Short answer? Our panel gave it a firm yes. A good German kitchen is built to look as good in ten years as the day it went in, and to last around twenty.
That’s not to say there aren’t fantastic British kitchen makers. There are, but they tend to be small independents.
On our Kitchen Design Podcast we put the question to Danny Borge and Ryan Fagan of Square Kitchens in Sheffield. Here’s what came out of it.
- Built to last, not to be replaced. The panel’s view was that many entry-level kitchens are designed for repeat business, with a replacement every five or six years. German kitchens are built with twenty years in mind.
- They won’t cut corners. The German manufacturers we work with won’t switch to a cheaper material, and won’t offer things they don’t think are fit for purpose, like gloss worktops or vinyl-wrap doors.
- Huge volumes, same standards. The panel quoted Nobilia making around 3,500 kitchens a day and Schüller around 600 at the time, without compromising on materials.
- Warranties without the small print. When there’s an issue with Schüller, it’s an email and it’s sorted, even when the cause is customer error. They send the part with care guidance instead of arguing.
Here’s the thing though… a kitchen that lasts twenty years often works out cheaper than two that last ten.
Get in touch, we’re always happy to help.
