Can you really get that expensive bespoke look with a diy-kitchen?

[ilovetosleep]

I'd settled for a low end matt handleless kitchen because I knew I couldn't afford a bespoke in frame kitchen, which is what I'd really love. But I kept getting drawn back to them (pinterest...) I know diy-kitchens.com is well thought of on here, and I've looked at the milton in frame option, but in the pics I can see on their website you can just tell its a high street option. It just doesn't look as good as the Plain english, tom howley, roundhouse etc. kitchens. For the hassle I almost I may as well stick with lay on handleless which at least has a strong look even if its not what we really want. (we are going for matt laquer, colour matched to Hague blue on the island and pavillion grey on the L shape, with pure white matt quartz work tops and carrera marble metro tiles on the splash back)

So do any of you have any diykitchens to rival bespoke? I'd love to see some pics!

I think DIY kitchens can look lovely, maybe not £50k of solid wood bespoke lovely, but stunning nonetheless. There's some stunning photos on their real kitchens section and there's been quite a few beauties on the various extensions threads on here. But I think you have to be realistic, if you can afford a Tom Howley kitchen, then by all means go for it, but most people don't have that kind of cash. I saw a stunning solid wood kitchen at the Homebuilding Show yesterday, it smelt amazing and was just beautiful, but it was £40k and probably only had 1/2 the units that we are installing.

The DIY Kitchens are well built and the variety of units, ability to have them in any colour you desire plus the option to customise (within reason) means that you can have a beautiful kitchen for a great price. They do have pilasters if decorative things are your fancy. I think our new kitchen will look beautiful and is perfect for what we want AND can afford.

Parkview, you kitchen looks lovely and the lighting scheme is great.

On the pricing front, did you compare like-for-like? When I had a look, it seemed Pineland was in the same price bracket as Handmade so for a 600mm base unit (as an example) it was £300 for untreated vs about £150 for ready painted from diy.

@jojosm2 - Gaah - unfortunate typo in my original post above - should be 60% more not 20%!

As close as possible to a like-for-like basis, DIY Kitchens would have been £4,400 for the cabinetry, Pineland was just a smidgeon over £7,000 but including the mantle

Thanks Jojo. Both are things i am planning to do as well, do you mind my asking how DIY helped with the mantel and fridge surround (or was this your kitchen fitter?)? i don't love the full mantel option that DIY offer, so i am trying to work out how to do a dummy chimney breast with a plant on mantel, or just a cornice on top, for a slightly cleaner look. Google isn't giving me much in terms of practical solutions, so my next stop is to ask a carpenter how i would achieve this. If you have any experience with his please do Pm me :)

re fridge, i'm anticipating that 10 cm that the fridge will protrude from the units either side will really bother me.... did you manage to make it sit flush?

Parkview your kitchen is gorgeous !

4years- good insight, i think we have come to the same conclusion and expect that we will love our kitchen from DIY, as long as we plan it carefully. when does yours get installed? hope it all goes well!

Hi, new to mumsnet so hope this is the right page!! I also am considering having a gloss handleless kitchen due to cost of my real dream! Does anyone know of talented, not extortionately priced, independent kitchen fitters in the Bolton area? Also any cheaper online worktop suppliers? Would be grateful for any feedback!