The benefits of a flatpack kitchen

flatpack-kitchenWhen it comes to buying a new kitchen, to what extent are you prepared to do it yourself? If you’re weighing up the pros and cons of a rigid kitchen v a flatpack kitchen, the latter might be an easier option than you think!

There are many myths around flatpack kitchens, such as them being of a lesser quality than pre-assembled kitchens and not giving the professional finish you expect. But these misconceptions just aren’t true, and buying a flatpack kitchen can be a fabulous way of getting the bespoke kitchen you want at a price you can afford!

A recent blog post from our sister company Flatpack Kitchens listed some of the benefits of buying a flatpack kitchen. You can read the whole post here or take a look at our synopsis, which sorts out the flatpack facts from the kitchen fiction!

The benefits of a flatpack kitchen include:

  • A cheaper price tag, which means you get more for your money
  • The same quality as rigid kitchens. ItÔÇÖs the material they are made from that counts, not how they are delivered
  • Easier storage until you’re ready to install your new kitchen
  • Easier to fit around pipework and other features
  • With many kitchen retailers, you will be able change your order after it’s been processed. You’re less likely to be able to with a bespoke kitchen

flatpack-kitchenWhen installing your new flatpack kitchen, read the manufacturer’s instructions thoroughly, even if you’re an experienced fitter. Kitchen technology and materials are changing all the time, and the fittings might contain some quirks you haven’t seen before!

Even if you don’t consider yourself up to the task of fitting a new kitchen, flatpack cabinets are not to be discounted. You can buy a flatpack kitchen anyway and use the savings you make to pay a professional to do the job for you!

Replacement Kitchen Doors

Don’t forget that once you’ve got the cabinets in place head over to get new doors – there are a huge selection of replacement kitchen doors available to buy to finish your renovation programme.┬á

decorating-disagreements

Families divide over decorating disagreements!

decorating-disagreementsDecorating your home is one of the most stressful tasks you can do as a family and a huge cause of arguments, according to new research!

Nearly nine of out 10 people have fallen out with relatives about redecorating and refurbishing. Money is the main reason behind arguments, whilst more than half of those quizzed have rowed about colour schemes and textiles. And another area of contention is whether or not to bring in the experts, with ÔÇô perhaps surprisingly – more men wanting to pay a professional than their wives and girlfriends!

Interiors online retailer Furniture123.co.uk surveyed 1,000 Brits on their family home improvement feuds and found that:

  • Finances are the biggest cause of decorating disagreements, with 69% of respondents admitting to rows about money. One in three disagree over how much to spend, whilst one in 10 canÔÇÖt agree about who pays for what
  • More than half (54%) of those surveyed have fallen out about colour schemes, wood finishes, textures or fabrics
  • The third most common squabble involves whether or not to bring in professional decorating services. One in three families disagree about it, with women proving more in favour of a spot of DIY than men. More than two thirds of women (67%) are prepared to roll up their sleeves and do the job themselves, compared to 44% of their husbands and partners

diy-bathroomOther hotly debated topics include where to put personal possessions, trinkets and family photos, and what to use rooms for, such as a study, ÔÇÿman caveÔÇÖ or cinema room.

Furniture123 marketing manager Mark Kelly said: ÔÇ£The research has uncovered some interesting findings surrounding differences in opinion when re-decorating the home, such as the costs incurred or which colour scheme to go for.

ÔÇ£A family can be made up of many different personalities, so naturally people are going to have different tastes, but itÔÇÖs important to have a bit of everybody in the home you live in. Anyone looking to re-decorate their home should take time when making decisions, perhaps creating a mood board of ideas that all of the family has fed in to.ÔÇØ

Are your builder’s legs worth more than a million?

home-buildingTaylor Swift might have insured her legs for £26m, but British builders are also putting a high price on their body parts!

The average builder sees his or her legs as crucial tools of the trade, and as such believes they are worth £1,185,000*. Engineers and lawyers have put the price of their limbs at £1.2 million whilst, interestingly, telecoms workers value their legs even more highly, at £1.9 million!

The research has been carried out by family insurance brand There┬«, which asked 2,000 professionals in 20 different industries to put an insurance value on different body parts to highlight their impact on earning potential. From the results, a builderÔÇÖs legs would appear more valuable than those of a doctor or nurse, which were deemed to be worth ┬ú1,140,000 on average. Shop workers, meanwhile ÔÇô who are on their feet a lot – think their legs are worth ┬ú1,045,000.

Eyes were the most valued part of the body, followed by face, hands and legs. Engineers topped the table with an insurance value on their eyes of £3.4m, followed by plumbers and electricians at £3.1m and telecoms workers at £2.6m. Plumbers and electricians also put one of the highest price tags on their hands, at £2.2m, with their index finger alone being worth £1,196,107 in the event of them losing their income.

builders-on-siteThere┬« marketing managerPhilippa McLaglen said recent news of Taylor Swift insuring her legs for ┬ú26m ÔÇô or $40m – isnÔÇÖt as crazy as it seems. ÔÇ£TheyÔÇÖre part of the Taylor Swift brand and so can affect her earning power,ÔÇØ she said. ÔÇ£Similarly damage to a builderÔÇÖs leg or an engineerÔÇÖs eye could have a big impact on their earning potential.ÔÇØ

The research also highlighted a difference between self-employed and employed workers, with self-employed builders more likely to value their bodies. More than half (57%) of self-employed people think insurance against injury is a sensible precaution, whilst 64% feel more pressure to take care of their physical well-being because they are self-employed.

Your building project is unlikely to be worth £1m, but if you are sourcing a builder, here are some tips to consider:

  • Ask for recommendations from friends or neighbours. Do some online research and read reviews
  • Get at least three quotes, asking the firm to include the cost of things such as clearing up and waste disposal. The cheapest isnÔÇÖt necessarily the best value for money
  • Be clear about what you want, putting it in writing if necessary
  • Consider the start date. You might be delighted if the builder is available tomorrowÔǪ but good builders tend to be booked at least a few weeks in advance
  • NEVER book a builder who cold calls, and trust your instincts!

* Research conducted by OnePoll on behalf of There® surveying 2,000 UK workers across 20 industries, August 2015.