Howdens Kitchens - Showrooms?

pimento

I'm buying a new kitchen and I want to see everything before I decide. I read somewhere that Howdens are good and I know from their web site that you have to have it bought and fitted by a builder (you can't install it yourself) and that's fine however, try as I might, I can't find the actual address of a local showroom. I mean, they surely can't expect me to buy a kitchen from a brochure without actually seeing the product, can they?

Google tells me my local 'depot' is Rayleigh, Essex and their web site has a phone number, but no address. Or a I going mad?

Has anybody managed to see a Howdens kitchen in the flesh?

muskoka

I think this is what you are looking for - to identify local showroom. http://www.howdens.com/ I'm pretty sure we used Howdens for our last kitchen (few years ago), and we were well impressed. Just phone the tel no & ask them where the showroom is...

Tom_Jones

Ring them up and ask for the address

pimento

Thanks! I've never bought a kitchen before. Will they recommend a local joiner if I ask? Or am I on my own?

I have two appointments with B&Q and Wickes next week. I've a feeling this is going to be a steep learning curve.

Are there any tips you can give me for things to ask at the consultations? The woman in B&Q scared the life out of me when I asked how much I should be looking at for fitting and she sais "Oh, about £3000" !!

My kitchen is a simple L shape and will be between 8-12 units and I already have my oven and fridge and dishwasher. £3000 sounds quite a lot to me...

leveller2911

Ive fitted a fair few Hodwens kitchens, theyre value for money,worktops are rubbish.Finished one last Thursday that had been quoted by B&Q and the fitting price from them was £6.5k (I kid you not,client showed me the quote) .The Kitchen price (supply only) was £3,500 from B&Q...

Howdens came up with a decent kitchen for £3,100-00...........Fitting was £1,100-00 ,Total cost was £4,200 instead of £10,000-00 from B&Q.Apparently they take 50% of the fitting price,sub contract it out to a middle man ,who takes his cut ,then he subs it out to the fitters..

Quite shocking IMO.

OP Howdens will be able to put you in contact with a decent tradesman or two,8-12 units, ripping out existing kitchen(units and tiles), etc should be max 7 days including plumbing etc.If you said maximum £1,300(provided your not on the 5th floor of an apartment block).........plus £100 for getting rid of the old kitchen

pimento

Thanks Leveller.
As I have no idea about kitchens, it's worth me getting the B&Q quote to see what ideas they come up with.

I'll let you know how I get on.

leveller2911

Always good to get more than one quote,the trick is getting them all to quote for the same spec as its easier to compare then...Good luck...Pimento

spirit

I've found your advice helpful too leveller. I've been into IKEA today and looked at their kitchens. I plan to look at Howdens ones tomorrow. I like the Oak and Birch kitchens (like the lighter wood) but can't make up my mind which I like best just yet.

How much do you reckon on a Howdens kitchen for a room 9'x9' leveller? I will rip out the old one myself.

many thanks

leveller2911

TBH Spirit it all depends on spec of the kitchen.Labour costs would depend again on the units.It takes very little time to fit High line units(no drawers) but takes a bit longer to install say Pan drawer units and pull out larders can be fiddly.Best bet is to get a quote from Howdens and the fitter and I'd be happy to go through it with you to give you an idea of whether your getting a good deal on it.

Howdens are notorious with their discount system and it does to a certain extent depend on how often the fitter uses Hodewns to how much discount they give him.He may or may not put his "Profit" on the kitchen.If you do decide to,let me know and I can then tell you how much that kitchen would cost me......

Im not touting for business as 1:Probably not in your area and 2: Think its a bit un-professional....If you go to Howdens its not in their interest to recommend someone who isn't up to the job.

spirit

thanks for your advice leveller. You're not quite in my area (moving to Berkshire, currently in Hampshire), but your knowledge and expertise is invaluable to me. :beer: My sister had a Howdens kitchen and apparently a rubbish builder and she ended up having the worktop removed and getting one from IKEA! There is a Howdens near where I work so I will nip in there tomorrow lunchtime. I picked up their kitchen brochure from the Winchester branch on Friday and it looked like they had builders/fitters business cards on the counter.....

I'll get them round to quote as soon as i've completed on the house, then I have to get someone to bash down the wall between the dining room and kitchen. :eek:

leveller2911

One other point, if your looking for solid wood worktops,rather than going to Howdens etc try your local joinery.I make bespoke joinery and have made worktops in the past for people that work out cheaper than Howdens,B&Q,Wickes etc.

Small ,local workshops can make them out of wide boards ,with nice grain that look far nicer than the "Block"(small sections ,poor quality timber,glued up to form the worktop)worktops that Howdens etc tend to sell.
This can just "Lift" a standard kitchen and make it stand out and appear to be a more expensive kitchen.