Why independent kitchen companies could be cheaper than the big discounters

kitchen colour schemes slate grey | Independent Kitchen Companies: Affordable Advantage

When doing the research for your new kitchen, you’ll probably end up visiting virtually every DIY store and kitchen showroom in the area to see what’s available, looking for inspiration and, of course, checking prices.

Kitchen Design and Installation design and installation costs

Cost will be the biggest factor to take into consideration. However, do not assume that going through one of the large discount stores will turn out to be the cheapest option. A quick look at online forums shows a litany of complaints about poor quality workmanship when it comes to fitting. Whilst some people put this down to “getting what you pay for”, the cost of employing a commercial kitchen fitter wasn’t necessarily cheap.

Other people commented not only on the expense of the quotes they’d been given, but also complained about the sales tactics of the discounters, trying to force people to make on-the-spot decisions in order to take advantage of extra discounts – tactics they did not appreciate.

Last year, the largest manufacturer and fitter of kitchens in Britain, Howdens, came in for a lot of criticism in the national news for its ‘smoke and mirror’ practices which ended up in them giving three wildly differing estimates for the same job.

Quality

Whilst the big discounters sell cheaper kitchen units, they’re not necessarily going to be good quality. When they’re first fitted, they may look as good as the more expensive options, but as this commentator on a Mumsnet forum said: “They look good at first, but the quality of finish is generally poor and will look tired and worn long before many other suppliers, especially those in the gloss ranges.“

Independent kitchen companies are much more likely to stock better quality mid-range kitchens which/that may well cost a bit more now (though you could be pleasantly surprised by the amount), but will last for years and save you on the costs of repairs and replacements further down the line.

Independent companies rise and fall on reputation

Smaller independent kitchen designers like KDCUK would not be able to survive if we didn’t provide our customers with the best value for money possible. This means stocking high-quality goods and providing excellent workmanship and great customer service. We make our customers happy by sourcing the best quality kitchen ranges at affordable prices and using our own experienced fitters who care about doing a good job.

If you are planning a new kitchen design, we would recommend getting at least three quotes from different companies, including us of course! Even if you’re determined to do it as cheaply as possible and are only considering the big discount companies, it won’t hurt to include a quote from an independent company as well. You may well end up with a much better kitchen than you originally thought and for the same, if not cheaper, total cost.

Want to take the next step? Browse Our Ranges…

Nobilia Kitchens, Schuller Kitchens & Next125

Explore our Bora Hobs range, which uses steam in its finest form – for baking and cooking. This combination marks the start of the next chapter in our story: boundless design freedom and perfect cooking results for the finest kitchens in the world.

Bringing customer kitchens to life

Thinking about a kitchen revamp but stuck for ideas? Check out a real-life customer kitchen designed by us. With our expertise, we’ve created a beautiful, functional kitchen that meets the customer’s needs. Get inspired and see what we can create for you!