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Original poster

Which kitchen? Pets & small children

21 replies

AwkwardPaws27 · 12/03/2022 15:06

We need to replace our kitchen & are looking at Shaker style kitchens. We've been looking at DIY Kitchens, Howdens & Benchmarx.

Any suggestions on which to choose to withstand a bouncy dog (working on it but he does sometimes jump up & I don't want scratches all over the doors!) please we have a DC on the way so will need to withstand a small child too...

Everything seems to be made of MDF and vinyl/foil wrapped... is this an issue? Do I want a painted finish? Decisions!

I've never chosen a kitchen before so totally clueless tbh. Any recommendations very much appreciated.

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Original poster
AwkwardPaws27 · 12/03/2022 15:09

I particularly like the DIY Kitchens Norton which has solid wood doors.

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MiniCooperLover · 12/03/2022 16:14

I love my Benchmarx shaker kitchen but be prepared to spend AGES cleaning the sills if you go for shaker. Too many little ledges that need cleaning.

Geneticsbunny · 12/03/2022 16:24

DIY kitchens have wood doors and so they can be sanded and repainted if they get knocked.

TheCanyon · 12/03/2022 16:32

Do NOT get gloss doors. I swear I spend half my life cleaning them.

Clockbookbeast · 12/03/2022 16:45

I'd say with dc:
No gloss,
Matt finish,
Wood is great to resand if damaged but that takes time,
Flat doors no grooves,
Handles that are smooth/rounded (nothing to catch themselves on).

tryingtocatchthewind · 12/03/2022 20:04

If you’re worried about scratches go for a lighter colour as they won’t show as much. We’ve just bought the Norton at DIY and it looks like it’ll be forgiving as I’m hoping the visible grain will hide any scuffs down the line.

Original poster
AwkwardPaws27 · 12/03/2022 21:22

@tryingtocatchthewind

If you’re worried about scratches go for a lighter colour as they won’t show as much. We’ve just bought the Norton at DIY and it looks like it’ll be forgiving as I’m hoping the visible grain will hide any scuffs down the line.
Ah we really want the Norton, but in the dark heritage green... Unfortunately we're too far away to visit the showroom.

Did you get your worktops from DIY too? How was your experience with ordering etc?

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skippy67 · 12/03/2022 21:29

We have the DIY Norton in F&B Railings and Ammonite. The units are fantastic. The hinges and drawer runners are top quality also.

tryingtocatchthewind · 12/03/2022 21:43

We’ve gone with a nearby stone masons who was recommended by friends.
Ordering is no bother at all but we had a plan drawn up by OnePlan using DIY units. Just two really slight paint marks in two of the doors so those are getting replaced without any fuss.

Original poster
AwkwardPaws27 · 06/04/2022 09:32

I'm bumping this to see if anyone else has advice as I still can't decide.

I'm not having much luck finding a fitter who will do DIY Kitchens. One recommendation only does Benchmarx & Howdens, the other makes their own units and gets doors from Trade Mouldings. They have a painted wood option or vinyl, whereas Benchmarx (Cambridge) is PET foil. If anyone has an great fitter recommendation for DIY Kitchens in East London / Essex please let me know!

So confused!

DH is really set on a dark green kitchen, I really like the look too but worried as everyone is saying avoid dark colours as scratches show a lot more...

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TizerorFizz · 06/04/2022 09:50

I would have what you want and keep your dog out of the kitchen!

Painted finishes can be repainted. My dog never scratched anything. So no jumping up in the kitchen. Don’t plan for a young dog. It won’t be young forever. Ditto children.

Kitchen fitters are impossible to find at the moment. I might be tempted by a firm with their own fitters (although even then they are subcontractors).

Original poster
AwkwardPaws27 · 06/04/2022 09:55

I would have what you want and keep your dog out of the kitchen!

Haha! Unfortunately it's the only way in and out of the garden so not possible.

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MrCrackersmum · 06/04/2022 10:18

We have a Benchmark kitchen. We have 2 dogs and 2 children and 3 years on still looks great.
It’s light grey shaker style with oak worktops. The doors have a wood grain surface so no obvious scratches. Very easy to keep clean too.
The wood worktop has been excellent too. Just oiled twice a year .

Which kitchen? Pets & small children
Which kitchen? Pets & small children
Original poster
AwkwardPaws27 · 06/04/2022 19:44

@MrCrackersmum

We have a Benchmark kitchen. We have 2 dogs and 2 children and 3 years on still looks great. It’s light grey shaker style with oak worktops. The doors have a wood grain surface so no obvious scratches. Very easy to keep clean too. The wood worktop has been excellent too. Just oiled twice a year .
@MrCrackersmum your kitchen is lovely. Do you know which Benchmarx range it was?
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MrCrackersmum · 06/04/2022 22:35

@AwkwardPaws27
It was the Sherwood grey. Glad you like it. We chose this range as it came ready assembled , definitely good quality for the price and especially sturdy drawer bases .

TizerorFizz · 07/04/2022 08:36

@AwkwardPaws27
If you are concerned about dogs and children I can assure you water and hot pans are big enemies of wooden worktops. I had one and they do take work to keep them looking good. I have up the battle and had them replaced with quartz. Never ever going near wood again. A sink surrounded by wood is asking for trouble.

Original poster
AwkwardPaws27 · 07/04/2022 08:48

[quote TizerorFizz]@AwkwardPaws27
If you are concerned about dogs and children I can assure you water and hot pans are big enemies of wooden worktops. I had one and they do take work to keep them looking good. I have up the battle and had them replaced with quartz. Never ever going near wood again. A sink surrounded by wood is asking for trouble.[/quote]
We're having quartz

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FourOclock · 07/04/2022 09:14

We have DIY kitchens and thoroughly recommend - our fitter was dubious but he then realised it's literally exactly the same as a Howdens kitchen and was able to get any extra/spare parts from Howdens. I think we went for the Helmsley painted, it's a light colour (sorry). We have two children, three cats and a dog, plus it's a working farmhouse and gets a lot of traffic and it's so forgiving, we have no scratches and it's so easy to clean.

stuntbubbles · 07/04/2022 09:19

@TheCanyon

Do NOT get gloss doors. I swear I spend half my life cleaning them.
I was going to say do NOT get matt doors: I swear I spend half my life cleaning them.

I think the answer to cleaning kitchen doors is to either have no doors, or don’t clean them, they’re all bastards.

averythinline · 07/04/2022 09:30

I have the diy kitchen Norton...painted finish... and a spaniel! Its been great love it..... and has lasted..
Ended up with laminate worktop which has withstood a counter surfing spaniel and helpful children cooking..
I didn't see it before it arrived either but was excellent service

Original poster
AwkwardPaws27 · 07/04/2022 10:39

@averythinline

I have the diy kitchen Norton...painted finish... and a spaniel! Its been great love it..... and has lasted.. Ended up with laminate worktop which has withstood a counter surfing spaniel and helpful children cooking.. I didn't see it before it arrived either but was excellent service
Thank you! Our bouncy dog is a spaniel too. Total FOMO if he can't see what we are doing on the worktops Grin We're working on it!
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