HMKC/Davey& Alger kitchens - experiences

[kitchenskitchen]

If you have had a HMKC/Davey& Alger kitchen please can you kindly share your lessons learnt.

What would you have done differently, any regrets that you would have changed? Are you happy with the magnetic catches on doors? Anyone paint it themselves? Anyone use their recommended worktop partner?

Thank you

Or a similar company?

There are lots of threads on here about HKOC, have you had a look?

We've just had one fitted. Very happy so far. Didn't paint it myself but am oiling the inside myself. That's enough for me!

Begging - thanks for this. yes just looked through last few years of HMKC posts.

I didnt find any answers to the above apart from couple of concerns re magnetic catches but no one saying if alternative was better or if magnetic issue had been resolved. I feel they may have changed the magnets.

I think I saw a different post about this from you. What's the problem with the magnets? We have them, they are quite strong. You have to give them a bit of a pull

I read through all the posts on here about HMKC in last 2 years and the issue mentioned several times appeared to be magnets. When i went to the showroom I thought magnets were easier than the other option but i dont know if they have changed the magnets in light of feedback. I dont want something that needs too much strength.

I agree, you do have to give them a pull. I varnished and painted mine. Currently finishing off the island. Saved £££ purchasing separate knobs and handles via ironmongerydirect. Lovely, solid kitchen.

Two paper based stickers on the catch works wonders on my old bookcase. Wouk's probably work in most magnetic catch .

incognito - Thank you. Yes I wont be buying handles there or most extras. Could you get exact design you wanted?

Itsparty - Good tip re magnets, thanks

We got our kitchen from HMKC (although DH built the island incorporating some of their cabinets), but we don't have the magnetic catches so can't comment on those. I painted the cabinets myself (F&B eggshell) and we're really pleased with the finish/overall look/quality.

We purchased our knobs and handles from Finesse Pewter (got them from morehandles.co.uk) 😉

Thanks Hebeee - what did you do with the island as we may do something different too? Did your husband fit everything.. Did he buy all extras or just use own wood for fillers, recessed plinth etc. How did you decide which catches?

Hi,

I've had my HMKOC kitchen installed for just over a year so I can give you a bit of a longer term opinion. Sorry this is a bit of a brain dump of my experience so not sure what will be relevant.

I have the other type of catches after reading (probably) the same things as you about the magnets. You do still have to give them a pull/push too though so not sure whether it's made any kind of a difference. They seem to be holding up well though and they make a nice sound when they close.

Our kitchen fitter painted ours using two coats of F&B modern eggshell and he did a great job but it is starting to chip in places which I think is probably just what happens with hand painting. I had 3 kids and a dog so it gets a good bashing about to be fair.

I don't think I'd have changed anything in particular, I wish I could have squeezed in two dishwashers but there just wasn't the space without sacrificing the bin unit which I really wanted.

I am really pleased we went with the reeded glass in the worktop standing cupboards which look amazing for the extra £100 it cost. I am also very pleased with the cutlery insert and my spice drawer is my favourite bit of the whole kitchen. I think they were about £60 each so definitely worth it.

We went with different handles which after ordering many samples I got from Amazon of all places. We also used a local stone yard which we've used before for our worktops and we're very pleased with them.

I went to the shop in Esher to have a really good look before ordering and I think it was really useful to see the different types of doors and plinths. I wanted very plain and it was useful to confirm those choices by seeing them in the flesh.

We have a peninsular with a 30cm overhang rather than an island so not sure whether I can be any help there.

Their customer service was very good too in my experience and they were very receptive to a couple of small issues we had with the bin.

Overall I love it.

Thank you Solla that is very helpful. Has the paint chipped where doors knock each other when opening ie bifolds, corner unit etc or just generally in wear. Did your painter spray paint, roll or brush? What part of the country is your stone yard, if you dont mind saying? I havent seen the reeded glass - is that on dresser type top - we only have bifolds planned but would be interested to see it. Thanks.

Sure no probs. It's not chipped at the edges where things open at all, more if someone has knocked a pan or something into it. It's only in a couple of places. He used a small foam roller and the finish is really smooth so from that regard it worked well.

The stone place is called Chic Marble and it's in West Molesey on Surrey/SW London borders.

This is it not long after it was finished and you can see the worktop cabinets.

Thank you Solla that is beautiful and very helpful.

Sorry @kitchenskitchen for not responding before. I'm adding a pic of our island so you can see what we did.

DH added his own shelving etc onto a couple of HMKC cabinets - we have lots of open shelving which I know won't appeal to all - and did the microcement top too. The piece of granite is laid on top one end for baking etc. This was supposed to be temporary but it's too much of a faff to keep lifting on and off, lol!

We have four stools on the other long side and a double socket on the furthest short end. Tbh the plinths/kickboard are not yet complete and we'll be changing the whole ground floor for karndean next year so currently the flooring looks a bit crap!

Meant to say, apologies for the quality of pic - my phone camera is dying 🙄

Also, we decided to get the other type of catches as we felt they were more traditional than the magnetic ones!