Diy kitchens stansbury vs howdens chelford or chilcomb

[KittyKatyKate]

I’m just looking for kitchen door advice. I’m currently pregnant and we’re doing some building work before the baby arrives, including a new kitchen. We plan to be here 10 years ish or less depending on what comes in the market. The baby is our first and I’m not sure if I’m imagining kids being more boisterous than they are. I nannied very energetic 7, 8 and 9 year olds many moons ago.

Originally I was looking at diy kitchens stansbury which is a painted mdf, settled on howdens chelford which I brought a sample of yesterday but looked at it this morning and it’s a wrap. The kitchen we ripped out at the old house had a peeling wrap, and I really didn’t want this. In my head I wanted something that was paintable so when we sell the house we can update the kitchen just by getting it sprayed. So now thinking of howdens chilcomb. We currently have wooden shaker in this kitchen it’s at least over 6 years old (from Rightmove pics) but paint is peeling and a door is cracked, so it looks rubbish, but at least they could be freshened up. I’m just really torn and DH is no help at all. Last time we did the kitchen we knew we would be moving soon we picked based on price rather than thinking what would last and still look reasonable when we move, and didn’t have kids to consider then either. The kitchen will be in the corner of an L shaped room with a family area and the dining room with a peninsula. Imagining a kid tearing through it and just want something that will withstand family life.

@KittyKatyKate - yes I have got those 3D visualisations! Thank you, I hadn't considered that, I'll do that tomorrow. I'm so glad to have found your thread.

Have you decided now on all the details of your kitchen or are you still mulling it over?

Glad it has been able to help! I was so glad my friend told me they price matched.

I’m probably going to go with howdens because I really like the breakfast cupboard they do. Diy don’t do the same cupboard type. Even though I think I prefer the stansbury doors, but think we’ll get the chilcomb. We’re getting close to diy bring too late with the lead time now too so will need to make my mind up soon. This is the breakfast cupboard from a different range.

We have a DIY Helmsley; the quality is far superior to Howdens, as even our builder grudgingly conceded. We sourced the quartz worktop locally and also got the cooker, sink, taps fridge and freezer online. Microwave, wine fridge and dishwasher we got from diy. Kitchen is much admired.

@Pottedpalm I’d not seen that one it’s gorgeous, originally I wanted a slab inframe but couldn’t find it in budget. I’ll maybe have to try and go up to diy this weekend as didn’t notice the Helmsley when we went.

[quote KittyKatyKate]@Pottedpalm I’d not seen that one it’s gorgeous, originally I wanted a slab inframe but couldn’t find it in budget. I’ll maybe have to try and go up to diy this weekend as didn’t notice the Helmsley when we went.[/quote]
It’s worth a trip! We found them very helpful; although they don’t design for you they will cast an eye over your plan and point out obvious issues. We hadn’t allowed enough for the ‘magic’ corner unit and they helped with that, and also suggested panels either side of the dishwasher.

@pottedpalm I’ve been once already, I liked how it was set out actually so you could see all the storage options in one place. DH linked that no one pestered us and we were left to it. I just can’t remember seeing your kitchen. I just wish they did the same cupboard as howdens.

@Pottedpalm husband less keen to go back, he would’ve picked the first thing he saw 🙈

@KittyKatyKate
Mine is going again next week with a friend he is helping. We put our kitchen into our renovated Victorian house three years and and I still admire it daily. We have the Helmsley in Hague Blue with white quartz worktops and chrome handles and drawer pulls. No wall units above the base units but a run of four tall units in a dove grey along one wall, for integrated fridge, freezer, larder and a utility cupboard. It’s lush! 😄

Also, we have mainly drawers; four sets of big double ones for pans, cooking stuff, crockery, and a narrower three drawer for cooking utensils and a narrow four drawer for cutlery. Drawers are really robust and cope with being piled up with saucepans.
Sorry, could bore you all day with my kitchen 😂

@Pottedpalm I don’t find it boring! Just glad someone want to talk kitchens with me! It sounds gorgeous, I love Hague blue, our old front door was that colour 😍

It's a shame I'm too far away from the DIY kitchen showroom.

I'd now feel very awkward if I switched to DIY kitchens as the Howdens designer has done so much work for me already, I've had a home visit, measuring up, several versions of designs, an appointment in-store, various calls and emails. So I hope that Howdens can price match DIY kitchens. Also, DIY kitchens don't do one of the widths of cupboards that I need.

I love that breakfast cupboard KittyKatyKate - wish I had room for one! Pottedpalm your kitchen sounds gorgeous.

I've had kitchens from both suppliers. Howdens are not a bad product but DIY kitchens specification is better, if the units were side by side you would see it in the quality.

It's worth getting the sample doors from DIY kitchens to see how the doors are constructed and finished. I would go for a painted door though, I'd worry that a PVC door like the Chelford one could always peel. They are melamine on the back - so what happens at the edge?
Also I think Shaker kitchens made with an actual frame and panel look better.

Dont' feel bad about Howdens, that's business! I'm sure they were careful to include their unique units in your design. The breakfast cupboard looks like a 1000 wide larder unit with an extra shelf and a 800mm drawer unit fitted inside.

@NotMeNoNo that’s exactly what they are, do you think it could be made using diy cupboards? (1000 + 800) and that’s my concern about the chelford, I really like the stansbury smooth finish, I don’t think it has melamine on it, do you?
@SunglassesSeventy they do the cupboard in a 600 too (and probably other sizes) and I also wouldn’t feel bad if you switched, for me it’s definitely coming down to price/breakfast cupboard

I'm sure a kitchen fitter could reproduce it, there would be some trimming involved but it's worth showing the picture and asking. Or you could base it on the tall larder with pan drawers. You can buy extra drawers, fronts, shelves etc.

I'd go DIY for definite. I can't fault Theo quality of ones we've had. We'll be going for them again this time, not sure which yet, we're off to the show room next week.

Howdens are ok, better than b&q but I wouldn't choose them.

We used an oak door from DIY. Perfect after 4 years. We figured we could always paint it down the line if necessary. It still looks perfect despite 4 teens.

The DIY kitchens painted doors are lovely, very classy smooth finish.

Do DIY kitchens include planning?

@mermaidsariel

Do DIY kitchens include planning?

No. That's why they're so much cheaper. You need to plan yourself (or with help from your fitter). DIY kitchens do tell check your order and if the tall units you've ordered don't match wth the wall cupboards or something they will tell you. They have a design and planning section on the website where you can make your own design and make sure you have everything you need

Decision made after another trip to DIY definitely going for the stansbury 😍

Nice! Glad you've made a decision. Howdens still haven't got back to me saying whether they can price match or not.

Have you sent them a basket code? Hope they do, took them a good few days to get back to me as she was comparing the two lists to check it was a like for like

KittyKatyKate it was Howdens who quoted me originally, then I just compared some prices online to DIY kitchen, then emailed the designer I'm dealing with at Howdens to ask if she could reduce her original price.

I sent her a text today (she kindly gave me her personal number) and she's called me but I've missed her call!

I did ask DIY to price match my quote from Howdens but they're being awkward about it (long story). I'll see what Howdens say first because if they can reduce their prices I'm happy to go with them, because DIY don't do the 70cm cabinets that I need.