Best value German (or other good quality) kitchens?

justine68

DH and I are thinking about getting a new kitchen. We'd like something that is fairly good quality without breaking the bank (doesn't everyone.)

We've been looking at German kitchens as they seem to have a reputation for good quality. However, the famous brands (Gaggenau, Poppengohl) are a bit out of reach for us. We found KDCUK which apparently imports kitchens from the same german factory as one of the famous brands (they wouldn't say which) and which looks to be pretty good quality. They would charge 12k for the kitchen + installation (but no appliances), including a very nice Corian worktop worth around 3.5k of the 12k. Ikea would charge 5k including installation for a similar kitchen, including some (but not all) appliances.

Does anyone have any further recommendations for quality kitchens at a reasonable price? It doesn't have to be German, but preferably a step above Ikea in quality...

ryder72

I can't think of a German kitchen that wont be a step up from Ikea.

Poggenpohl is a very high end product and at the near top end of the market. They offer some nice touches but in the main you are paying for the brand.

There are a number of good mid-range German kitchens on offer and its almost impossible to list them here. If you have seen anything in particular, ask away.

zeebs_2

We are looking for a new kitchen as well and the research is turning me grey. We are doing an extension and the builder has said he can fit the kitchen. I will be watching this thread to see what advice you get. I have seen a beautiful kitchen at Homebase in the Odina range but don't want to use homebase but I really like the kitchen.

ryder72

Odina at Homebase is made by Nobilia. Nobilia is a very large manufactuer of unbranded kitchens and are also sold through Kuchenhaus and a few other retailers.

A new operation is opening up in some of the now defunct Moben stores also selling Nobilia.

Leif

Out of interest what is it that makes the German kitchens good?

A good British name is Optiplan, who supply units from Manor Kitchens. For a 3.5m by 3m kitchen, I paid under £12K for pre-assembled units, oak doors, quartz worktop and all appliances (Bosch cooker, fridge freezer, dish washer and washer/dryer), including fitting. The carcasses are MFC (Melamine faced chipboard) and the chipboard is a moisture resistant variety. (I still have a dislike of chipboard, but all but the very expensive kitchens seem to use it.)

Regarding a builder fitting a kitchen, I would be wary unless you know for sure he can do a good job. He might well be sub-contracting it out, and adding his cut.

zeebs_2

Leif wrote: »

Out of interest what is it that makes the German kitchens good?

A good British name is Optiplan, who supply units from Manor Kitchens. For a 3.5m by 3m kitchen, I paid under £12K for pre-assembled units, oak doors, quartz worktop and all appliances (Bosch cooker, fridge freezer, dish washer and washer/dryer), including fitting. The carcasses are MFC (Melamine faced chipboard) and the chipboard is a moisture resistant variety. (I still have a dislike of chipboard, but all but the very expensive kitchens seem to use it.)

Regarding a builder fitting a kitchen, I would be wary unless you know for sure he can do a good job. He might well be sub-contracting it out, and adding his cut.

Thank you for your comments, I have no problem not having a german made one, I just don't know where to start to get a good quality one, I am either seeing Homebase, B&Q etc when I search or the very high end bespoke options seems to be from one extreme to the other, I also refuse to deal with anyone who tries to sell me discounts if I buy now. (after getting caught by a window one of those who wouldn't get out of my house, she was here through the entire opening ceremony for the Olympic games)

ryder72

Leif -

Its the same quality of manufacture that makes German cars good. They are made in highly automated factories with minimal human intervention.

The amount and quality of machinery means that the units are made to higher tolerance with a very high level of consistency.

There is great attention to detail in German cabinetry. For instance instead of cheap iron on edging found on a number of kitchen or a slightly better 1-1.5mm PVC edging, most German companies use 1.5-2mm ABS edging. This is a more durable edging.

Carcase construction is dowelled and glued carasses assembled on robotised jigs with pressed. The squareness of carcases achieved by this method is very difficult to achieve using hand assembled carcases.

I have visited factories in the UK owned by some of the largest British carcase manufacturers and unfortunately they weren't a patch on what the Germans do.

Most German companies can offer a level of flexibility that most British companies cannot. We offer a German range that offers in excess of 750 standard units. I don't know of an English company that has more than 200 units in its range.

Finally, I find that locally made English carcases and kitchens aren't significantly cheaper than German ones and to be it is a no-brainer to pay a fraction more for improved quality and flexibility.

I don't know Manor cabinets specifically so cannot comment.

Leif

kmdesign wrote: »

Leif -

Its the same quality of manufacture that makes German cars good. They are made in highly automated factories with minimal human intervention.
...

Thank you, very informative. I have seen MFC furniture with thick melamine, and it is clearly tougher. Manor Cabinets seem well made, but the edging is thin i.e. nowhere near 2mm.

CKdesigner

kmdesign wrote: »

Leif -

Its the same quality of manufacture that makes German cars good. They are made in highly automated factories with minimal human intervention.

The amount and quality of machinery means that the units are made to higher tolerance with a very high level of consistency.

There is great attention to detail in German cabinetry. For instance instead of cheap iron on edging found on a number of kitchen or a slightly better 1-1.5mm PVC edging, most German companies use 1.5-2mm ABS edging. This is a more durable edging.

Carcase construction is dowelled and glued carasses assembled on robotised jigs with pressed. The squareness of carcases achieved by this method is very difficult to achieve using hand assembled carcases.

I have visited factories in the UK owned by some of the largest British carcase manufacturers and unfortunately they weren't a patch on what the Germans do.

Most German companies can offer a level of flexibility that most British companies cannot. We offer a German range that offers in excess of 750 standard units. I don't know of an English company that has more than 200 units in its range.

Finally, I find that locally made English carcases and kitchens aren't significantly cheaper than German ones and to be it is a no-brainer to pay a fraction more for improved quality and flexibility.

I don't know Manor cabinets specifically so cannot comment.

Couldn't have said it better myself!

I think it really comes down to investment. Generally the Germans do and the English don't!

I have always said - if there was an English manufacturer out there that made a kitchen as good as the Germans, as versatile and at the same cost we would use them. I'm all for supporting UK manufacturing but as there isn't we have to stick to our German suppliers.

CK

cddc

With kitchens like most things in life, you generally get what you pay for, though watch out for the sell it on the night types, if you buy from one of them you may not.

German Kitchens generally have better made units as others have said and you pay a premium for that. Even for what would be considered in Germany a low end shed kitchen.

Still better than pretty much anything mass produced in the UK though.

mrschaucer

Have a look at Keller kitchens. Solidly Dutch.