Any alternatives to DIY Kitchens nowadays?

Russinating

Russinating

Russinating

Soldato
Joined
27 Dec 2005
Posts
17,316
Location
Bristol
We need to extend our existing kitchen layout and I want to try and fit it myself since it's not too complex and 2/3 of the kitchen is effectively already done.

The original kitchen is from Howdens so can't order from there without a tradesman which I don't need/want. Wickes and B&Q don't have all the cabinets we need, and DIY Kitchens is just about there but there's some small differences like their internal corner posts are square rather than rounded so would have to buy one of those elsewhere to match. Also the £70 delivery is pretty steep when our order isn't huge in the first place.

Anywhere else I should look?

Basically need 4 base units including for an integrated fridge, and 1 wall cabinet.

Already ordered and had delivery of the worktop and a new sink from Worktop Express.
 
thezappa said:
We got ours from Betterkitchens. Very competitive price and still looks very good after 5 years.
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Looks great, and even better they're based in Weston which makes things easier for me for collection/returns/issues etc (I'll likely forget to order a much needed accessory...).
 
doopydug said:
I thought Howdens were selling to anyone these days since WREN is taking away their market share
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Nope, still need a tradesperson: https://www.howdens.com/help-and-advice/buying-from-us/how-to-buy. Proper stupid in this day and age. Even if you're using a tradesperson to fit it's easier to plan and buy yourself. You can't even view their catalogue without having a trade account. That puts so much onus on the chippy to be a designer rather than just being good at their trade.
 
Russinating said:
Nope, still need a tradesperson: https://www.howdens.com/help-and-advice/buying-from-us/how-to-buy. Proper stupid in this day and age. Even if you're using a tradesperson to fit it's easier to plan and buy yourself. You can't even view their catalogue without having a trade account. That puts so much onus on the chippy to be a designer rather than just being good at their trade.
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Have you been in store and spoken to them? We had our last kitchen from Howdens through a tradesman and when we did the utility wanted the cupboards to match, popped instore and explained and they did a cash sale for us, didn't get the discount rate the tradesman did but was competitive and matched the kitchen which kept the wife quiet.
 
Russinating said:
That puts so much onus on the chippy to be a designer rather than just being good at their trade.
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Howdens have designers, they go out and measure and design everything.

Also anybody can walk into howdens and get a catalogue.
 
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Do you not have a friendly tradesman that will allow you account access? My wife's family are all trades so we got ours that way.
 
Didn't know that, I swear when we had our last kitchen done ~3 years ago we still had to go through our tradesman to order another unit. And no, no trades contacts!

Given how easy Better Kitchens is - and I can collect - I'm just going to go with them. Just weighing up whether the significant extra for a pull out bin is worth it...!
 
Russinating said:
Didn't know that, I swear when we had our last kitchen done ~3 years ago we still had to go through our tradesman to order another unit. And no, no trades contacts!

Given how easy Better Kitchens is - and I can collect - I'm just going to go with them. Just weighing up whether the significant extra for a pull out bin is worth it...!
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pull out bins are amazing! I wouldn't have a kitchen without one now I have one so much neater than any free standing option I've seen as keeps your kitchen looking nice.
 
Well, Didsbury is a lot better address than Withington or Fallowfield isn't it ? :p

To be fair it's 2 miles from Didsbury and 1 from West Didsbury but yeah, stretching it slightly but can understand why :D
 
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