Spec me a kitchen!
- Thread starter tamzzy
- Start date
Yeah, I've just submitted the above plan to DIY kitchens, the current quote for the above (the plan is made from their website) is £7100 but they're running the free AEG dishwasher + cashback so should work out at £6500-ish for the above
Got the Howdens saleslady come round to mine last week, for a lesser spec (slimline dishwasher rather than full size, no integrated bin), Howdens asking for £9600
Both kitchens are in handle-less gloss white and laminated wood worktop...so a £3k (~50%) difference which is an extremely hard pill to swallow, both quotes not including fitting
My current builder that's doing my refurb at the moment is a Howdens partner so pushing quite hard for me to get Howdens, but even if he gives me a "discount" on the kitchen fitting, I can't see how it will make up a £3k difference in price
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Just fitted a Howdens handle-less gloss white kitchen in my parents house, wasn't overly impressed with the quality of the carcasses and construction, the way they do the handle- less system seems like a bodge compared to other companies, new leg design is great though.
Fitted a Sigma Handle-less in my own house 18months ago and that was so easy to do and quality was great, but you need a trade contact for their fair prices.
Fitted a Sigma Handle-less in my own house 18months ago and that was so easy to do and quality was great, but you need a trade contact for their fair prices.
Associate
Have a look at Better Kitchens, that's where I got mine from. Similar price to DIY Kitchens, but offered a True Handless kitchen, whereas DIY only offered the J-Pull style.
Came in much cheaper than Wren (ridiculous price) and Howdens (silly hidden pricing game).
Came in much cheaper than Wren (ridiculous price) and Howdens (silly hidden pricing game).
Soldato
DIY are decent option, as as you say the £3k extra for literally nothing isn't something I'd consider at all.
Looking forward you should check out getting a venting induction hob, instead of gas + extractor - it is the future!
Looking forward you should check out getting a venting induction hob, instead of gas + extractor - it is the future!
Oh FFS.....
nah. the chinese in me still needs a gas hob. how else am i going to use a wok lol
(an induction wok is blasphemy)
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just had a browse through the website...looks pretty decent though their range of appliances aren't as large as DIY/Howdens
Soldato
From the original 3 mentioned, My Mum had a wren kitchen, my neighbour had a Howdens, and we had DIY kitchens All within a few months of each other.
Even when we had quotes from all three for ours, the cost difference wasn‘t even funny
Howdens - £10.5k Units only (limited range of cupboards)
Wren - £13.5k Units only (foil wrapped MDF as they didn’t have a wood option)
DIY Kitchens - £9.8k (open grain wood in the main kitchen, foil backed in the utility)
DIY seemed around the same price as howdens and gave up actual wood options, so we did that in the main kitchen, and made Wren look poor vfm. Even the marble effect quartz worktops worked out £2k cheaper from DIY than Wrens which is odd, the supply/fit was ultimately from the same company so my other neighbour said as he’s had plenty of Wren worktops fitted (he’s a carpenter who sees a lot of kitchen install as!)
I also found none could match the range and ultimate price of appliances, so sourced them myself.
If Better Kitchens are the same quality as DIY and offered a better style, I’d consider that and get appliances elsewhere…
As I mentioned, my other neighbour fits kitchens and supplies howdens for convenience but he was very impressed with our DIY kitchen and he’s sourcing his own kitchen from them. He still prefers to supply howdens as he can get any units or bits within 24 hours should he need them.. which is one of the key strengths of howdens.
Even when we had quotes from all three for ours, the cost difference wasn‘t even funny
Howdens - £10.5k Units only (limited range of cupboards)
Wren - £13.5k Units only (foil wrapped MDF as they didn’t have a wood option)
DIY Kitchens - £9.8k (open grain wood in the main kitchen, foil backed in the utility)
DIY seemed around the same price as howdens and gave up actual wood options, so we did that in the main kitchen, and made Wren look poor vfm. Even the marble effect quartz worktops worked out £2k cheaper from DIY than Wrens which is odd, the supply/fit was ultimately from the same company so my other neighbour said as he’s had plenty of Wren worktops fitted (he’s a carpenter who sees a lot of kitchen install as!)
I also found none could match the range and ultimate price of appliances, so sourced them myself.
If Better Kitchens are the same quality as DIY and offered a better style, I’d consider that and get appliances elsewhere…
As I mentioned, my other neighbour fits kitchens and supplies howdens for convenience but he was very impressed with our DIY kitchen and he’s sourcing his own kitchen from them. He still prefers to supply howdens as he can get any units or bits within 24 hours should he need them.. which is one of the key strengths of howdens.
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Yeah my builder said the exact same. But I can't stomach the £3k difference. I've emailed the Howdens rep with my DIY kitchens quote and asked what's the best they can offer.
My current thoughts are that if Howdens won't come down on price I'll go with DIY kitchens. If my builder won't fit it, I'll get someone else who will. I can't see what the difference is though, as DIY kitchens are also preassembled units. And the specifications are close enough to the Howdens units.
Soldato
- Joined
- 2 Apr 2006
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Just had a Howdens kitchen fitted. Everything went smoothly and any issues were sorted quickly. These were relatively minor, a small scratch on a door and a missing magnet for the integrated washing machine. They even replaced a side panel FOC on a larder unit that the joiner caught with his radio taking a tiny chip out of it. We had 3 quotes and all 3 were within £1000 of the final price of 18k fitted, this included £1000 for flooring. The fitting itself was around £4500 inclusive of electrics, plumbing, plastering and skip hire. Our original budget was 15k all in, but costs have escalated since we first looked around 18 months ago.
A colleague has gone down the DIY kitchens route, and although the kitchen itself is fine, he's having a nightmare with their chosen builder. Once you've decided on the supplier, choose your fitter wisely would be the best advice I can give.
A colleague has gone down the DIY kitchens route, and although the kitchen itself is fine, he's having a nightmare with their chosen builder. Once you've decided on the supplier, choose your fitter wisely would be the best advice I can give.
Soldato
I think the "premium" range of those standard sheds is probably much of a muchness. I prefer diy kitchens openness on actual price rather than hidden "sales" type tactics.
One thing to make sure is you have lots of end panels and design /fit it well as it makes the end result look so much better.
I would also beware on wren handleless, my parents had one and the ergonomics were crap compared to the diy kitchens handleless one I had in my old house.
Personally, having previously bought one I wouldn't go for handleless again and just go for a shaker style as its more timeless. Make sure its a painted style cupboard door and not that vinyl wrap crap (melamime?) - means you can paint over it in future..
Paying a premium for solid worktops (quartz /granite) is something Id do again and more important than which fairly bog standard kitchen outfit to go with.
Mine is a magnet kitchen which came with the house, was yellow when I got it but just painted it blue/white and put in quartz worktops
Much nicer imo than the before
One thing to make sure is you have lots of end panels and design /fit it well as it makes the end result look so much better.
I would also beware on wren handleless, my parents had one and the ergonomics were crap compared to the diy kitchens handleless one I had in my old house.
Personally, having previously bought one I wouldn't go for handleless again and just go for a shaker style as its more timeless. Make sure its a painted style cupboard door and not that vinyl wrap crap (melamime?) - means you can paint over it in future..
Paying a premium for solid worktops (quartz /granite) is something Id do again and more important than which fairly bog standard kitchen outfit to go with.
Mine is a magnet kitchen which came with the house, was yellow when I got it but just painted it blue/white and put in quartz worktops
Much nicer imo than the before
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I wouldn't be surprised if that was indeed the case lolYour builder won't fit the DIY Kitchens because he's probably factored in the £3k kick back he gets if you go to Howdens
yes this is my thoughts too, i'd rather spend my money on a company with open practices
i was thinking of going laminate for now, can always change the worktop later down the line for a quick kitchen refresh win
Soldato
Best not to think about that, my neighbour will do us ‘cost’ pricing at howdens and admits the first thing he is asked is what markup would he like added to the cost…Your builder won't fit the DIY Kitchens because he's probably factored in the £3k kick back he gets if you go to Howdens
I’d still get a quote, I haggled with DIY on quartz worktops, I effectively gave them the lowest price I’d had lically, which was for the cheapest quartz option, and they beat that with a more premium quartz.. that’s what made me spend that extra that I didn’t want to, and if you do, an led groove is a worthwhile addition that wasn’t expensive..
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Any recommendations on where to get a quote on a quartz worktop?
Soldato
- Joined
- 2 Apr 2006
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One of our compromises was having laminate tops instead of quartz, something had to give though as we'd have gone over 20k. 
We'll probably be moving within the next 5 years though, so probably made sense in terms of budget.
We'll probably be moving within the next 5 years though, so probably made sense in terms of budget.
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Have a better look then..
DIY kitchens are way ahead of Howdens. Howdens tag line used to be kitchens for your builder to fit.. Or similar......
Note it wasn't joiner!!
Thanks guys for all the help and advice.
I've gone with DIY kitchens as my builder has agreed to fit (rather than Howdens...I'm going to pay in fitting costs lol)
Howdens offered £8300 as a best and final offer for their kitchen spec (no bin unit, slimline dishwasher, no upstand)
DIY kitchens is £6800 with a better spec - bin unit, full size dishwasher and upstands to go round
I've gone with DIY kitchens as my builder has agreed to fit (rather than Howdens...I'm going to pay in fitting costs lol)
Howdens offered £8300 as a best and final offer for their kitchen spec (no bin unit, slimline dishwasher, no upstand)
DIY kitchens is £6800 with a better spec - bin unit, full size dishwasher and upstands to go round