German kitchens

ryder72

mymedi - what you say is correct in principle. In practise though its slightly different.

What is called a handless kitchen should probably be called a recessed handle kitchen. This consists of 1 or more horizontal recesses in the carcase into which metal trim is inserted. The front sizes are reduced to allow finger access into this recess to open the door/drawers by pulling the rear door surface. For wall units this is done either by oversized doors on standard carcase heights or buy routing the base of the carcase and inserting a metal trim to allow access to grip the door. Tall housings are made handleless either by routing out sides of carcases and inserting metal channels between units or by installing horizontal handleless trims.

You would have figured out then that additional machinery is required to achieve this. Most importantly most British manufacturers producing contemporary kitchens buy in doors made to standard sizes and these doors are mostly wrapped. This severely limits (to the point of elimination) size reductions on doors. A wrapped door doesnt make a good surface to touch on the rear due to the wrap join and are prone to failure due to delamination.

The handleless version you mention is simply adding magnetic devices to open and close doors and drawers but it does not address dishwashers or fridge housings so while some manufacturers might be trying to push handleless kitchens in this manner, its a non-starter.

A third popular options with sheds is a version of handleless which in reality has a groove recessed in the top of the door. Ideally this should be a lacquered door but I have seen wrapped versions of this door and I cant see how they are going to last. These doors do not offer adequate grip for doors on top of appliances to the point that I have heard of nails chipping on these doors.

Most European manufacturers have invested to produce proper handleless kitchens. I have seen a couple of British manufacturers try and produce their handleless kitchens at the mid to mid-premium price point and quite frankly it was rubbish. For similar or even less money you can buy much better quality European kitchens. Roundhouse do a decent handleless kitchen but their prices are eye-watering.

mymedi

Very interesting. Thanks, ryder72!

CKdesigner

Hi Ryder

Excellent reply. Couldn't have said it better myself.

Thanks

CK

evokit

you can get the 'handleless' you are explaining in the uk and also have the options of a lacquered recess or contrasting veneer etc, giving endless possibilities..... in the uk!!!
All of the off the shelf doors I use including 'J' routed handleless doors from my suppliers in the uk... are imported from Italy anyway,
There cheaper to buy!!
The vinyl stuff...barge pole it, esp the 'J' handleless
The made to measure lacquered doors do not add that much to the price either. I use 3 bespoke uk suppliers with stunning quality and a verity of handleless options and unique options. Yet there bespoke is still very cost effective compared to the german kitchen

missile

We bought a Hacker Kitchen with handless doors i.e. groove recess in the doors and drawer fronts. It was not cheap, almost twice your budget. We had a few issues with defects. Hacker were most unhelpful and very tardy at resolving these.

The finished kitchen is stunning.

CKdesigner

missile wrote: »

We bought a Hacker Kitchen with handless doors i.e. groove recess in the doors and drawer fronts. It was not cheap, almost twice your budget. We had a few issues with defects. Hacker were most unhelpful and very tardy at resolving these.

The finished kitchen is stunning.

Hi

I think the poor service you received says more about the kitchen supplier you purchased the kitchen from than Hacker.

Glad you got it resolved in the end though.

CK

CKdesigner

evokit wrote: »

you can get the 'handleless' you are explaining in the uk and also have the options of a lacquered recess or contrasting veneer etc, giving endless possibilities..... in the uk!!!
All of the off the shelf doors I use including 'J' routed handleless doors from my suppliers in the uk... are imported from Italy anyway,
There cheaper to buy!!
The vinyl stuff...barge pole it, esp the 'J' handleless
The made to measure lacquered doors do not add that much to the price either. I use 3 bespoke uk suppliers with stunning quality and a verity of handleless options and unique options. Yet there bespoke is still very cost effective compared to the german kitchen

Hi Evokit

I have been designing and supplying handless kitchens for longer than I care to remember, and the German makes we do I believe to offer the most amount of choice and the best value for money in the industry. But having said that, ideally I would really like to support UK manufacturing and I am always on the lookout for a UK manufacturer that is as good as our German suppliers, unfortunately I still have not found one.

Please could you let me know (in a private message) who your supplier is so I can make contact and investigate what they can do.

Thanks

CK

ryder72

And CKDesigner, depending on your investigations, please let me know as well if its any good.

Its always worth investigating a British manufacturer if they are really able to delivery. Sadly my past investigations haven't delivered.

evokit

with all respect ive spent along time finding my suppliers and as im national, would rather keep my to myself.
You 2 work diff to me Also, you want to purchase the whole package off one supplier.
where I hand pick my door suppliers and send them to my carcass company. So...its not like buying for Mereway etc like JL do.
The reason I do this is as it means I can be flexible and produce any size unit in every board colour available with additional options and the same with the doors, meaning I can offer lacquers/veneers that I select, not my supplier and can also produce one off handleless designs. This way for me may be a little more work on my side but means I can give the customer a much higher spec kitchen, unlimited choice on every level all for the cost of a diy / high street costing. After working for Moben for 7yrs and other suppliers this is why I set up alone

buglawton

For my hapenny's worth, I had all inbuilt appliances as Bosch, been very happy with the reliability and performance over 4 years.