Wren Kitchens -

Rio - similar experience with Wren (?) designers (?) to yours. I had carefully measured my kitchen and had spent a long time working out the best way of fitting in the units I wanted in there. sent it all off to Wren (as they requested).

On the day, lovely young lady but she used their standard computer programme. This kept refusing some of the cupboards, saying there was not enough room (I knew there was). When I received their 'quote' it did NOT include the costs of altering the plumbing as I wished for the sink to be resited, nor any of the electrical work (I needed to have the fitted oven moved to opposite wall), not the cost of taking down the wall to ceiling tiling, and subsequent re-plastering.

All of this mentioned in very tiny (8)print at bottom of quote as extra!!!

The local company who I went to, did it totally differently, Afterour original meeting at the showroom, in which we discussed the different cupboards, drawers, worktops, etc. etc. and I gave him (the same as I had given Wren), MY kitchen design. He then came to my home, and measured the area (did not rely on MY measurements), then he sent to me the pictures and exact quotation for ALL the work required. Even fitted in an extra cupboard, where I had not thought there would be space - and managed to increase the floor to ceiling pull out larder width from 30cms to a 40cms one. This company used all their own contractors, for electrical, plumbing plastering, fitting, etc etc. The person I had dealt with at the showroom acted as the Project Manager and main fitter throughout. Prior to the work being carried out he came with the electrician to discuss with me exactly where and how many points I would require.

Work was carried out exactly to time-table that was given to me well in advance. I know it is still early days, but three months since they finished it is absolutely perfect. AND......taking it all into account, the cost was less than that that would have been with all those small print extras by Wren.

Wren basically just replace like for like ie new cupboards etc where the old ones used to be. They don’t do any new plumbing or reposition electric or anything different.

Just thinking - we’ve come a long way on GN haven’t we re ‘advertising’ since we coyly used to mention “the two Golden Arches” for Maccie D’s and ‘“the great river company” for Amazon!
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I went to Wren with my kitchen all planned out. He said he would do their standard plan for my size/shape kitchen then see if he could adjust it. I couldn't have a drawer under my hob, corner larder wont fit in, sink wont fit in, double oven cant go in a midi unit, he put cupboards up to the ceiling which at 5ft I couldn't use. I went to a local firm and they did what I wanted and more.

My view entirely Franbern, especially double glazing. We’d already agreed the Magnet units prices and fitting cost, but when we went to pay, perhaps we looked young and poor at the time. We didn’t argue with the reductions he offered.

Any salesmen, from any company (double glazing, kitchen, beds, chairs, etc) who give a price and then slowly lowers it is an immediate NO-NO from me.

This is such sharp practice and such a really bad one. Any good company gives full breakdown of costs and that is the price - take it or leave it.

This scam sales technique is used so much by those companies who come to our homes bringing riser/recliner chair and beds. Start off with one very high quote, then try t to tell us that they will ring Manager, etc. and 'see what can be done' - usually down to around half the original price - still usually very high. Do not fall for it.

AreWeThereYet

Mollygo have you considered going back to Magnet just to get some different doors? They could always be fitted by a local fitter, assuming you can get the right size doors and a style/colour you want.

Yes we did, but they have changed their cupboard sizes and no longer make doors that match the size of our existing ones.

Terribull we took replaced the units in our utility room with white gloss cupboards from IKEA, a worktop which B & Q cut to size for us and a SS splash back from a company on the internet fixed to the wall with No More Nails. It was all quite straightforward.
Have you considered this?

Mollygo have you considered going back to Magnet just to get some different doors? They could always be fitted by a local fitter, assuming you can get the right size doors and a style/colour you want.

Mollygo

25Avalon our 17’ kitchen was from Magnet and it’s still OK, but I’m desperate for a change of style. After we’d chosen the units and had it measured up, we sat there with the manager as he gradually lowered the price. My favourite units are still pull out storage units. Perhaps I should just get new doors. Has anyone tried that? Any recommended firms?

Neptune. Solid wood cabinets and their fitters are brilliant. A bit expensive, but in my opinion value for money. We've used them three times now.

We had a small kitchen in a granny flat done by Howdens and it was awful.

25Avalon our 17’ kitchen was from Magnet and it’s still OK, but I’m desperate for a change of style. After we’d chosen the units and had it measured up, we sat there with the manager as he gradually lowered the price. My favourite units are still pull out storage units. Perhaps I should just get new doors. Has anyone tried that? Any recommended firms?

Inexplicably, DS2 and partner opted for a Wren kitchen. I can see all its deficiencies, like ill-fitting cabinet doors, but wouldn't dare to question their judgement! The basic design is good, however and the work surfaces efficient.

I remember years ago getting a quote for units from Magnet kitchens which was so high we could have built an extension and equipped it as well for that price! We went to a joiners in the end which was way cheaper, a very wide choice of designs and patterns, purpose built by a professional. Could be worth considering.

That's interesting Franbern and your quote was way back in 2014, I've counted my cupboards and there are actually only half a dozen plus 4 drawer fronts, nevertheless maybe the company who quoted for my utility room aren't so outlandish given what you have stated. If mine were any sort of sold wood, I would definitely have them painted but they aren't Thanks for the feedback.

Terribull In my last house, I had a very long galley kitchen with solid wood units, including the doors and drawer fronts. They were in their original brown wood colour, and it made it very dark in there. I wanted to have white fronts, etc. Thirteen base cupboard doors, eight wall cupboard doors, seven drawer fronts. This was back in 2014 and I was being quoted something in the region of five to six grand to have these good wooden doors replaced with modern plastic ones.

In the end I found a company who came, took off all those doors, etc and took them away and cleaned and sprayed them to any colour I chose (white), brought them back and replaced them and even put on new handles of my choice for just under a thousand pounds. Brilliant - made an incredible difference, and when I moved out five years later was still looking nearly as when it had first been done.

Thank heavens for this thread, we have a utility room that could do with some updating and have just had a Wren man round to measure up, I'm certainly having second thoughts on proceeding with them now. I do know someone who had a Wren kitchen put in to sell their house, she didn't have any problems with the fitting and the overall cost, including a number of appliances seemed reasonable, I would add that she didn't live with the kitchen that long as she sold the house pretty soon after the kitchen was fitted.

As my alterations only involve a utility room we are really just looking to up date a few cupboards and sink unit. Incidentally whilst on this thread, we did go to one of these replacement door companies and they came out to quote, for about 8 doors and some drawer fronts plus a short work surface, but not a new sink unit they quoted almost £4,000 I thought that was pretty expensive. Just wondering if there is anyone who might be looking at this thread who has had that done, if so, what did you pay? if that's not a rude question.

Once again thanks Chester for starting this thread your feedback has certainly given me something to think about.

No the company is in town. Have pmd you.

Many years ago DH and I bought a Hygena kitchen from MFI and fitted it ourselves. (Needs must at the time.) Our present kitchen was supplied and fitted by a local firm. It includes a very tall pull-out larder unit which is 300mm wide, contains a massive number of items and bears a lot of weight. I find it very useful.
We are currently considering an IKEA kitchen as are our younger next door neighbours.
Our DS2 had a Wren kitchen fitted in his previous house and wouldn’t recommend it.

Harris 27, I have sent you a pm.

When dd bought her house it had a Wren kitchen all in black! It was poorly designed and badly fitting. The units were not standard size either. She ripped it out, had a wall knocked down and made a beautiful large room with the lounge instead.

chester after similar warranty frustrations I went in some desperation to the furniture ombudsman. It took a few days to find and forward the documentation they asked for. I’m not totally sure of the detail of their communication with Wren but they issue was then resolved in our favour within 10 days. It may help you, hope so.

We are actually very pleased with our kitchen. 9 years old it looks like new, such a shame the after sales service was dreadful.

Glad to read this as I’m saving like mad for a new kitchen. We live in the north east of England so any recommendations gladly accepted.

FannyCornforth

I thought that Wren went bust years ago?
I know that they have a terrible reputation

I think they took over part of MFI/Hygena many years ago.

As a neighbour said MFI meant Made for Idiots but we bought a very sturdy Hygena kitchen from there very many years ago and DH fitted it himself.
We also bought some inexpensive furniture from MFI just before they closed down, for a spare bedroom, and it is still sturdy and good today.

I don't know what Wren is like but I had heard warnings about their quality and service.

I had a new kitchen fitted 3 years ago by a local joiner. He said that he'd fit Ikea, Howdens, Kitchen Direct, Wickes, Magnet or B & Q; in fact any kitchen I chose..... except Wren. He said that they were poorly made, badly designed and were never delivered without parts missing that took weeks to arrive.

A Sharp’s fitted bedroom , fitted many years ago now, was the worst £3000 we ever spent.
The sad thing is that I still have it and hate it just as much now as I did then.