Any advice on Howdens kitchens?

[cherrybug]

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?

Oops sorry didn't see date of original post
Might still be helpful though

We had a new kitchen fitted two years ago. We got quotes from Howdens and DIY. DIY came in cheaper so we went back to Howdens and they matched the price. I was able to go to the DIY kitchens showroom which was great and gave me a few ideas which I incorporated into the Howdens kitchen. We like the finished result and had no major issues with delivery etc. That said, we live near the local outlet so it was quick and easy to sort out the couple of small issues we did have.
One word of warning, we upgraded to AEG appliances and they’re definitely not worth the extra money.

Our Howdens kitchen is around 3 years old now and still looks new. No problems with it was very straightforward. We have the Tewkesbury Skye which is solid oak but I think it’s discontinued now

We've gone with Wren. Just had it fitted and no issues. design and delivery very smooth. We did have a missing plinth and it was deleivered next day without any problem. We sorced our own appliances but when we asked Wren to price match they did, so we just got them through Wren and delivered at the same time. The builder pushed for Howdens; the carpenter who fitted it says there's not much between them. I think we would have had a slightly better choice of cabinet style (variable heights) with Howdens but like pp I detested the state secrecy around prices. We are getting worktops separately from a local granite company.

I’m putting in a similar Fairford blue kitchen in January and have just started looking for white barstools with a low back. May I ask where you got yours please ?

Op definitely go a round places to get a feel for them process, eg magnet, homebase, b and q etc.
Then look at DIY when you kmow what your doing it's easy peasy and once you get your quote you can then use that as a bench mark for howdens.
I had loads pushing me for howdens but I find DIY amazing.

It benefits the builders to go with them.

@cherrybug
@JudgeRindersMinder

What did you do in the end & how did it work out?

@SpookyPumpkinPants

We ended up going with DIY kitchens. I used their online planner and spent hours and hours working on the design. The planner is easy to use once you get the hang of it and doing it yourself means you can make endless tweaks to get it exactly right. It meant we ended up with a much higher spec kitchen with a good few more units for the same price that Howdens orginally quoted (for their cheapest units). I got samples of DIY doors in advance and sourced worktops locally. I also ordered different handles as I wanted solid brass.

We now have a kitchen that we love, looks more expensive than it was and which meets our needs exactly. Couldnt fault DIY - everything came on time, the delivery guys were great and the only problem was one shelf which was the wrong size and which they replaced quickly!

I bought my Howden's kitchen direct from them (even though I am using a fitter who knows them well). I got an itemised bill from them (very detailed) and managed to bump a few hundred quid off the price.

I have found them very easy to deal with, but I wonder to what extent it depends on which branch you're dealing with, or which salesperson?

Op what cabinets did you go with they look great, are they Clayton or in frame? Handles look lovely too

Our Howden kitchen was brilliant and a third the price of a similar one in B&Q. Our fitter told us how much it would be so just ask. If he's being funny about money don't employ him. Neighbours had Wren and have had endless problems.

We had Wren and they were fine.

I believe that a lot of builders like to go with Howden's because they get a massive trade discount, and many of them invoice you the full price but do not pass that discount on to you.

We had one fitted about a year ago. I have 3 pieces of advice:

1. Get your fitter sorted first.
2. Go to the branch that the fitter recommends.
3. Get the fitter to check that the plans make sense and that the stuff you've bought is the right stuff.

As you can imagine, we did none of these and although we got it sorted in the end, it was a poop show in the meantime with stuff going back, stuff being bought at trustworthy branches etc.

Oh and I asked for a discount too and got a pretty hefty one with not much haggling!

Glad he's putting you off Wren, they're dreadful. Howdens are ok but I much much prefer DIY kitchens.

@Naughtynovembertree

Op what cabinets did you go with they look great, are they Clayton or in frame? Handles look lovely too

Its their Norton range. The handles are from Plank Hardware.

I have a Howdens kitchen. It still looks good and it's over 10 years old now. I left our builder (who was fitting it as part of bigger extension) to do negotiations with Howdens. It wasn't cheap, compared to others I'd looked at but you get what you pay for and I am very happy with the quality.

DIY all the way!

I wouldn't touch them with a bargepole partly because of their dodgy pricing system and their kitchens dont look up to much either.

@cherrybug
Thank you!

It looks lovely! I have been to the showroom a few times, I haven't ordered due to other things getting in the way, not because of them.

What colours are they? & what worktop is that?

The delivery is somewhat putting me off, I have to admit!

I'm not 100% sure which doors, but 98% it'll be the Norton!

Pleased with my Howdens kitchen though avoid their own appliances. Lamona gas hob - the naff plastic knobs soon cracked and cost a lot to replace with the same. So they just sit on top of the underlying mechanisms.

@Spookypumpkinpants

The colours are 'grey' and 'tern white'. I just had a look on the DIY website though as I couldn't recall the name of the white at first and they don't seem to do those colours anymore which is a shame. The grey is a lovely colour.

Worktop is Bianco carrara quartz - I sourced that locally, it was the company's own make (not silestone which was more expensive!).

@cherrybug

They have several greys. I need to order door samples as a lot of other companies greys have looked beige in my east facing kitchen. So annoying. Perfect colour in the showroom & beige as soon as it gets here!!

I'm also considering the Malton in carbon for the base units, but a bit concerned because they're foil wrapped (though a different process to most, so they tell me)

Or Dove Grey/heron grey & white

I like the Howdens Sage, but not DIY Sage

Also could go bespoke, but a bit of a nightmare if anything is missing or needs replacing...

🤦🏻‍♀️

Your worktops look lovely. Were you able to go & choose the exact slabs or did you just see a sample to order from.

I'm just concerned about getting pieces that are heavily veined.

@SpookyPumpkinPants

Its a good idea to order door samples as colour looks so different in different light. Our kitchen is south facing and there is lots of glazing. I ordered Heron grey, Dove grey, Grey and Carbon. The dove grey was the one I liked initially but when it arrived it looked completely washed out in the light. The heron grey was a contender but I liked how the 'grey' was quite a blue/green grey colour, it was just a bit more interesting in the light.

Yes I went into our local showroom to look at worktops. I was exactly the same, didnt want anything too veined. The ones we got were perfect. Really happy with them.