Kuchen, Second Nature, Eco or Colonial Kitchens. Any thoughts?

lobster123

Hi,

It's a minefield out there and I can't make up my mind what kitchen to buy. I'll be getting the firm I'm buying the kitchen from to do all the work (plastering, fitting, tiling etc.) but just don't know what's "good quality".

I won't be buying another kitchen for years (this is a BIG purchse for me) and want something that will last a long time.

I've kinda narrowed it down to the brands mentioned. Kuchen is German - are these better quality?????

Many thanks in advance

lobster123

Just giving this a wee bump

CKdesigner

Hi Lobster

Kuchenhaus is the UK branding for Nobilia, they are the biggest producer of kitchens in Europe and they supply the German DIY stores equivalent to likes of B&Q. In the UK they are one of a hand full of companies trying to fill the massive void in the kitchen market that MFI left. They make a rigid carcase kitchen which generally is better quality than a flat pack kitchen like Colonial or Eco (both are brands of JJ Ormerod) you mention. However other German makes like Schueller or Hacker would be much better and have a far wider choice of doors and unit sizes.

You also mention Second Nature, it is very hard to comment on their quality as they don't make kitchens, all they make is the doors and finishing details and its up to the retailer to source the carcases, drawer boxes and hinges.

Try a few local independents for other German brands would be my basic advice.

Good luck

CK

lobster123

CKdesigner wrote: »

Hi Lobster

Kuchenhaus is the UK branding for Nobilia, they are the biggest producer of kitchens in Europe and they supply the German DIY stores equivalent to likes of B&Q. In the UK they are one of a hand full of companies trying to fill the massive void in the kitchen market that MFI left. They make a rigid carcase kitchen which generally is better quality than a flat pack kitchen like Colonial or Eco (both are brands of JJ Ormerod) you mention. However other German makes like Schueller or Hacker would be much better and have a far wider choice of doors and unit sizes.

You also mention Second Nature, it is very hard to comment on their quality as they don't make kitchens, all they make is the doors and finishing details and its up to the retailer to source the carcases, drawer boxes and hinges.

Try a few local independents for other German brands would be my basic advice.

Good luck

CK

Hi CK,

Thanks for taking the time to answer my question. I wasn't aware that Second Nature only made the doors. I guess then that the carcase will be a different colour to the door. The showroom I went to for Kuchenhause mentioned that the carcase would be colour co-ordinated, hence the perceived extra cost ..........

Have you by any chance heard of TMS kitchens? A friend recently mentioned them.

I'll have a look for Schueller or Hacker as you mentioned. However, the more I search, the more fussier and confused I become

Thanks again.

lobster123

Hi CK,

Me again

Kuchenhause is a completely different company to Nolte Kuchen? I had been looking at kitchens from the latter company. Any thoughts on them?

Many thanks.

ryder72

Nolte is a German kitchen manufacturer sold through UK dealers. Not bad but expensive for what it is IMO. You can get similar quality for less.

KM

Meepster

Just to add, just because it says the carcases are colour co-ordinated, it doesn't mean they will be the EXACT colour of the doors.

Most companies will offer a range of carcase colours, which you can choose or go for their recommended option.

For example, at the moment I do 3 different Walnut doors, which are all different shades, but only one walnut carcase.

In one of my previous jobs, we did around 20 different Walnut kitchens, with two walnut carcase options.

ryder72

Meepster- German suppliers will usually work in one of two ways.

At the lower end of the market they will have about a dozen colours and you select your door colour which may or may not be a match to the selected door.

At better manufacturers will usually offer colour coordinated visible sides to offer a 100% match to the front. Its usually this kind of attention to detail that sets apart the entry level German suppliers for the higher end ones.

Meepster

kmdesign wrote: »

Meepster- German suppliers will usually work in one of two ways.

At the lower end of the market they will have about a dozen colours and you select your door colour which may or may not be a match to the selected door.

At better manufacturers will usually offer colour coordinated visible sides to offer a 100% match to the front. Its usually this kind of attention to detail that sets apart the entry level German suppliers for the higher end ones.

We're talking about carcase colours though, not visable sides.

I don't know of any German manufacturer that offers a matching carcase for each of their doors (certainly RWK, SieMatic and Pronorm don't)

ryder72

Meepster - If you mean colour coordinated = same carcase colour inside out then yes you;re right. I know of only one German supplier who does colour coordinated carcases.

We deal in a German product that visible sides to match all fronts available from the range.

You have PM

Meepster

kmdesign wrote: »

Meepster - If you mean colour coordinated = same carcase colour inside out then yes you;re right. I know of only one German supplier who does colour coordinated carcases.

We deal in a German product that visible sides to match all fronts available from the range.

You have PM

Yes, that's what I meant km, I was referring to the comment below:

lobster123 wrote: »

The showroom I went to for Kuchenhause mentioned that the carcase would be colour co-ordinated, hence the perceived extra cost ..........

As far as I'm aware, KH only do around 20 carcase colours, which is why I was saying it wouldn't be EXACTLY the same colour as the fascias