anyone heard of these kitchen people? any good?

spirit

http://www.reviewcentre.com/reviews170055.html

I wondered if these reviewers were plants, they seem to have a very good score compared to Howdens etc?

I'm still going to wander along to Howdens lunchtime for a mosey around.

majjie

Those reviews sound suspiciously similar to me. So many of them mention that they're not the cheapest.

As far as I know, they're a direct sales organisation, [TEXT DELETED BY FORUM TEAM]. They use doors such as Second Nature and Colonial and either make their own carcasses or buy them in separately. Compared to other direct sales companies - and the likes of Howdens - they do a good range of unit sizes ... and the carcasses are colour matched (but I don't know the details of the carcasse quality).

For all I know - they are as good as the reviews suggest - but they'll try to get you to buy on the night ... and I'd be willing to bet you could get the same or better quality from a local showroom at a better price.

Majjie

spirit

thank you ckdesigner. At the mo it's between IKEA and Howdens. I can't bring myself to go for a Bodgit and Quit one even though their Cooke and Lewis range looks ok.

Popped into Howdens lunchtime and the reception chap phoned upstairs to the designer who came down to see me. I found the name of a recommended builder on the intranet at work. Mentioned his name to them and they said they knew him. They won't endorse anyone but said they never had any problems with him.

so now I just have to get the designer in to do her thing and then a quote from the builder.

Unless of course I find a different kitchen :eek:

spirit

Hmnn, Jewsons kitchens. They any good?

CKdesigner

Hi Spirit

Have a look for a local independent kitchen specialist that does Schueller kitchens. Much better than all the sheds, for not much more money.

CK

majjie

I'd just like to jump to the defence of JJO - and no, I don't have any connection with them - there's absolutely nothing wrong with the quality of their kitchens. Depending, of course, what you're comparing them with. I'd sooner have one of theirs than a Howdens or B&Q or Wickes kitchen any day.

18mm colour matched carcasses, soft close drawers as standard ... a very good selection of carcasse sizes ... and a good choice of door styles. Given the choice, I'd put their doors onto rigid, pvc/ABS edged carcasses ... but with a good fitter I wouldn't rule out their flat packs.

Since we don't know what carcasses they're being put onto ... I don't think we can say what the quality would be from the kitchen company in question. Some of JJO's doors are extremely good.

I still wouldn't buy from a direct sales organisation, though ... I don't trust them ... and you're very likely to be paying over the odds. If you want a Colonial kitchen find a small local showroom that supplies them ... they'll give you much better value.

majjie

The last time I looked at Jewsons, they were doing 18mm white carcasses with ABS edging and soft close as standard ... with a reasonable choice of unit sizes.

At that time (about 3 years ago) they were more expensive than both Colonial and Howdens.

thursday

CKdesigner wrote: »

Hi Spirit

Have a look for a local independent kitchen specialist that does Schueller kitchens. Much better than all the sheds, for not much more money.

CK

Sorry for hijacking the post...
How do Nolte kitchens compare with Schueller in both price and quality?
and then, both of them with www.nationalkitchens.co.uk?
thanks

majjie

I'm afraid I couldn't tell you about Nolte and Scheuller ... both middle of the road German, I'd say. CK may come back and enlighten us.

NatKits kitchens are made by Mereway ... good quality and UK made (the carcasses at least ... I can't swear that they don't have the doors made abroad, but I don't think they do).

In my opinion, there's absolutely no need to buy German made kitchens these days to get good quality ... UK made kitchens are just as good. Unless, of course, you want to spend an absolute fortune and go for Bulthaup or Rational and the like.

Majjie

thursday

majjie wrote: »

I'm afraid I couldn't tell you about Nolte and Scheuller ... both middle of the road German, I'd say. CK may come back and enlighten us.

NatKits kitchens are made by Mereway ... good quality and UK made (the carcasses at least ... I can't swear that they don't have the doors made abroad, but I don't think they do).

In my opinion, there's absolutely no need to buy German made kitchens these days to get good quality ... UK made kitchens are just as good. Unless, of course, you want to spend an absolute fortune and go for Bulthaup or Rational and the like.

Majjie

Yeah, you got me here, Bulthaup is a bliss, definitely.

CKdesigner

Hi Majjie

Mereway as most of us know is the manufacturer for most of the John Lewis own brand kitchens. Mereway is mostly regarded as the best mass produced kitchen manufacturer in the UK. They make the more basic doors themselves, the flat panel laminates and the foil wraps, but the solid timber frame doors and gloss lacquers come from various Italian door manufacturers.

I have to disagree with you a bit about not needing to go outside of the UK for normal kitchens. Schueller for instance is the 2nd largest manufacturer of kitchens in Germany, still family run and they just seem to know how to mass produce quality products better than the UK manufacturers.

Comparing the German brands - the other half and I have looked pretty much at them all. As with everything there are good ones and not so good ones but to be fair there are really only small differences between them. I do feel though with the likes of Bulthaup and Poggenpohl you are paying for the name, these brands are no better than Schueller and I know I can do the same kitchen from Schueller for less than half the money!

I am sure you will agree with me Majjie the quality of the kitchen units is only half the story, just as important is the quality of the kitchen designer!

Anyway I hope this doesn't sound too much like an advert!

CK