/Homebase/Wren
come round....

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Verwood Handyman
I Know it says I'm On-line, but I might have just left myself logged in, whilst I'm out....