Howdens kitchens

golden_eagle

We are having our kitchen units replaced and our builder recommended Howdens. We would not be using their appliances as the reviews in respect of these are dire. Our current kitchen was installed by previous owners only about 2 years before we moved in and is of a very poor quality although they paid a lot of money for it (the company that supplied the kitchen has since gone bust). We am understandably cautious to repeat the same mistake. We don't mind paying a bit more (Howdens seems a bit too cheap) provided we get the quality. Any suggestions? Is Magnet any good? Or John Lewis? Any comments/experience shared would be greatly appreciated.

phill99

I run a property maintenance company and fit kitchens regularly, I fit mainly Howdens and Magnet Trade. Howdens are a decent mid price point kitchen. The units are all factory assembled, not flat pack with the problems that flat pack creates. The carcasses are guaranteed for 10 years and are the same regardless of the doors and drawers you use. The money is in the doors and drawer fronts.

I certainly wouldn't say Howdens are too cheap. What you are omparing them to are other suppliers that are over priced such as Wickes, B & Q and Homebase. Magnet retail are also over priced, whereas Magnet trade are a similar price point and quality to Howdens.

I get very few problems with the Howdens kitchens we install. Any defects or damaged doors etc are dealt with the same day as all of their stuffis held in stock, unlike the sheds where you have to wait weeks for replacement parts. I also get good feed back from customers.

Remember however, the key to a good kitchen is tne fitter. A good fitter will make a cheap kitchen look a million dollars, whereas a muppet with a hammer will make the most expensive kitchen look like an exploded colostomy bag.

evokit

would you fit one in your house phill?

GrowingUp

magnet trade and howdens are both good,

i have a magnet trade utility room (cupboards, worktop and sinks etc) and a howdens kitchen,

as you identified, get other appliances. but the units / doors are great.

phill99

evokit wrote: »

would you fit one in your house phill?

Without a shadow of a doubt. I would be very happy to have one in my house. I would also fit Magnet Trade and Bnchmarx kitchens in my own home. I wouldn't, however, fit one from Wickes, B & Q or Homebase and certainly never one from Ikea.

Jaynne

golden_eagle wrote: »

We are having our kitchen units replaced and our builder recommended Howdens. We would not be using their appliances as the reviews in respect of these are dire. Our current kitchen was installed by previous owners only about 2 years before we moved in and is of a very poor quality although they paid a lot of money for it (the company that supplied the kitchen has since gone bust). We am understandably cautious to repeat the same mistake. We don't mind paying a bit more (Howdens seems a bit too cheap) provided we get the quality. Any suggestions? Is Magnet any good? Or John Lewis? Any comments/experience shared would be greatly appreciated.

Just wait until the german kitchen brigade come round on this one.

We've just fitted a benchmarx kitchen (Wickes trade only arm) which would be the same as one of their to-order kitchens. Its as far as we could tell the same quality as the upgraded Howdens carcass options (beware they do normal and upgraded ones with soft close and thick backs.

The quality was fine - it looks fantastic and I expect it to easily last the 10 years we expect to be in this house. When you look at howdens are you really getting a like for like quote? If you took the basic options, the cheaper cabinet options such as no curves or fancy pullouts the cost goes right down. Other companies a) are often generally more expensive than you'd expect for the quality and b) may be putting in these more expensive items by default.

What quality problems are you having with your existing kitchen. Is it just falling apart, could it have been fitted poorly?

cddc

Eh Phil? Wickes and Benchmarx are the same kitchens! The only difference is someone at the factory has screwed the Wickes units together and hey presto a Benchmarx unit is born!

Yet you would fit a Benchmarx unit and not a Wickes?

evokit

Was just asking phill as your a trade chap.
Had never till today in 10+yrs know a fitter that recommends them and would fit them in there own home.
So its good to hear someone would stand by there recommendation for a change, so all good.
being in the tarde or not in the trade....mysef i most prob wouldnt have one.
but i defo 2nd the ikea comment

McKneff

No problems at all with the quality and price of my kitchen from Howdens.

phill99

And the extra 16mm on a Howdens worktop makes a huge difference in both the visual impact (it allows you to get a decent overhang on the front edge) and offers adjustment if the wall is out of plumb horizintally.

katejo

Jaynne wrote: »

Just wait until the german kitchen brigade come round on this one.

We've just fitted a benchmarx kitchen (Wickes trade only arm) which would be the same as one of their to-order kitchens. Its as far as we could tell the same quality as the upgraded Howdens carcass options (beware they do normal and upgraded ones with soft close and thick backs.

The quality was fine - it looks fantastic and I expect it to easily last the 10 years we expect to be in this house. When you look at howdens are you really getting a like for like quote? If you took the basic options, the cheaper cabinet options such as no curves or fancy pullouts the cost goes right down. Other companies a) are often generally more expensive than you'd expect for the quality and b) may be putting in these more expensive items by default.

What quality problems are you having with your existing kitchen. Is it just falling apart, could it have been fitted poorly?

I agree with your comment about the German kitchen brigade....! I have seen it after several previous enquiries. I am about to have a Magnet Trade kitchen fitted.