Alternatives to Handmade Kitchens Of Christchurch

[lottiep88]

I am desperately trying to find a kitchen within our budget, I would say it is probably about 10k -12K for cabinets and I am looking for an in frame, painted kitchen on a fairly small L shape layout with no island but I want the larder with spice rack.

I had my heart set on Handmade Kitchens and especially as they will have a sale after Christmas I had done all my measuring and list of cabinets to order plus a quote. My husband and I took a long trip to see the cabinets and it is that point the sales person told us that minimum August (!!!!) they will be able to deliver.

Our builder is literally coming tomorrow now to do the 3 month renovation as he had loads of cancellations, originally I suggested he just put back a few of our cabinets of our original kitchen but now I am freaking out as the kitchen we have is so old, rotten, and tired and in no state to use for even another day. Plus he is charging us an absolute fortune (££££) to put the kitchen back.

I've looked at DIY kitchens, which keep coming up again and again, but I am not convinced (I want dovetail joints god damn it!). I've looked at British Standard but they are just about as expensive as the quote we got from Neptune and look really cheap from the photos so I am really puzzled on their purpose.

We are in the South East and I am frantically looking for a company that can supply max beginning of March, within our budget, a proper solid wood in-frame kitchen but also, I'd really like to skip the whole design service as I am very fed up spending hundreds, telling over and over kitchen designers our requirements and them presenting literally the same thing as the last company. I know what I want, I've got the measurements, I've got the kitchen fitter, I just want the cabinets (can you tell my panic yet).

Any recommendations would be really, really appreciated!

[DarkAndDusty]

Magnet? Howdens?

[user1471465132]

Pineland worth a look.

[Unicorn2022]

Have you thought about an ex display or used kitchen. We bought an ex display Clive Christian kitchen with appliances for £15k from www.theusedkitchencompany.com/product-category/kitchens-for-sale/

If you are still building the room you should be able to adapt your space to perfectly fit the kitchen.

[lottiep88]

Thanks @DarkAndDusty, we went to Magnet who quoted us 30k (and it was the sale price lol) and it wasn't an in-frame kitchen despite them insisting it was an in-frame kitchen. Compared to Neptune who were roughly the same price it felt very overpriced. Howdens I hear is like Magnet and it isn't a proper in-frame wooden kitchen.

[lottiep88]

@Unicorn2022 , I had a look an there are some definite contenders however they are all selling twice as much kitchen as we need so we aren't really saving anything :-( Could be an option for the short timeframe however

[lottiep88]

ooo, thanks @user1471465132 their instagram has some really nice kitchens!

[MsShopper]

Have a look at Olive & Barr. They pitch themselves as a better value for money alternative to Devol etc. They have some pricing examples on their Instagram, and I reckon they’re on a par with HMKC when you factor in the painting. (Though I haven’t done a like-for-like quote as yet.)

instagram.com/oliveandbarr

[vrouge]

The Shaker Workshop in Cirencester came up during our search which we considered but I, like you, had my heart set on HMKC - we booked in September 2022 for delivery in July 2023 and our kitchen space with our new renovation will be ready by March 2023 so we sadly just have to wait with an empty space for a few months as we hadn't realised lead time would be so long either!

[lottiep88]

See @MsShopper , I found them and I was so excited as they are near me too and they can handle the fitting and painting etc, but I found some terrible reviews from other mnet threads that shine them in a very bad light in terms of service so I am a bit hesitant.

[lottiep88]

@vrouge I know I am so tempted to just do the same thing but I am just terrified of waiting for the sale and it no longer being August. The sales lady suggested we drive down and queue outside the shop to book a delivery slot otherwise we will be looking at possibly even later😐

[Baxdream]

I put my deposit down in March 2021 to secure the sale price and then have essentially moved my delivery slot back a couple of times whilst sorting our renovations to get the delivery date right. I waited until our room was plastered to ensure a perfect fit and now have to wait two months for delivery. Our old kitchen is in a completely different room so we can wait albeit 2 months feels like forever.

Essentially you've made an error and should have put your £350 deposit down ages ago. But I will say they do have cancellations so you might be able to get it earlier than august. It depends if you are willing to risk it

[Twinklenoseblows]

We bought off the shelf carcasses and then had the doors made by a carpenter and sprayed. Looks beautiful and way way more expensive than it was. Everyone raves about it.

[NellyBarney]

If you want a nice handmade bespoke kitchen you are looking at 6 months wait minimum. That's the point, as they make it for you, it's not flat packed. Just get a freestanding rage cooker and fridge freezer and put up a cheap table against the wall for your kettle and microwave and wait. Have your builders install a temporary cheap sink, but don't bother with more. August will come quicker than you think. It's worth waiting a tiny bit for something that will bring you decades of joy 😊

[lottiep88]

@Baxdream that would have been difficult as we only moved in a couple of months ago. Work was meant to start in March but the builder had loads of cancellations of big projects after the Truss fiasco so was desperate to start now (house is virtually unliveable so hard to say no lol)

[lottiep88]

@NellyBarney Not fussed about the handmade or bespoke part, my dimensions are good so probably can have off the shelf.

[Baxdream]

Ahh I didn't think of that! So lucky getting a builder so quickly- we've waited nearly 2 years to get our work done.
Our units are the top end of your budget with sale price although it's an L shape with island (we've tried to cut back with drawers etc to make it cheapish)

[Baxdream]

I came across Yew tree kitchens recently. I have no idea of reviews though

[FancyFran]

I am using the kitchen exchange. I can have a Clive Christianson, smallbone, neptune (I believe made in China) etc for £10k. It will cost £1000 to come to me and £1500 to fit it. Tis Green, dovetailed and the full monty. Howdens, wren etc will never compare. Plastic paint sprayed. Layed on doors. I get the nasty.
Your builder will advise. My kitchen fitter has a £100k 30ft kitchen, he paid £12k.

[lottiep88]

@Baxdream you wouldn't believe how many builders who originally ghosted us or told us 9 months minimum have called me saying they are now available. It is really worrying

[FancyFran]

Sorry just checked, Used Kitchen Exchange.
The have a few shaker kitchens with larders.
Good luck.

[lottiep88]

Thanks @FancyFran, that looks amazing

[bilbodog]

www.unfitted.co.uk/?gclid=Cj0KCQiAveebBhD_ARIsAFaAvrGQv1QoIy9-qZUeaYXpy2rAhD-svF11iuGQvuihwFq_D9c_YgHEsdYaAvH5EALw_wcB

i used this company 12 years ago in my previous house and thought the units were well made and drawers were dove tailed.

i think you have to register on-line which then gives you access to all the information on line and you can ‘build’ your kitchen. They also came out to us to measure up and help produce the layout.

the units get delivered - some are freestanding - but otherwise everything has to be fitted by you or your own builder.

[lottiep88]

Thank you so much @bilbodog exactly what I was looking for!

[MsShopper]

Ah I didn’t realise that OP. My cousin had an Olive & Barr kitchen a couple of years ago and I don’t think she had any issues. (I think hers is on their website somewhere.) They also did The Country House Diaries’ kitchen, if you follow them on Instagram. (That kitchen would be my dream!)

[lottiep88]

@MsShopper ok that looks amazing. Maybe I will try them, just to see the price and lead time