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Original poster

Any advice on Howdens kitchens?

102 replies

cherrybug · 12/12/2020 12:22

We are building an extension and will be getting a new kitchen (L shaped with an island). Our builder wants us to go with Howdens and keeps putting us off other places we suggest (Wren for example).

As Howdens don't have an itemised price list it all seems like a bit of a racket to me, where three different people could spend different amounts for the exact same kitchen depending on the 'discount' their builder gets. They've given us an 'estimate' based on the design they did which seems expensive. Though maybe it's just a starting point for negotiation.

I have also looked at DIY kitchens but just don't know where to start and would be terrified of getting it wrong. We are in Scotland so can't go to see their showroom.

So my questions are - are Howdens kitchens good and how do you make sure you get the best deal with them?

OP posts:

StubbleTurnips · 12/12/2020 21:31

We’re on our second Howdens kitchen, only have the carcasses and doors / fittings / kickboards. Worktops, appliances, sink, etc is from elsewhere. I wanted a huge 1.75 butlers Sink which has posed an issue for the howdens kitchen but is mainly sorted.

We use a friends account, discount isn’t great but it comes prefabricated so easy for DH to install.

Had Ikea too, I do like the flexibility you get with Ikea and the inserts you can always pick up. But self building is a PITA and I don’t think they last as long.

Friend has just had wren and it did not go smoothly which put us off. We had a quote from a fitter who suggests lochanna but they didn’t have what we needed.

Maryann1975 · 12/12/2020 21:32

We’ve got a Howdens kitchen, it was fitted over 5 years ago and the units still look new. The things that give it away That’s it’s 5 years old are the paint work and the silicone/mastic/sealant stuff (No idea what it’s called) they use around the edges of the sink/cooker/worktops. The units look great. We have a friend who works there and he gave us 3 prices, basic, mid and high end. We went mid range and the price was around what we would have expected. They recommend a fitter to us who was great. Everything was delivered on time, with no issues. Units came pre built.

Houseplantmad · 12/12/2020 21:44

Just had a Howden's kitchen taken out and a DIY kitchen put in. We put the Howden one in and it hasn't been great from the start. I'm so impressed with DIY though and the planning wasn't bad at all. Get some graph paper and draw your kitchen to scale then photocopy that a few times then start adding your units in. We went up to Pontefract for the day from London and that was very helpful.
Delivery was great and everything arrived together but do get it delivered a bit before you need it as delivery dates can be subject to change.
Our builder is very impressed with the quality of the units and that I could get some dry assembled ie not glued so they were easier for the builder to adapt.

Wornout12108 · 12/12/2020 21:46

@littlelionroars please can I ask what flooring you used in your kitchen? I have just ordered very similar kitchen to yours and the flooring you have is beautiful. Thanks

userxx · 12/12/2020 21:57

Get some graph paper and draw your kitchen to scale then photocopy that a few times then start adding your units in.

That's where things would start to go wrong for me, I can barely draw a matchstick man.

ishouldntsaybut · 12/12/2020 22:06

We just had a Howdens kitchen in our kitchen and large utility. Went with all their white goods apart from ovens and the price was thousands less than Wickes even with boiling water tap and wine cooler. Our builder passed the whole discount to us. We are thrilled it looks amazing and works so well for us.

smismas · 12/12/2020 22:11

We've had our Howdens kitchen for a year and I love it.

OH's Dad fits kitchens as part of his job and recommended them, he said he would never have a kitchen for his own house from anywhere else. He was able to negotiate a good price too.

Absolutely would not recommend their flooring though. We have the mid price range in the kitchen and hall, and the quality is awful. There are chips and scratches in various places and we no idea how they happened. We don't wear shoes inside, don't have small children dropping toys on the floor etc. The top range on the other hand is great- we have it in our bathroom but sadly couldn't afford it for downstairs too.

Viviennemary · 12/12/2020 22:13

I don't like Howdens at all. I don't approve of their pricing rules or lack of.

Smallgoon · 12/12/2020 22:58

@userxx

Get some graph paper and draw your kitchen to scale then photocopy that a few times then start adding your units in.

That's where things would start to go wrong for me, I can barely draw a matchstick man.

You don't need to do this. Their online planner is amongst the best I've used. Very user-friendly, compared to the Ikea one for example, which I couldn't get my head around.

tinkywinkyshandbag · 12/12/2020 23:09

@userxx oops wrong thread!!

FamilyOfAliens · 12/12/2020 23:17

We’ve just ordered a Howdens kitchen for our new house that will be fitted in January. Every little thing was itemised for us (with a copy to the joiner) and the kitchen designer costed up different options so we could fit it in with our budget.

I’m nearly 60 and this is the first time I’ve ever had a new kitchen - I’m embarrassed at how excited I am!

Recruit2020 · 12/12/2020 23:22

Sold old house used B&Q nightmare all seemed transparent. Day of delivery worktops not in stock. Incorrect handles. Didnt care as updating to sell.
New property used Howdens not a single issue. Kitchen signficantly better quality and paid very similar. Will use again

gingergiraffe · 12/12/2020 23:23

We have a Howden kitchen. Units are fine but the Lamona gas hob is poor quality. The plastic knobs cracked underneath after a couple of years and cost a fortune to replace so I haven’t bothered. They just sit on top of the mechanism. We didn’t have any of their other appliances.

PronkWine · 12/12/2020 23:31

We have and have had several Howdens kitchens, a lot of the quality depends on the fitter and the people that measure it own magic tape measures. My parent's one is 20+ years old and wearing very well.

As for price, they are always desperate to get them out of the door before the end of the bloody month 🙄 also make sure if they are quoting net or gross of VAT as they've tried that one on me before 🙄 on the whole quality is fine for the price. I have an amazing carpenter who has made mine look like a custom made kitchen not an off the peg design.

Also don't use their worktops, they're always too bloody short unless you are fitting out a postage stamp.

PronkWine · 12/12/2020 23:32

Just to add we didn't get their appliances in our homes but we did in rentals.

Smallgoon · 13/12/2020 00:53

@gingergiraffe

Lamona appliances are shocking. If you're buying from Howdens, you should only really purchase units. You can shop around for worktop and appliances.

GreenPlum · 13/12/2020 01:13

This house had a Howden's kitchen when we moved in. It's shit! At three years old, spot lights all failed, under counter strip lights failed, electric cooker hood lights failed, electrician couldn't repair so replaced. Draw fronts falling off, kicker boards loose, door hinges dropping. It's a terrible kitchen. One thing I could accept, but the whole thing is shit.

GreenPlum · 13/12/2020 01:16

*drawer

Pipandmum · 13/12/2020 01:19

I like Howden and use them when renovating houses to sell on. But your kitchen is only as good as your fitter.

Chocolatedeficitdisorder · 13/12/2020 18:19

We're nearly 4 years in with our new kitchen and I did lots and lots of research.

Ikea - These were my first choice but they're too deep for our kitchen.
Wren - quote was ridiculously expensive

Howdens - the products seem ok, but the prices were high and so many things were 'extras' like soft-close door fittings.

Magnet - My MIL had one fitted last year. No end of problems, falling apart.

B&Q - considered it but we ordered new bathrooms from them years ago and had to cancel the entire order after months of waiting for the components.

We had a quote from a fitter who suggests lochanna but they didn’t have what we needed.

This is the company we bought from through a local fitter (in Fife).
It's a great kitchen, lots of good stuff as standard and the price was very reasonable.

lesleyfish · 13/12/2020 18:32

I love my howdens kitchen, the units are great quality. We had a wall removed and the kitchen and dining room plastered, water pipes changed, new electrics and fuse box, kitchen bought and fitted for £11,000. We chose to have Bosch appliances as howdens are a bit iffy. We are very happy, but next time I'd choose worktops from elsewhere

skankingpiglet · 13/12/2020 18:55

But your kitchen is only as good as your fitter. this is very true.

littlelionroars · 13/12/2020 22:07

@cherrybug @Katjolo @autumncountryleaves

Thanks

@Wornout12108
Sure, no problem. It's Karndean Korlock Baltic Limed Oak. We've been really happy with the flooring and have had many of compliments on it. We have a toddler and it's been pretty indestructible so far

Shouldbeworkingnotreadingtalk · 14/12/2020 00:13

If you're on Facebook take a look at the Wren kitchen nightmare page. They are awful for having missing items. Howdens its all in stock in the local depot. That's why the builder loves them. . No hassle!

MissPollyPops · 14/12/2020 09:52

I know a kitchen fitter, who fitted my kitchen. He basically said he would only do a Howdens kitchen. 8 years on, it's still like new.
And I got one of the cheaper ones..

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