DIY kitchens - Helmsley anyone?

[Lambrilittlelegs]

Hello
We think we have decided on a Helmsley kitchen from DIY kitchens. Has anyone else got this one and if so would you mind posting some pictures? It’s not available to view in the showroom so we are buying offline without seeing it (although I will order a sample door).

Going for a F&B painted finish.
Any advice/tips/pics most welcome! Thanks

Oh curious that you have been given a later date. Hope they weren't just trying to get my custom by saying they would aim for w/c 5th of Nov, and might need to be a week later at the worst supposedly .

We are having a non stock colour hence th later date. It was about 8 weeks from the order date. I think it'll be us putting it off for a couple of weeks. Our screed isn't going down until the 12th and it takes ages to dry apparently!!

Congratulations on ordering @aisteb! That is really great news!
I’ve been a bit quiet lately as immersed in tap, sink and appliance research I didn’t want to bore you all with! Plus my laptop has chosen a really inconvenient time to die.
I’m trying to finalize everything at the moment as we’re supposed to get keys for the house on the 12th, measure up with the builder that afternoon and put in the order pretty much straightaway. I’m feeling the pressure! I need to get my plan right before then so it’s just a case of being sure the measurements work......stress!

@bobkate we are having a bespoke colour as well, but I chose to go ahead without seeing a sample, which cut down the waiting time by 2 weeks. Risky, but we have seen a kitchen in that colour and they said their colour match was very good so fingers crossed.

@Rosita you said you were replacing like for like layout wise right? This will make things easier as you can actually calculate how many cabinets they have in now and how many end panels etc.

Talking about end panels, UO suggested ordering them from a different range as inframe kitchens are more expensive and other woodgrain kitchens have identical plinths/end panels cheaper. Maybe worth having a look if you could use Norton decorative pieces with your Helmsley?

Went to Ikea yesterday and actually really liked two of their kitchens, I would have considered them had I not placed the order already. Went to check out their ovens as Kulinarisk is one of Which? best buys for pyrolitic, but actually preferred the look of one of their other ranges which is new and has no reviews. Don't know what to do now :(

Also I definitely prefer the look of slimmer shaker frames as well but hope that with nothing to compare it to Petworth will look nice as well. I keep on going to the photos @countingto10 has posted just to reassure myself as it does look lovely in her pics.

Actually, I’ve decided to change the layout. I’ll try and post some pics as I’d love some feedback if you wouldn’t mind!
What oven have you gone for @aisteb? I’m looking for a double one and the choice of well reviewed ones is so limited.

So my choice of appliances was Bosch for the integrated washing machine and dishwasher, a Haier fridge (the only one that fits in the space), a Luxair flush ceiling hood (once the builder confirms we have enough ceiling void for a flush one), AEG induction hob, same as we had in our last house as I am tired of research and Ikea Kulinarisk pyrolitic oven and Kulinarisk microwave oven combo.

Now I am not sure whether to go for Kulinarisk because of the good reviews or whether to chance it with Ikea's new range which is cheaper and I prefer the look of it. Their pyrolitic ovens are pretty much the cheapest on the market and with a 5 year warranty I feel it is the most economical choice.

These are the current layout plans. So, my dilemma is that I would love to squeeze in a butler's pantry type thing which sits on the worktop. In Picture 2, I could have one where I have the third tall unit (right of oven housing) instead of the tall unit and the shelves - so it would effectively be double width. But I'm afraid it might look strange having the worktops visible. I've seen someone's picture on instagram of this and I'm not sure how keen I am on the look of it though I totally love the interior and storage. Also, it would spoil the line of the tall units....what do you think?

My fridge and dishwasher are coming with us from this house as fairly newish. I need to buy a double oven, extractor and hob. I'll take a look at the Ikea ones, thanks for the tip. I never know with which? if they review one model and another is really similar if that means it's any good too.

That's another great tip about the end panels, I will call and ask!

@aisteb, was your units online price units only? Otherwise if it includes appliances too, that's a total bargain!

It was units only, appliances will be at least another £3k, probably more like £4k with an expensive extractor fan. Worktops around £2k, I need to actually call about the worktop price today.

I would consider having a pantry unit where you have the fridge and the fridge next to the ovens, built in with a top box.

Alternatively, where you have the shelves, make the unit next to shelves with a left hand hinge and add a door on top of the worktop (the kitchen fitter to build a frame for it) and then get the kitchen fitter to kit it out with shelves inside. If it has a right hand hinge, then you could open them together with the unit next to it like a pantry. We are doing a similar thing, just my corner runs quite deep. The door will be brought forward to be flush with the units, a picture attached.

In my picture,to the left of the ovens, if you see what I mean.

Also, what are the two entrance doors? Could you block one of them off? You possible do not need two entrances to the same space and that would allow you more flexibility in terms of the layout.

I just got extremely excited about moving the fridge and replacing with the pantry but then realized that the space is 980 and the pantry unit is 1000.

No, cannot block the doors off sadly. One is to the hall and the other is the utility.....no other access.

Interesting thought about the corner though! I’ll have a think and attempt to draw it out.

Could you move the door over a bit, or replace by a two inch narrower door? Or remove the architrave (spelling?) and replace it with a narrow thin one on the pantry side that would allow the pantry to go there. The pantry will need an end panel at least on one side so that would add 2cm, really you should have around 105cm in order to fit in in comfortably.

Rosita, could you share the picture of butler's pantry. Also which two IKEA kitchens did you like?

@mum2015 One was this one www.ikea.com/gb/en/rooms/kitchen/a-taste-for-quality-craftsmanship-1364350384402/ They had it with laminate worktop that looks like concrete and quite convincingly and not at all cheap. I thought the cost of buying this and painting a custom colour would have been cheaper that other options perhaps.

And the other was light grey slab design, I think perhaps this onewww.ikea.com/gb/en/rooms/kitchen/a-taste-for-quality-craftsmanship-1364350384402/

The reason I liked those two on the display was partly the styling so definitely worth a visit to Ikea (I went to London Croydon one). Their organiser inserts are great too.

I honestly think had I gone there earlier I would have probably gone for a different look, that matt slab design was so lovely. Unfortunately online pictures do not do Ikea kitchens justice, I thought they looked so much nicer in the showroom.

This is it. I love it so much! I just wonder if it will look strange if half of it is in the corner.

I don’t think we can get involved with anything else that’s going to be yet more expense like moving a door unfortunately. The architrave is an idea though.....

@Rosita how good is your fitter? it would be quite easy for a decent carpenter to make you a unit like that, possibly cheaper too as these pantry units are usually pricey.

You could put a base unit next to the oven housing, then have them build a double door pantry on top of the base unit and into the corner.

You can just buy the doors separate and enough plinth to build a frame around. They can make a frame, fit some shelves, you can buy the spice rack for the door separate. You could have an electrical socket and a light inside just fixed to the wall. You possibly do not even need the back and the sides for it, the shelves can just attach to the wall.

@Rosita I love that pantry. Please do you have any links where to buy the wooden inner parts or are they available from the kitchen unit supplier? I have not seen anything like that on diy-kitchen.

Hi everyone

I think someone wanted to see the inside of my appliance station a while ago but I wanted to wait til the granite was in (apologies as pictures aren’t brilliant). Our builder used every space piece of timber from our kitchen to make the frame and the shelves - I think he did a good job.

There is still a bit of work to do but I was seriously fed up with using the utility room as a kitchen 3 months down the line so have moved into the kitchen and will just move stuff again when I need to. The builders cocked up with the electrics so are having to make good properly when they fit the extractor which I hope will be delivered next week with the fridge freezer. Flooring Being done tomorrow, Thursday and Friday so I should really be clearing everything away instead of mumsnetting

I have to say I really love that corner of the room now. You always wonder if your plans etc will pan out as you want and you will find it as useful as you think and I do. Everything is to hand in that corner and I can close the doors and the kitchen looks lovely, clean and clear when I’ve done.

I’ve treated myself to a KitchenAid in Bosenberry which is arriving tomorrow and DH has treated himself to a Nespresso machine which will go in the appliance station when everything done (DCs can have the Dulce Gusto machine in the utility) - it was our wedding anniversary on Sunday which was our justification.......

That pantry unit was all from DIY kitchens, took a while for them to get back with prices and I had to ask the lady on Instagram a few questions. In the showroom it's the Harewood butler unit.

Thank you 4yearsnosleep I am guessing it was crazy expensive but I do love it.

countingto10 your appliance station is fantastic. The more I look the more I see things I lust after - I want All The Things in my kitchen

aisteb,
Thank you. I will visit Croydon IKEA and have a look.
I like ikea kitchen as they give more storage per cabinet/drawer and all the little things to organise stuff inside drawers. IKEA also do quartz though I don't know if that is cheaper or more expensive than getting it outside.
Anyway the current layout I have designed needs quite a lot of worktop so a good laminate would work best.

FrogFairy

I am with you. I want a butler's pantry, a pantry with drawers and appliance station as well now!!!

It’s not cheap but not horrific....it’s
called the worktop dresser unit and in Helmsley is approx £700. That doesn’t include the spice racks though.

I think having one made like @countingto10 and @aisteb is a great idea and I’m going to ask my builder to price one up ASAP.