Hi all. Just got back home from the epic trip to Yorkshire. It was well worth it and I've pretty much made up my mind!
So, for me it's still total love for Helmsley. It was everything I thought it would be and I still absolutely love it. In my opinion, the cockbeading looks much worse in a close up but overall, in the whole kitchen, it was lovely. Having seen the Devol and Handmade Kitchens of Christchurch showrooms, Helmsley is without a doubt the closest to those due to the slimness of the frame and overall look. HMK of C also have cockbeading (though you can have it without) and I had liked it then. I was apprehensive today after all the comments on the thread, but in spite of the awful color choices on the display, it still looked very chic and the most bespoke of all the DIY kitchens.
Obviously this is only my opinion, but I did not care for Norton at all. The frame is just too wide and chunky for my liking. For similar reasons, I didn't much care for Stanbury either, though the display was indeed stunning as friskybivalves said. It was definitely the best one in the showroom. Great choices of colour and worktops plus good layout. Whilst the kitchens themselves look good, I think they could definitely work on displaying them better. They are building a new showroom on the field next door so hopefully will do so in future.
Norton is definitely 105mm frame and Helmsley 74 so there really is a difference. Burbidge Petworth is 90 and Langton (both inframes) is 76. Burbidge Barnes is 90 and Second Nature Mornington (both shakers) is also 90. Having seen Mornington last week, I was left feeling like it could be a second choice if I didn't like Helmsley, but I was unsure about it and I think it's the same reason I wasn't so keen on Petworth when I saw it. I just really prefer the very slim frame look and 90 is too wide for me. But for those of you who are keen, I got a quote emailed this morning with very good prices on all the Burbidge kitchens which was comparable or perhaps cheaper than Units Online. It was from Kitchens and Worktops Ltd in Sutton if that helps any of you.
Other things I found out that might be useful:
The online planner tends to over calculate end panels etc so the actual price is probably cheaper than it seems.
Some people match the carcass colour to the door (only works if you are going with a stock colour though) and then can do away with the need for end panels.
They will make pretty much anything in Helmsley even if the planner says its not available i.e. le Mans units. They can use appliances doors to put on special size bin units etc. They basically told me I just need to tell them what I what and they will figure out how to make it happen.
aisteb - I had a look at the different sizes on display and there is often a mix of different width units. However, it seems that what makes it work well is have as much symmetry as possible on a row.
I loved the F&B skimming stone which they had on one kitchen, seems like a cross between the light grey and cashmere. I think the person who originally posted about the colours matching the F&B ones had it spot on. I spent quite a while comparing them in different lights and they seem like a match.
Right....exhausted now. Need wine.