getting a bespoke kitchen v Howdens

[Notarulebreaker]

We're currently getting our kitchen living space done - as in side return done, new floors, doors etc and have got to the part where we are looking at kitchens- im thinking matt white handless - a bank of cupboards, ovens integrated fridge etc, then a low run with induction hob and sink then a different colour statement 2.5 x 1.5 m island that we will sit at as there will be no dining table In that area - will be in another room, this Area will be kitchen and sofas/ TV I think we'll spend a lot ofd time in here. I'm a decent cook and spend a lot of time in the kitchen ! My dilemma is do I go with off the shelf Bowden's style kitchen at about £20k including appliances and work top or a more bespoke one where the island will have more interest (i.e shelving / hidden cupboards etc) than just a bank of cupboard with over hang for sitting at but will cost closer to £30k. We have a budget for this project and this will take us over it but I think we can access money on credit cards / from our earnings etc. I feel we should get what we want rather than compromise as we're unlikely to change it for at least a decade. Did anyone else have to make this decision ?

I went and hot a bespoke all wood kitchen last time. It was gorgeous but I actually don't live there. Thus time, I'm using my head and thinking the Which? Best buy of Magnets factory assembled units looks pretty similar at more less cost. I will not be able to have it so bespoke, but unless your property has particular challenges you don't need that. Or you could get one company for units and one for the island. They all do slab handleless fronts these days.

Thanks - it’s the more interesting detail and colour choices I’m swayed by - will see what bespoke quote comes in at !

The big gain with bespoke is that you can have doors, cupboards etc that fit without filler panels. But the usefulness of that depends on your kitchen! It could be that the standard-sized stuff works perfectly for you anyway.

There are companies that do “paintable vinyl” kitchens but aren’t bespoke sizes, which would be cheaper. Some kitchen fitters will be able to make shelves etc from filler panels and the like, which can give the look of a bespoke design for a cheaper price.

Have you looked at DIY kitchens? We bought a beautiful kitchen from them at Howdens prices. It’s a bit fiddly ordering it all online but totally worth it in my opinion.

I forgot to add that DIY kitchens have certain ranges that can be custom painted with Farrow and Ball colors.

I agree that’s a lot for Howdens - we are having a bespoke kitchen from Handmade Kitchens of Christchurch - the units (made from tulipwood the same as much more expensive kitchens like DeVol)which include a larder, a larder top, a pantry, 4 sets of pan drawers and a double sided island measuring 2.5m by 1.2m. All the units are 1m wide and the total for that is £7,800. Added to that we are having a quartzite worktop £3400 on the island and 3 metres of worktop. Rangemaster Professional £1800, Fisher and Paykel fridge freezer £1700, Bosch dishwasher £800 a Rangemaster double Belfast sink £300, Perrin and Rowe taps £500 and Luxair cooker hood £300. All of that totals £16,600 - to that we have to add the painting of the units.

You can see that a bespoke kitchen doesn’t have to cost a fortune and indeed even less than your quote

I should add HKOC do not charge extra for bigger units usually up to a max of 1m wide. So you don’t need as many units.

The Howdens cost sounds pretty expensive. Have you seen the quote direct from them or have you only seen something a builder has given you?

There are ways to do it cheaper - like get the work surface yourself direct from a supplier of marble and milestone etc. Definitely shop around too.

Using a specialist kitchen fitter can make a cheap kitchen look as good as a bespoke! We looked at the ones in our local building merchants, B&Q and 3 specialist companies. In the end we went with the one that listened to our list of essentials. The fitter originally trained as a joiner and was meticulous in attention to detail so we are delighted with it. A couple of the plans got binned on arrival as they insisted on islands which I didn’t want as I like space to move around.

The Howdens one includes all integrated appliances - dishwasher 2 ovens induction 5 ring hob, wine fridge, under counter freezer and full height integrated fridge and £4k work tops and £2.5k quoter cube tap
There is a floor to ceiling larder cupboard unit, the a bank of full height cupboard then a 3m run of lower base units which includes sink and induction hob plus units forming a 2,5 x 1.5 m island this includes a wine fridge and undercounted freezer. The cupboards aren't that expensive and I've seen the quote direct. Just not impressed with the styling of the island - more bespoke seems to allow you to make this more pleasing to the eye. Can anyone recommend mid range kitchen designer based in SW London

Hopefully not Howdens electrical equipment? John Lewis do decent kitchens.

Before you make a decision you should look at the various kitchens in person - showrooms are opening 12th April so try and book an appointment.
HKOC have a showroom in Claygate - we visited it from SW London before the first lockdown.
Instagram is a great source of inspiration - have a look at HKOC, Humphrey Munson, Tom Howley and others.

Agree with Qc19. We're getting a Handmade Kitchens of Christchurch kitchen as well - ours will be around £15k + fitting + painting - still under the £20k mark. Their Esher showroom should be open from 12th onwards.

Bespoke kitchens aren't necessarily super high end Devol/Neptune/Tom Howley/Herringbone price ranges. Check out British Standard from Plain English, Yew Tree Designs, DIY Kitchens and Handmade Kitchens of Christchurch.

With Howdens - their shelf price list is ridiculously high and they operate on a closed book trade discount policy so if you don't have a trade discount, you're going to be overcharged.

The Plain English range quoted is supply only. Their fitted ranges are from £50,000.

My Howden's kitchen cost me just over £7k. That included a 1.2x2.4m island, drawers and cupboard on both sides. Sink, 2 Neff slide and hide ovens, 3 appliance/larder tall units, 4 end panels and door so I could bespoke a walk in corner larder myself, 5.7m of drawer units along one wall, 2.7m of wall units.
However, no worktops, taps, hob, extractor fan, dishwasher, microwave or wine fridge. I bought these separately. These appliances probably cost me an extra £3600 and I'm still to get worktops as they are top range ones.
I think I probably could have got a cheaper quote still but I was tired of haggling. My biggest advice is go to IKEA and get a quote. We used this to get Howdens original silly quote drastically reduced as they aren't dissimilar in quality. My last kitchen was IKEA, and I just bought all the appliances and worktop myself. No one knows the difference. After getting Howdens, I would actually get Ikea instead as they are more versatile and the internals can be altered completely whereas Howden's can't which is a massive annoyance for me now. If Ikea door colours aren't to your liking there are loads of companies now that do bespoke doors for IKEA. So you could do IKEA carcass with bespoke doors for the same price but the right style/colour.

Hope this helps