Most house builds also include purchasing a new kitchen, as was the case for us. Here are our experiences.
The kitchen should be planned by the time of the topping-out ceremony so that the locations for the installations and connections are set.
Choice of Brand
The most difficult task is gathering information about the various brands. Useful sources are different websites (kitchen directories, kitchen portals, and the disq study on kitchen brands).
Different kitchen brands vary not only in price, quality, and customer satisfaction but also in an important feature: cabinet height, which ranges between 70-80 cm (28-31 inches). If you plan an elevated countertop height of around 92 cm (36 inches), you should avoid brands with 72 cm (28 inches) cabinets, as the baseboard would have to be too high, resulting in wasted space. Ideally, for example: a 10 cm (4 inches) baseboard plus a 78 cm (31 inches) cabinet plus a 4 cm (1.5 inches) countertop add up to a countertop height of 92 cm (36 inches).
Basics of Planning
Kitchen studio planning works best when you already have some clear ideas. Common questions include:
Our favorite kitchen element: the sink BLANCO AXIS II 6 S-IF Edition
Choosing the Kitchen Studio
The level of advice varies greatly depending on the consultant, and prices differ even more. The price for the same kitchen fluctuated by 30-40% or up to 5,000 €. We visited Küchen Keie (Mainz), Möbel Martin (Mainz), Meda Küchen (Wiesbaden), Möbel Schwaab (Ingelheim), and Möbel Preiss (Kastellaun). The best advice was from Ms. Ackermann at Meda Küchen, while Möbel Martin and Möbel Preiss offered the best prices.
Price Comparison
Prices can only be compared if the offers are identical: same brand, same design, and the same equipment.
The kitchen should be planned by the time of the topping-out ceremony so that the locations for the installations and connections are set.
Choice of Brand
The most difficult task is gathering information about the various brands. Useful sources are different websites (kitchen directories, kitchen portals, and the disq study on kitchen brands).
Different kitchen brands vary not only in price, quality, and customer satisfaction but also in an important feature: cabinet height, which ranges between 70-80 cm (28-31 inches). If you plan an elevated countertop height of around 92 cm (36 inches), you should avoid brands with 72 cm (28 inches) cabinets, as the baseboard would have to be too high, resulting in wasted space. Ideally, for example: a 10 cm (4 inches) baseboard plus a 78 cm (31 inches) cabinet plus a 4 cm (1.5 inches) countertop add up to a countertop height of 92 cm (36 inches).
Basics of Planning
Kitchen studio planning works best when you already have some clear ideas. Common questions include:
- Cabinet surfaces: melamine resin, foil and laminate, lacquer laminate, UV lacquer, lacquer, glass, real wood,...
- Countertop: laminate, synthetic or natural stone (very expensive!), solid wood/real wood,...
- Cabinet types: pull-out cabinets, pantry cabinets, corner carousel, LeMans corner solution, wall cabinets,...
- Appliance brands: e.g., Bosch/Siemens (which are essentially identical)
- Which appliances should be eye-level (oven? dishwasher?), which can be placed below (dishwasher? freezer compartment)?
- Appliance features: refrigerator (Vitafresh, Hydrofresh, NoFrost, energy rating A++/A+++), oven (integrated microwave, pyrolysis cleaning, telescopic rails), dishwasher (A++/A+++, noise level dB, cutlery drawer/tray), stove (60 cm / 90 cm width, steel/ceramic/induction/gas/flex induction)
- Additional equipment: extractor hood, sink, faucet, lighting elements,...
Our favorite kitchen element: the sink BLANCO AXIS II 6 S-IF Edition
Choosing the Kitchen Studio
The level of advice varies greatly depending on the consultant, and prices differ even more. The price for the same kitchen fluctuated by 30-40% or up to 5,000 €. We visited Küchen Keie (Mainz), Möbel Martin (Mainz), Meda Küchen (Wiesbaden), Möbel Schwaab (Ingelheim), and Möbel Preiss (Kastellaun). The best advice was from Ms. Ackermann at Meda Küchen, while Möbel Martin and Möbel Preiss offered the best prices.
Price Comparison
Prices can only be compared if the offers are identical: same brand, same design, and the same equipment.
Kitchen showroom salespeople have now reached the same level as insurance agents in my experience.
We planned a Nolte kitchen, including measurement and installation, at the Pforzheim furniture center, which belongs to the xxxl group. So far, everything is fine, the kitchen has been installed since Tuesday, but the granite countertop is still missing.
Yesterday, we then received an invoice for €1350, which puzzled me a lot because we were never informed about additional costs of this amount. The salesperson only mentioned that about €600 would come for cutting and routing the flush-mounted sink and cooktop, and that this would have to be settled directly with the company carrying out the work.
However, the invoice now includes items such as measurement €180, installation €550, delivery €120, sink connection €80, cleaning kit, and so on.
Unfortunately, the contract states an additional measurement and delivery “as required” / "according to effort."
I feel we were not adequately informed, and it looks like they are trying to get more money out of the customer.
So, I went straight to the store yesterday, but unfortunately, the salesperson is on vacation, and I spoke directly with the team leader. She claimed that the items were broken down on the order form and that we had been informed about them in writing. She then found the form in the salesperson's files, but none of the additional costs were listed there. From that moment on, she became rude and tried to dismiss us.
Next week, I am supposed to contact the next manager up. I’m curious to see what happens.
We planned a Nolte kitchen, including measurement and installation, at the Pforzheim furniture center, which belongs to the xxxl group. So far, everything is fine, the kitchen has been installed since Tuesday, but the granite countertop is still missing.
Yesterday, we then received an invoice for €1350, which puzzled me a lot because we were never informed about additional costs of this amount. The salesperson only mentioned that about €600 would come for cutting and routing the flush-mounted sink and cooktop, and that this would have to be settled directly with the company carrying out the work.
However, the invoice now includes items such as measurement €180, installation €550, delivery €120, sink connection €80, cleaning kit, and so on.
Unfortunately, the contract states an additional measurement and delivery “as required” / "according to effort."
I feel we were not adequately informed, and it looks like they are trying to get more money out of the customer.
So, I went straight to the store yesterday, but unfortunately, the salesperson is on vacation, and I spoke directly with the team leader. She claimed that the items were broken down on the order form and that we had been informed about them in writing. She then found the form in the salesperson's files, but none of the additional costs were listed there. From that moment on, she became rude and tried to dismiss us.
Next week, I am supposed to contact the next manager up. I’m curious to see what happens.
Just out of curiosity – what was the total price you paid? Yesterday, we also planned a Nolte kitchen with smooth matte lacquer fronts and a "basic countertop" (a G-shaped layout with 3 tall cabinets, 60cm (24 inches) base cabinet, blind corner, 100cm (39 inches) base cabinet, 90cm (35 inches) base cabinet, blind corner, 30cm (12 inches) base cabinet, 3x 60cm (24 inches) base cabinets blind corner, 90cm (35 inches) base cabinet – plus 2 60cm (24 inches) wall cabinets – with good appliances) and ended up with a total of 10,600 €
I know your kitchen layout.
We paid 13,400.
High-gloss handleless fronts + 80cm (31 inches) induction hob without cooking zones, ceramic sink, all flush-mounted, Bosch appliances + 3 tall cabinets including a pull-out pantry + a carousel in the right corner.
One 160cm (63 inches) wall cabinet and two 80cm (31 inches) wall cabinets.
The cooking island has drawers on one side and 30cm (12 inches) deep cabinets on the other side.
Only the recirculating hood is from a different manufacturer.
We paid 13,400.
High-gloss handleless fronts + 80cm (31 inches) induction hob without cooking zones, ceramic sink, all flush-mounted, Bosch appliances + 3 tall cabinets including a pull-out pantry + a carousel in the right corner.
One 160cm (63 inches) wall cabinet and two 80cm (31 inches) wall cabinets.
The cooking island has drawers on one side and 30cm (12 inches) deep cabinets on the other side.
Only the recirculating hood is from a different manufacturer.
To get a realistic price estimate, I recommend entering all parts and services offered in writing into a spreadsheet and also creating a separate list of your requirements. When comparing different offers, this makes it easier to identify what might be missing in the proposals and could lead to additional costs, as well as to assess the quality of what is being offered. Flat-rate offers with statements like "Buy from us and get a free kitchen countertop made of granite" are, in my opinion, not trustworthy. Unfortunately, it is often difficult to recognize deceptive sellers. However, you should also not assume that only the cheapest option is good.
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