Homebase Kitchens - Any good?

vegasvisitor

Hi

We were at Wickes today as we thought we mightl like a couple of their 'take away' kitchens, a white one Edmonton I think and a Cream shaker one. Didn't really like them as much as I hoped, although I did see a nice black gloss worktop with whiteish flecks that I liked.

Then went into Homebase and saw their Cream Shaker one (nice) and also their Como one (white gloss shaker style). Are Homebase kitchens ok? Also, anyone got or seen either of these and got any opinion? Would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Como - http://www.homebase.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/HomebaseStaticPageSecondLevel?langId=-1&storeId=20001&includeName=HBCreateTheLook/kitchens_como.html

Cream shaker - http://www.homebase.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/HomebaseStaticPageSecondLevel?langId=-1&storeId=20001&includeName=HBCreateTheLook/kitchens_shaker_cream_classic.html

vegasvisitor

Has anyone actually had a Homebase kitchen fitted? I'm sure there must be someone?

ormus

no chance. similar quality to ie like BQ, but twice as dear.
ive only used wickes and howdens.

ive stopped going into homebase anymore. they seem dear on everything.

madget_2

I'm afraid that I don't have experience of a Homebase kitchen, but I did think that they looked to be rather poor quality when I went in to see them. (I'm currently having a new kitchen fitted.)

Have a search for kitchens and you'll see many recommendations and non-recommendations. Howdens, Ikea, Wickes and independent shops seem very popular. Some people like Magnet and Moben. I don't think Homebase is very highly regarded, though. My own new kitchen is by Wentworth (supplied by Mereway and also stocked - but at a higher price - by John Lewis).

vegasvisitor

I know regarding prices of general stuff, totally agree. I'd only buy the kitchen if the price was right, and it was £675 and £885 for the 8 unit examples. In the below picture you can see all the units in the kitchen as it is just now. So there is a tall larder one (with boiler inside) oven housing section, at least 3000mm worth of base units, prob 4000 as there's a washer, a dryer and dishwasher and we will have washer only. then there's a double wall, single wall and an over hob unit. I'm not terribly far off the 8 unit examples, I might be 50% more at most I'd say, I can cope with that. I do really like the style of both kitchens, prefer it to the wickes and b&q ones. Other option is good old stornoway (but I've had this in my old flat and in current house) so I'm a bit reluctant to just buy the same one again although I do really like it. I'd also probably do away with the breakfast area over by the door as there is a conservatory right behind where the photo has been taken from (room for table for 2). House also has dining area at back of living room through the hatch you can see. Will also have to do something with the ceiling (diagonal darkish wood).

Any suggestions welcome!

kmmr

I was at homebase yesterday, after seeing some nice kitchens at the homeshow, and the quality really was low in comparison. I realise that was comparing chalk with cheese, but they didn't even have things like soft close doors.

I have a B&Q kitchen in my old flat, and it looks nicer, and a bit more solid than the ones I saw at homebase. I think the cheap 'gloss' kitchen tend to look worse than the cheap wood style ones.

Have you looked at DIY Kitchens? They get lots of praise on these boards, and look very cheap

Curlywurli

I've just bought my kitchen from Homebase and had it fitted by them as well (two weeks ago). We've got the Portland kitchen (It's a Magnet kitchen) and paid them to replaster the walls and painted them duck egg. We couldn't be more pleased with it. The quality is good and the men fitting it were excellent. We had some problems with it but as we were paying them to do it they didn't bother us with anything at all.
We were originally going to get a B&Q kitchen but their in store person completely mucked us about even at the point of paying so we cancelled our kitchen. I would have no hesitation in buying a homebase kitchen and getting them to fit it again.

Oh and my doors are soft close- it's really annoying because I keep accidentally leaving them open.

deanos

You must have loads of money if you got Homebase to fit the kitchen, they quoted us £1450 just to fit a kitchen, the joiner we used charged £300 and we got it from Howdens in the end, Homebase quoted for chipboard doors and we got solid wood from Howdens and was £700 cheaper !

WhiteHorse

I'm currently shopping for a new kitchen. Homebase fell off the radar on the first day.

Beenie

when you say you got your kitchen at Howdens, how does that work? They're trade only and the catalogue doesn't quote prices so how can you know if you're getting a good deal?

deanos

You need someone with an account to order the kitchen, Howdens are happy to design and quote prices once they have done an initial quote through the account holder

You can get a rough estimate on prices on this site > http://www.topclasscarpentry.com/category/Howdens%20Kitchens/

They are obviously adding on a mark up so it will be alot cheaper than that site but will give a rough idea