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Original poster

Howdens Kitchens

52 replies

Nannewnannew · 30/11/2021 12:13

Has anyone had a kitchen fitted by Howdens please? If so, I’d love to hear your thoughts.

I’m currently looking at their catalogue but am finding it increasingly frustrating to make an informed decision when the prices are not printed. I’m also beginning to worry that it’s a marketing ploy to get customers hooked and I could get a better deal elsewhere.

Would appreciate any tales of people’s experience, whether good or bad.

OP posts:

Toddlerteaplease · 07/12/2021 11:39

I had a really good experience with Wren!

ThatsAllFolks · 07/12/2021 11:58

My Howdens kitchen is five years old and a bit meh. When a drawer came off runners shortly after completion and fitter didn't respond, I tried to talk to Howdens about the part I'd need but they wouldn't engage with me as not trade. I wouldn't get another personally

Georgie8 · 07/12/2021 22:05

Yep -it’s down to your builder/fitter.
They don’t deal with the public.
My builder has a great relationship with Howdens, so much so that when (our problem) doors needed replacing under the sink they replaced them free of charge.
Cannot fault them at all.

NoParticularPattern · 08/12/2021 09:31

Howdens seem pretty great if your design isn’t straightforward- swapping old for new or nothing too complicated size/layout wise. My mum has one and did exactly that- simple layout and she was just taking out what she had and putting he same back but new and with a few different drawer fronts. I however had a ridiculous circus of a carry on. We have ended up not doing anything whatsoever as everyone we spoke to was either very dim or just genuinely stupid. basically just filled our kitchen with as many units as they could find and then shoehorned a minute kitchen table into the design to “prove” that it would work- despite the obvious issue of a 4 seater table not working for a family of 6 🙄🙄. And that’s before the carry on that I had to even get them to do me a design. Wren would not give me a spec on their cabinets and- unless I’m being unbearably dim- they don’t publish it anywhere online/in print. I also didn’t like their pushy “sign up joe to keep sale prices as this offer will NEVER come round again” spiel, their design was good though and I would probably have gone with them if they hadn’t been so pushy about paying a deposit and shady about their cabinet specs. Magnet were absolutely astronomical in price although their design was ok, not as good as the wren one though. Mind you all have exceeded the efforts of TWO local independents who have yet to actually get back to me with a design despite spending hours here taking notes and measurements over a year ago 🙈🙈.

I feel slightly like I’m doomed never to have a new kitchen, genuinely considering just putting up with what is here until it does totally drop to bits (which isn’t far away, hence the planning, but it does not seem to be going in my favour!)

HermioneKipper · 08/12/2021 09:37

Ours is being fitted in the next few weeks and very excited!

We went for the Elmbridge which is the beaded shaker.

We got them to match our DIY kitchens quote. They were initially obscenely expensive in comparison.

Our fitter speaks very highly of them but was also willing to fit a DIY kitchen. He said he wouldn’t touch a Wren or IKEA

freshcarnation · 08/12/2021 16:29

@HermioneKipper That's the kitchen I'm considering. Hope it works out well for you

HermioneKipper · 08/12/2021 16:55

@freshcarnation thanks! It
looked so gorgeous in the showroom that we swapped from the chilcomb

freshcarnation · 08/12/2021 17:49

Good to know. May I ask what colour and worktop you've gone for? I'm thinking pebble and some kind of white quartz

HermioneKipper · 08/12/2021 20:36

We’ve gone for the dusk blue. With white quartz worktops - with a very light veining. And brass handles.

We’d gone in planning the dove grey - wanted cashmere but they don’t do it in the Elmbridge annoyingly - saw the dusk blue and changed our minds on the spot! It looks lovely in person. The pictures don’t do it justice!

freshcarnation · 09/12/2021 07:00

Ooh, that sounds really nice

TremoloGreen · 09/12/2021 16:14

So I really didn't want to use Howdens but thinking I may have to at least get a quote now because DIY kitchens have a very long lead time and no flexibility on delivery 😬

Does anyone know how the Chilcomb compares to DIY solid wood kitchens on price and quality?

Also of you're in Herts or around, who did you use to supply and fit the worktops?

HermioneKipper · 09/12/2021 18:45

@TremoloGreen Yes that’s the prob with DIY kitchens. The quality and price is amazing but the lead times were about 10 weeks when we were hoping to order and then you have to store it. Not ideal.

Have you got a plan done with DIY kitchens? We got Howdens to match it.

I think chilcomb is similar to the Norton/Helmsley or the closest they do anyway. It looked nice quality in the showroom. Although we’ve gone with Elmbridge

Thunderpunt · 09/12/2021 18:50

I had my Howdens kitchen fitted over 11 years ago, and is still in excellent shape (sadly as I want it to look knackered so I can get a new one!)
One plinth under dishwasher warped slightly but that was our fault for not noticing a small leak. But all the rest look like new still, handles and hinges are fine, and even with many a kitchen party, 2 kids and a dog, there isn't a dent or a dink in any of the doors!

FuzzyPuffling · 09/12/2021 19:06

My Howdens kitchen was finished today! It is a thing of beauty and far too posh for me to use!

I went for Neff appliances and the fitter and I between us sourced things like chunky oak shelves with heavy iron brackets and a lovely Cornish slate windowsill. And I used my butchers block with a pine top and baskets underneath instead of a standard island unit.These things have given it more character.

I also had a couple of my old units fitted into the end of the garage for extra storage - very glad I did that!

But a huge big up to my builder/fitter who has been an absolute star throughout and made it surprisingly quick and almost entirely stress free.

Now I've just got to fill the drawers and cupboards!

Annalisehm · 09/12/2021 20:30

DIY kitchens are running ahead of schedule at the minute as mines due on 22nd January but I have been offered the 3rd now xx

TremoloGreen · 09/12/2021 22:18

I'm more worried about it coming too soon and having nowhere to store it to be honest! I'll need it around mid Feb, which works if I order it soon. Its just if the overall building works get delayed and we're not ready to put it in... they said today if I delay the delivery date the next slot might be many weeks away.

Toddlerteaplease · 10/12/2021 22:39

I really didn't like that nothing in Howdens had a price on It. I had a fairly tight budget and it made planning to impossible. Couldn't even get a design appointment for weeks anyway.

FuzzyPuffling · 11/12/2021 20:29

I know I keep saying this on all the kitchen threads, but I got a full cost breakdown from Howdens, completely itemised. And that was without asking them for it. And I paid them direct, not through my builder.

Sounds like this is unusual?

Caroline147 · 12/12/2021 11:21

We’ve just ordered a Howdens kitchen- went for the Chelford too! Hopefully will be fitted first week of the New Year. Initially, I was set on DIY Kitchens but the lead times were just unworkable and Howdens were happy to price match the design I’d put together on DIYK. They also price matched Neff appliances with the cheapest deals I found elsewhere.

It was a frustrating process though- I did get an itemised price list, but the kitchen designer refused to answer simple questions like ‘How much more expensive is a pull out corner unit versus a normal one? How much more expensive is dusk blue versus white?’) and was generally slow to respond. We will see how it turns out- slightly worried after this thread, as we’ve gone with their laminate!

Caroline147 · 12/12/2021 11:22

I had to put up a fuss to pay direct @FuzzyPuffling, but they eventually let me do it. No idea why they want to put people off doing it!

Original poster

Nannewnannew · 12/12/2021 16:26

@Caroline147 pleased to hear you’ve chosen the Chelford too. Let’s hope we’ve made the right decision 🤞It all looks lovely in the catalogue but people’s experiences seem to vary so much.

@Toddlerteaplease I totally agree that it’s very difficult to make an informed decision on what to choose when you have absolutely no idea of the price-so frustrating. I’m sure they depend on customers getting caught up in the process and then decide to go ahead regardless of price.

OP posts:

FuzzyPuffling · 12/12/2021 17:36

My brand new kitchen is a Chelford. It looks lovely and is very sturdy. I've got Howden's quartz worktops (with a matching laminate one on the utility). It's all terribly posh!!!

Original poster

Nannewnannew · 12/12/2021 19:19

@FuzzyPuffling that’s brilliant! You sound so happy with your new kitchen and it’s given me some reassurance, thank you.

OP posts:

casinoroyale4ever · 18/12/2021 20:04

Interesting to read - looking at getting the howdens chilcomb here, although given just starting I expect we are looking at April/May for fitting.

Imdreamingofapeacefulxmas · 19/12/2021 13:45

I wouldn't bother unless there is something you really want from them that you can't get elsewhere?
Go to different planners and get a feel for the planning side when use DIY kitchen. It all comes ready made.

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