Any PH'ers used/heard of Handmadekitchens-direct.co.uk?
Discussion
We are looking for a kitchen and came across www.handmadekitchens-direct.co.uk via mumsnet - (no I'm not a member, first result on Google, honest!). They rated them well and lets face it, if mum's don't know a good kitchen, then no one knows.
From what I gather, you need to finish the units yourselves, i.e. sanding and painting, which we don't mind doing, if it saves us money. Tight Northerners and all that.
Initially, we were looking at secondhand kitchens on eBay, with a budget of around £5k for just the cabinets (we already have most appliances), but in this past year, there's only been a handful that takes our fancy.
We are wanting an Inframe kitchen and I believe tulipwood is the way to go.
So, has anyone used/heard of them? What are your thoughts?
From what I gather, you need to finish the units yourselves, i.e. sanding and painting, which we don't mind doing, if it saves us money. Tight Northerners and all that.
Initially, we were looking at secondhand kitchens on eBay, with a budget of around £5k for just the cabinets (we already have most appliances), but in this past year, there's only been a handful that takes our fancy.
We are wanting an Inframe kitchen and I believe tulipwood is the way to go.
So, has anyone used/heard of them? What are your thoughts?
Woody3 said:
Anyone?
I've come across the name in the Trade a couple of times. I must admit that I was amazed at their prices, they do seem very good value for money. Saying that, I have no idea on quality, or what level of quality your after.If you want one good piece of advice where a kitchen is concerned. It is not advisable to build kitchen cabinets in solid timber. Looking at their site it seems they mostly use oak veneered either chipboard or MDF for a lot of their cabinets which is a very good sign, especially if its MDF.
However looking on their pricing sheet it states that they do a Pine range which includes the cabinet made out of I assume solid Pine. I'd stay clear of that range personally, not just becasue the cabinet is made in solid timber, but also that modern Pine (I'm assuming for cost they are not using Yellow Pine) in a centrally heated home can shrink quite a lot and very quickly.
Their pricing sheet at times seems quite bizarre, for example a 'Base Cabinet, Pan Drawers (1 +2 deep)' is the same price from 300 - 1000MM wide. Can't quite understand that one where material cost is involved. I'm also amazed that they can supply a 3M length of Walnut cornice for £40.00 inc VAT. I can't buy the timber for that.
I'd be tempted to visit the showroom before making any decisons.
Wozy68 said:
If you want one good piece of advice where a kitchen is concerned. It is not advisable to build kitchen cabinets in solid timber. Looking at their site it seems they mostly use oak veneered either chipboard or MDF for a lot of their cabinets which is a very good sign, especially if its MDF.
Why's that? Something to do with warpage/splittage? EggsBenedict said:
Wozy68 said:
If you want one good piece of advice where a kitchen is concerned. It is not advisable to build kitchen cabinets in solid timber. Looking at their site it seems they mostly use oak veneered either chipboard or MDF for a lot of their cabinets which is a very good sign, especially if its MDF.
Why's that? Something to do with warpage/splittage? 
Wozy68 said:
EggsBenedict said:
Wozy68 said:
If you want one good piece of advice where a kitchen is concerned. It is not advisable to build kitchen cabinets in solid timber. Looking at their site it seems they mostly use oak veneered either chipboard or MDF for a lot of their cabinets which is a very good sign, especially if its MDF.
Why's that? Something to do with warpage/splittage? mattdaniels said:
Brite spark said:
There is atleast one pher who makes cabinets/kitchens, if memory serves me correctly from previous threads.
Singlecoil is your man.This is the style we would like to achieve (from a Wozy's post):
I'm no expert, but the quality seemed good and there was no pressure. They don't do the design work but have a couple of people they work with if you don't have a plan (which reduces the hard sell)
I don't know how cheap they are once you've factored in the design (£200ish IIRC), fitting and painting but it looks very good value.
I don't know how cheap they are once you've factored in the design (£200ish IIRC), fitting and painting but it looks very good value.
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