DIY Kitchens (again). Pricing...

[Faffandahalf]

I know there are numerous threads about DIY kitchens but just want some more recent thoughts.

We have been looking at all the usual places: Howdens, Magnet, Ikea etc for a kitchen. It's a renovation of a new property.

I want a dark blue shaker style with an island.

I've read loads about DIY kitchens on here so was quite confident about going with it. Have been pricing up the Helmsley (still not sure about in frame and space/cleaning) and the Norton.

It's not as cheap as I was expecting. The Helmsley is coming up at 7.2 k and that's without end panels and plinths (I just can't get my head around the end panel measurements on the website at all. Have contacted the support team for help with this). The Norton is coming up at around 6k.

The end panels will add maybe another 500-1k on? I actually have no idea about this.

Magnet quoted me a ridiculous 10k but then said they would match the DIY price! Their end panels come up to 1200k which means a price of around 7.5-8k total

I've attached a rough drawing of the layout with units and wondered if anyone had any info regarding pricing. Are these prices really good for the units we have?

I know nothing about kitchen prices. This is the first house where we aren't just living with an existing kitchen but getting to choose our own and I don't know what I'm doing!

Also am I even crazy for considering Howdens/Magnet instead of DIY anyway? Howdens quote was 5.5k total.

Thanks for reading. This was so long-winded. Any recent (or not so recent even!) experiences with DIY would be great

I don't think DIY is one of the cheapest, it's more that it offers some high end options (like bespoke colour choice and in frame) and decent service, without the high end price tag. It'a up to you whether those things are worth extra to you over the Howdens price? Also you can save on fitting if you do actually DIY it.

Have you looked at Benchmarx?

They don't do the colour or style we want.

DIY don't really offer any service as you are expected to do all the planning yourself. I'm nervous of that element.

It's really the bespoke option I like but the price tag was unexpected perhaps naively

I’m also thinking about them, not measured up yet but can someone tell me what the inside of their cabinets and drawers are like? Are they white basic like Ikea or is there a more high end option? Struggling to get that information from their website. Thanks

@bracken101 recommend different carcasses for different ranges. We are currently in the process of having the Norton in lamp room grey installed and the cabinets are oak not white. Once end panels are on, all the exterior is door colour and the oak is seen in the inside. Hope that makes sense.

Are you anywhere near DIY Kitchens showroom?

They do expect you to do the donkey work of planning it all out on their online planner.

However if you say you are getting stuck, one of their store planners will come over and help you out and sort out your problems in about 20 seconds flat (made us realise that kitchen planning was clearly v easy once you knew how).

If you set up your plan and email them about questions they will also advise you. We've found them v helpful.

Sorry when I say service, I mean being helpful on the phone and answering queries rather than a design service.

Tbh I wasn’t that impressed with the designs from most of the kitchen companies I visited. I was nervous of doing my own design too at first but took some ideas from the designs provided and improved from there... lots of tips from here!

However if they don’t do the options you want then that takes away a lot of the benefit of course and I would look further.

You get what you pay for to some extent- the cupboards are thinner and not as good a spec at Howdens, B&Q. Magnets is better. DIY Kitchens and Wickes are on a par, as is Benchmarx and even John Lewis. Wren I wouldn’t bother with- I’ve heard terrible stories. My friend paid 4.5k for her painted shaker from DIYK- it’s a medium sized, your kitchen is actually very large and with an Island I’m not surprised it’s coming out at this much.

Are worktops/ white goods above this? If they’re included the price is very good! Are any cupboards curved? That can add more to the cost

@Threesocks thank you, that does help! Yours looks great 👍

thresocks was that oak the standard interior or an upgrade?

Showroom is a 4 hour drive! I want to go up there but also want to be able to ask someone there to help me with the units/plan. Woman on the phone was a bit noncomittal about this when I asked if I could do that. They don't do appointments at all. It's just turn up and wait for someone who may or may not be available. certainly not as helpful as people on here made out.

purple no this is just for the units. Appliances and worktop (quartz) will be extra. I need to factor in 3-4k for that on top of these quotes

Are DIY kitchens really on par with Wickes? I don't think they are. I thought their carcasses were meant to be quite sturdy and they have an 18mm backboard don't they, same as Magnets

Anna That's what everyone keeps saying about them being so helpful! Hopefully it will be fine once I go visit but it takes them an age to respond to queries/emails

Wickes cabinets are very good quality-just as thick as DIY and they both use Blum hinges -which are very good quality - most kitchen retailers in this price range don’t use anything as good as these. It makes a difference for drawer and cupboard longevity. Wickes has an excellent warranty (15 years). I imagine Benchmarx is similar as they’re owned by the same group (Travis Perkins) but are used more by trade.

Howdens is really a “chuck it in” at low cost trade kitchen- fine for a house you’re selling or renting - or if you’re on a budget. If you want something to last and better quality, go for the other more expensive options.

I suggest comparing specs - this will show you where money is well spent. This information is more available in person or by phone than online.

@Faffandahalf the oak unit was standard. They seem to have different ones as standard depending on the range.
We have gone for Clayton Alabaster in our utility which are alabaster units as standard.
If you go to the kitchens tab on the website and find the range you want, you can then click through for details and there is a tab called recommended unit colour, which comes up as standard unit colour. Hope that makes sense.

@faffandahalf not quite sure what you are saying ie. whether Wickes is better or worse than DIY? I think DIY is certainly better quality than Ikea and the budget brands discussed up thread. I’d say Wickes are about equal to Benchmark- all the mid range suppliers - based on spec and quality of fittings. Even matches a lot of the kitchens in John Lewis which are about middling.

Have you tried an Independent?

I went for a recommendation in my area, and my total price, excluding fitting and white goods is just shy 10k. Maybe only a unit or two less than you.

They done a great design, changed it a few times at my request, are working closely with my builders and the quality of the units is excellent.

Perhaps worth checking your local independent out? Shop Local and all that.

I would go with Howdens, they do a beautiful navy unit and it sounds like their prices are better than DIY?

Sorry purple I meant I didn’t realise Wickes units were that good quality or on par with DIY at least.

Thanks three. I have seen that on the website now I think about it.

Wickes are flat pack which immediately makes diy better IMO!

Like has been said, I don’t think diy are necessarily a cheap kitchen but what they do is a high end spec for less. So depends what you’re looking for.

The thing about flat pack is that everything (except bespoke) is flat pack nowadays- so DIY were flat pack before they got put together by the team in the workshop. So there’s no difference in quality- it’s just the convenience of not having to assemble them in your house (or pay a bit less to the chippy).

The best way to assess a kitchen is by comparing specifications. Try to get as much information as you can and you will soon see what represents value for money.

Personally I’m choosing between DIYK, Wickes, and Ikea carcasses with bespoke doors.

There is ample difference to flat pack and pre built
Flat pack are cam and dowel
pre built are glue and dowel making them more ridged
Also much less chance of snagging the units

Wickes and Benchmarx are the same kitchens I believe but Wickes are more expensive because they have showrooms etc.

So get your chippy to glue in the dowels!

It’s my understanding too that Wickes and Benchmarx are of similar quality.

I have heard that DIYK uses Blum drawer fittings but their entry level spec. I haven’t seen that with my own eyes so can’t say if that’s true. But worth doing your research.

• they’re entry level spec

Incidentally I find the spec comparison tool on DIYK a bit basic and rubbish. Perhaps it’s better in store (I haven’t visited).

We should create our own mumsnet Kitchen cabinet specification chart! Does anyone with more time on their hands than me (ft job, toddler and heavily pregnant so my priorities should be elsewhere and not on kitchen cabinets!) have time to create one?!