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

@aisteb - HMK also have what they call a shopping cart. Basically same
prices as the sale options but much shorter lead times as not bespoke. More standard sizes. Might not work for you but you can check available delivery times on the website which now escapes me....I’ll see if I can find it.

Question for anyone who can help: if you don’t have wall cupboards, where do you store things like glasses and mugs? And plates etc?

4yearsnosleep that kitchen is lovely, someone you know?

Oh didn't realise HMK had a different option, may enquire, thank you Rosita.

I plan to see if I can fit the plates and cups in pan drawers, if I can't I will have open shelves like we did in our last house, photos attached. There was a stack of plates, bowls, 6 glasses and 9 mugs on the shelves and some cups on IKEA rail. They all were on rotation but we also had spares in a cupboard.

We have HMK larders in our larder room (wanted bespoke sizes to fit) and frankly we are disappointed with the quality, and the service we have received. Our DIY kitchen is miles better in every way.

That kitchen on instagram is lovely! And it’s a Helmsley too! See, the beading looks ok!
Actually, aisteb - the shopping cart one has beading too, I know you’re not too keen on it. You can’t opt for no beading I don’t think unless you go for the bespoke longer lead time.

That’s really interesting Humptynumpty02 and just what I needed to hear as I’ve pretty much decided to go for Helmsley. Slightly lusting after the beautiful oak drawers on HMK but can’t really afford it anyway!

Not friends, I've just been planning the extension for over a year and have found a lot of great inspiration on Instagram 😊

I think my beading obsession is similar to your narrow frame one Rosita

I found the handles and the worktops so really just need to order the kitchen now. The worktops will be oak from Worktop Express on one side (used them before) and Carrara quartz on the other side from Topsco (haggled the price down). And the handles are pricier than I would have wanted at £5 each but are just the right colour, sort of warm silver, between silver and bronze and just what I wanted. Loads of different companies sell these, that are called cast iron pewter effect cup handles.

I am having second doubts about the worktops, not sure if it won't look too busy with two tone kitchen and two types of worktops. I have seen plenty of Pinterest photos where it works but real life is not quite Pinterest is it..

I've seen the two worktop effect in a few showrooms and it looks good. I think it won't be too busy as the kitchen itself is quite subtle (depending on what you eventually go for!)

Can I ask where you're ordering the handles from? I've looked at so many I can't do it any more! On the plus side, I think I've decided on a tap. It's either the Adobe Gosford or Ludlow though I can't quite decide on colour yet. A big part of me wants the antique brass but it's a bit out there for me.

I like your old kitchen @aisteb though I'm not sure I'm tidy enough for the open shelves although I really love that look.

We have ordered the abode 3 in 1 boiling water tap in satin nickel from Appliances House Ltd, they had 5% off last weekend and it came up to £540, couldn't find a better price anywhere. It has arrived and it is beautiful.

Getting the handles from Cathes and Latches. I first saw them in Wickes for £11 and fell in love. Wickes sell them as their own brand but I looked for the same

Posted too soon! Basically found the same for £5.29 at Cathes and Latches, got it yesterday and it looks exactly the same as Wickes so very happy. Then realised a lot of online shops have them for £4.99 but just cannot be bothered to order another sample for the sake of saving £10. They come with matching mushroom knobs and we will use a mixture of both.

I am very messy but I found open shelves easy to keep tidy as it was just stacks of plates, bowls, cups and glasses, nothing to mess up

My husband just suggested doing all base cabinets in dark blue and just the tall units in grey, not sure if that would look ok as the two colours are then side by side rather than on the opposite runs. Yet another thing to try and Google pictures for!

P.S. I prefer Gosford, looks more modern rustic rather than the traditional look Ludlow. Both both beautiful actually. Wickes kitchen consultant said Abode taps were very good. I enquired as we saw them on display and I had never heard the brand before.

In our last house we have decided against a boiling water tap but it was on our must list this time round as we had regretted not installing it.

I did lots and lots of research on boiling taps and just when we thought we had decided a new one hit the market this year from Qettle which is a 4 in 1 so filters your drinking water also and is true 100c water which as you’ll know the majority don’t. It has great reviews and is currently be sold at a very low price to get the name on the market and pitch itself against is competitors which they all do and then cost a fortune.

We looked at 4 in 1 taps as well but in the end decided to just have the Big Berkey free standing filter in the dresser unit. Supposedly it filters out all the bits that others don't and you only change filters once every 5-10 years. 4 in 1 is a great space saving option though, no need for separate taps or filters.

Abode is 98c I think. Don't want to even look if we could have saved more money as we have already got ours. I'm so incapable of making any decisions that once something has been chosen I don't want to look back

Thanks for the link @aisteb.
@janet25 - please let me know if there any other beautiful kitchens on instagram I should be ogling! I’ve revived my membership specially
😂
I think I will pop to Wickes this week and have a look at those handles and the taps too. I can’t keep ordering more stuff I may not use.....I saw the Ludlow in John Lewis but need to see the other one before I decide.
I need to place my order by 15th October at the latest for the kitchen. And I suppose I should get on with everything else too. Appliances....oh goodness! So much more I need to get to grips with.

The handles we are getting are called Beatrice at Wickes.

Are you doing up the kitchen before you move in Rosita? You are in the process of buying this house right?

@Rosita try searching #diykitchens & #helmsley @amayaathome & @housebyhaines has Helmsley too from what I remember. Plus @diykitchens have some extra real customer photos that aren't on the site

Ooooo thanks 4yearsnosleep! I will look at those. More time wasting looking at kitchen pictures. My son has just announced it is my new hobby!
aisteb - yes, it’s all really awkward! I wish we had more time. We’ve exchanged a while ago but complete on the 12th October. The vendors husband is now very ill although he has been unwell for a while, so we cannot get in and measure anything as she’s basically by his bedside. Totally understand what a difficult time it is for her obviously. It just means that it’s all guesswork based on estate agents measurements and some rough ones I had taken ages ago. Makes it rather difficult to plan properly.

And yes, we are having the work done before we move in. Move in dependent on DH’s job but we think early December.

Oh how awkward, guess you will just have to measure on the day you get keys. At least you won't need to live in the house whilst it is being done.

Some nice handles on Etsy, for example this shop www.etsy.com/uk/shop/YesterHomeUK?ref=listing-shop-header-item-count#items (search for cup handles).

I’ve just ordered my sink! Eeek!
First thing I’ve actually bought and it’s all becoming very real now.
Have also found my handles I think. They’re the second nature antique brass cups and knobs. Really good price and lovely to touch. Much cheaper than the Rowen and Wren ones which I love but can’t realistically justify. I went to my local Wickes but they didn’t have any cup handles at all. I need to get on with appliances now!

rosita which sink have you chosen? Appliance house do a good multi buy discount. I've got my larder fridge, larder freezer, 2 warming drawers, island hood, tap and sink and so far the multi buy has taken off £245. Annoyingly they don't seem to do the cookers I wanted or the hob.
I have ordered my kitchen via lovely Bob at UO!!

I went for the Villeroy & Boch farmhouse 60 from TapsUK. On sale at £199. I should probably have checked appliance house but got a bit excited...

That’s really exciting @bobkate! What kitchen have you gone for? I’m going to have a play with appliance house now. The sink is almost £300 on there with the waste so hopefully I got a bargain but will definitely look at getting all the other stuff from there. Thanks for reminding me!