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Original poster

Howden's Kitchens -Which range?

44 replies

TiredMummy2015 · 01/10/2015 16:28

Our builder is steering us in the direction of Howden's for our new kitchen.
I was planning on going to DIY Kitchens but the lead time is 4 weeks and Howden's only needs 3 days.

We get 80% discount. I've only looked online so far and nothing is jumping out at me. I can't really see any difference between Tewkesbury and Burford??

OP posts:

Seriouslyffs · 05/10/2015 11:57

Builders love them because they have a big void behind for fitting and they're factory assembled so less work for them, and they get a kickback discount.
If you trust your builder, go for it. But having researched and had 4 kitchens in the last 15 years the only one I'd recommend is IKEA (done twice) you have to do a lot of work, but you do get a great kitchen.

Original poster

TiredMummy2015 · 05/10/2015 12:11

We aren't getting any Howdens appliances so not worried about that.

The builder is a friend so we are getting the full discount available to him. We have to have the kitchen finished to a very tight schedule due to our baby being due... hence being in a rush. I did consider IKEA but their online planner is useless, neither DH or myself have ever been able to get it to work. Plus I think things take a while to order?

We do need ready built units too really to ensure our deadline is met and also so as not to take too much advantage of our friends offer to help.

OP posts:

WorktoLive · 05/10/2015 12:28

Reviews for Howdens kitchens are equally shit.

I'm probably going to go with Ikea, but may get some appliances elsewhere.

I can't get on with their online planner either, but if you get an appointment in store, they will do it for you.

The 'ready assembled' angle isn't a particular selling point for me either. I can put together Ikea stuff fairly easily myself so might do so if it will save the kitchen fitter a bit of time and hence money.

Original poster

TiredMummy2015 · 05/10/2015 12:35

It's a seller for me as being heavily pregnant I can't sit and put all the kitchen units together.

OP posts:

Toooldtobearsed · 05/10/2015 12:47

Bugger, I think it depends on where you are and how you do it.

We had Howdens Tewkesbury. Our builder and I sat and designed the kitchen together. There were 'odd' bits, where nothing pre-made would fit, but the builder was brilliant and made me a unit above double oven for microwave to fit into and a slide out drawer underneath to store baking tins.

Fast forward two years and one of soft close drawers broke. I could not figure it out, so took the whole drawer down to Howdens and several very nice young chaps mended it for me

Apparantly filling large drawers with very, very heavy cookery books is not a good idea

I was really impressed, and still love the kitchen.

Original poster

TiredMummy2015 · 05/10/2015 13:58

How do you find the Tewkesbury? Was it worth the extra money?

I've not seen any Howdens kitchens in the flesh yet. Do you know if it matches with any ranges from anywhere else? I really want my tambour fronted dresser and am hoping I can get it elsewhere.

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Toooldtobearsed · 05/10/2015 14:43

I actually went into Howdens determined I wanted a cream shaker kitchen. The Tewkesbury was on display and I just fell in love with it.

There is not a mark on it, very hard wearing, easy to keep clean and looks like new.

Very happy with it.

Go and have a look and a feel, that is the only way you will know

BakewellStart · 05/10/2015 16:49

Have you looked at Cooke and Lewis at B&Q. No idea what their timescales are but 2 friends have recently had their kitchens and I quite jealous of them!!

itmustbeglove · 05/10/2015 16:54

We've got a Howdens BOTR kitchen in our utility, our builder kindly gave us his discount so it only £900.
It's fine except the cupboards are quite small and the sink is terrible. Definitely upgrade the sink & taps.

CrapBag · 06/10/2015 11:54

We got kitchen designers from Wickes and Homebase last year. The Homebase one was fab, the designer did a brilliant job. I was going to go for their range up from the essentials range but the designers showed me the doors I would be getting which were veneered, in their essentials range they have a solid oak kitchen so I went for that. We have a large kitchen, I think it was 16 units plus an odd space where the designer made a tray space from end panels that was built by my fitter, the price matched all the brand appliances that I found online and he made a cabinet to go over the freestanding fridge which really finished that wall off.

My builder said he had a Howden account and I went and had a look. I immediately loved the Tewkesbury range. They took my design from Homebase and just matched it. Came in at 12k without appliances! My Homebase one came in at 3k with hob and a free dishwasher.

My builder was convinced Homebase had sent the wrong kitchen because he was very impressed with the quality of the solid doors. It wasn't wrong, it just seems to be a good solid range.

CrapBag · 06/10/2015 11:55

Oh Homebase price was with hob, sink, tap etc, all good quality makes, not the makes I'd never heard of that they originally put on the plan.

Original poster

TiredMummy2015 · 06/10/2015 12:32

Are Homebase and B&Q Kitchens flat packed or ready built?

I can only consider ready built.

My Howdens design arrived and its really bad. I think it looks old fashioned and crap.

OP posts:

ExConstance · 06/10/2015 15:41

After going round Howdens/Benchmarx and Wickes which are really all the same we formed the impression that Wickes probably did the best design and were most interested in getting the business, Howdens were worse than useless and their design was nothing more than a row of unattractive boxes with no freezer surround etc. Benchmarx were quite laid back and friendly but before they had done a plan we decided to use an independent designer and supplier. We now have matt units with j handles, and the appliances are being fitted tomorrow. This was a bit more expensive but we had far more confidence everything would turn out OK. We have pan drawers and 2 magic corners which make really good use of the space. We have had tall cupboards which the fitters have boxed in to ceiling height so no dust or clutter. Can't wait to christen the range cooker tomorrow evening.

Original poster

TiredMummy2015 · 06/10/2015 16:01

Howdens didn't box in our freestanding Fridge freezer either despite me asking them to. Said they couldn't put a top box above it either though Wickes managed it. Apparently I can't have under sink drawers either though IKEA seem to manage it?

So frustrating!

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CrapBag · 06/10/2015 21:46

Our homebase one was flat packed. Their Schreiber range come ready built. I wish I had had the budget for one of them! They are stunning.

lighteningirl · 07/10/2015 07:09

I thought Howdens design was rubbish Benchmarx was much better but in the end with went with local company selling German made kitchens and used independent fitter and sourced worktop separately. It was a little more ( 9 as opposed to 7 grand for units) fitting was same so worth it I think. Look at independents they are often willing to negotiaite.

Lambzig · 07/10/2015 09:49

Our builder pushed us towards Howdens, but they wanted to charge £7k (with a discount) for a very similar kitchen that we got from Ikea for £2 K. Arrived within one week. My builder is so impressed with the quality that he thinks is as good as a very expensive german kitchen he just put in and is ditching his plans to get a howdens for his own house and going ikea instead (I am having to do his online plan for him as he couldn't work the ikea tool either).

Just waiting for my worktops which were sourced separately and are being fitted this week. Obviously they cost more than twice the cost of the units!

Original poster

TiredMummy2015 · 07/10/2015 13:51

I thought about Ikea but builder wont do flat pack as I've got him working to a really tight schedule (and he's doing it as a favour).

OP posts:

Lambzig · 07/10/2015 15:55

Ours wouldn't do flatpack either due to the tight schedule, so we put the cabinets together and the drawers together (minus the fronts). He assembled and put the doors on and fitted the interior fittings.

It was very easy, we put the cabinets for a large kitchen together in one evening after the kids had gone to bed.

All the twiddly bits that you want for interiors (cutlery dividers, linings, bins, etc etc) are much cheaper at ikea too.

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