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!

Pineland. They work in three week manufacturing slots and sometimes builds are delayed and they might have a cancellation? My old Pineland kitchen held up brilliantly and sold very well second hand on eBay. Just taken receipt of my new kitchen and utility - it’s stunning. They can make anything you want. Very nice to deal with too.

I used HKOC but also looked at these people who seem exactly the same but are newish and less established. They were really nice when I enquired too. www.alfieandgeorge.com/ They might not have such long lead times. The only reason I didn’t use them was that I went for the better known company.

Lottie, you've basically described the situation I'm in, with a similar timeframe! The white kitchen company was suggested to me on another thread, it's worth a try, but I suspect your quote with them is going to be more that HMKOC. Another few I've come across is yew tree kitchens, again worth a try, I don't know much about the company. A competitor of HMKOC is classic kitchens direct. They look very similar to HMKOC, they do two types of inframe, the cheaper of which is manufactured in China. However they do offer a flat pack option, which will bring down the price, although will mean more work for your builder (may increase the labour he charges).

Have you had any joy with the suggestions already made?

@lottiep88 did you find your HMKOC alternative? I'm still struggling 😭

@Willitbeworthit i did! The white kitchen company. They can deliver February and they are cheaper than HMKCH when not in sale plus they come primed or they can paint them for you.

I went to the showroom and they are absolutely beautiful and really nice staff

@lottiep88 thanks for coming back to me! I've had a look at their kitchens online, they do look lovely! Having seen HMKOC and The White kitchen company kitchens in person, would you say they is any difference in quality/look of the units?

I'm considering the long drive to go and see the kitchens in person!

@Willitbeworthit I would say white kitchen company is more modern feel and has lovely oak interior which is finished already. The extras are amazing quality too. They have more options with the doors as well.

HMKOC feel very good quality too but definitely on the more traditional side. Probably it is just the showrooms however.

I would say with either you’d get a beautiful kitchen but I think I prefer the oak kitchen and the design service white kitchens offer.

Try this company PaintedKitchen

they show delivery availability here

prices almost the same or less than others

Yes but theres no flexibility on sizes, which is one of the main selling points of HKOC

We looked at all of the above and spent many weekends visiting showrooms, ultimately chose classic kitchens based on quality of the cabinetry, their carcasses were really good, and they also had a soft close Butt hinge dampener that was just head and shoulders above the others we saw.
we love our kitchen from them

They do bespoke sizes also to go with their standard - just ask

I've got a HKOC. You sound like you work for that company!

The thread is ALTERNATIVES to HMOC - if you have one of theirs not sure why you are on this thread

Kitchen designers in Surrey - HMKOC

Hi all, looking at getting HMKOC but they do not provide measurement/design service. Can anyone recommend a designer who would do that for me prior I order the kitchen?

Yes they do, you get an appointment about 10 weeks before delivery to design it

Just started working with a great London-based company making kitchen cabinetry in the UK. Let me know if you are still looking and I can share contact details.

Hi @lottiep88 , I'm thinking of going for a White Kitchen Company (have my HKOC sale price but hubby slightly against it for all the design and appliances etc headache involved!)

Can I ask how you got on with White kitchen company? Was the kitchen what you wanted, how is it holding up, and how is the service? Would be super grateful for any feedback!

@Dinkydaisy1 they are fantastic, no problems at all and really pleased with the quality, turn around, and design. I would say the only downside we found was that we were very hurried to confirm the final design and measurements when we would have liked to have had a bit longer time, they are not flexible in the slightest, including with delivery times, once you have put your deposit which I guess is to be expected but it makes the process very stressful. Still nothing went wrong and we are happy 😊

Thank you so much for getting back to me. HMKOC have a much better Instagram page with detailed photos as opposed to WKC, so good to know your feedback in terms of quality etc. I was impressed with their dedication in planning etc.