Kitchen choice

Rboot

We are in the middle of picking a new kitchen and any advice / thoughts would be great.

We have managed to find 3 kitchen companies near to us one does Hacker, one Pronorm and one Nobillia.

The boss is after new modern handless kitchen so all things being equal are any of the 3 better or worst then each other.

The pro norm x line we looked at comes with shoe like inserts for end panels which we were told adds extra protection however is it really needed??

I am guessing all 3 will use the same basic carcass components.?

is a lacquered laminate door with the edging vastly inferior to completely lacquered doors?

Many thanks

RB

Furts

Yesterday I was in a general wholesaler's warehouse. They do garden items, cement, detergents and a long list including ordinary kitchens. These kitchens have no "badge snob" appeal, indeed they have no badge at all. Hence they will be unsuitable for people who want a German kitchen. However, they came with the glossy white finish, matt dark colours, handleless doors and LED lights in the plinths - all items which people deem desirable and a "must have".

These kitchens are cheap, and made of exactly the same material as expensive German kitchens, namely recycled waste timber formed into chipboard.

If your heart is set on a German kitchen, and you have a healthy bank account, then that is fine by me. Equally there are far cheaper options available that are perfectly adequate for huge numbers of people.

Silvertabby

If every penny doesn't have to count, then have a look at proper wooden doors instead of laminate.

12 years ago, we had our kitchen fitted with Second Nature oak shaker style doors, as we wanted something that wouldn't date and would last for some years.

The kitchen is still absolutely fine - even though Mr S managed to drop a tea-towel onto the lit hob, which then badly scorched the top of the drawer underneath. Our kitchen colour was no longer in production, so we were left with the option of living with the scorch (not an option for me!) or buying ALL new doors and drawer facings. However, we were recommended to try a local furniture recoverer/french polisher. Because, and only because, the drawer facing was solid oak, he sanded it down and re-coloured and treated it and now you would never know that there had been a problem.

Our carcasses are good quality laminate, however, so the cost may not be as high as you would think.

ryder72

If you want objective answers to your question I will try-

Of the three brands you mention, Pronorm will be the better detailed product using higher quality components. Hacker and Nobilia are 'white label' products and the cost cutting reflected in the materials and finishing of the end product.

Lacquered laminate is a way to get a flat glossy kitchen at a good price point (as opposed to the cheap vinyl finished crap that the builders merchants and sheds want to sell). The quality of edging varies so dont assume that all edged doors are the same.

If you want a true handeless kitchen, no one does it better than the Germans and Italians. And you definitely dont want a foil wrapped door with that.