Siematic kitchen v Local Joinery Firm
Discussion
Hi, we're busy doing up quite a large house and after looking at a lot of firms (not liking in-frame or flat doors) my wife chose the Siematic Beauxarts.
Apparently, we were told they start at £35k and go to, well, the sky is the limit. They have chipboard carcasses and 5 panel MDF shaker style doors with a painted finish. Nothing exotic here.
Now, we've had initial designs, had these tweaked and costed and came to £54k inc Corian tops. I asked for a price excl Corian and it came within budget. Since then, we've added an island and a couple more glazed doors (small) and they quote has shot up to £56k EXCL any tops which is £8.6k for granite.
£65k for a kitchen with Neff appliances, really? £40k on cabinets alone, £7k on appliances, plus fitting etc VAT and tops...
This is some way above budget now and this is without decorative end panels which will add thousands.
We have also become quite frustrated with the inflexibility of Siematic and anything "non-standard" attracting a massive premium even if it is a small dimension change to a cupboard door.
It has got me thinking, my wife isn't in to gadgets and gizmos and really wants a functional rather than a show kitchen, why not go with the local joinery firm we are using to do the rest of the furniture. In the end of the day, its still chipboard and MDF but we can do away without the fancy drawer liners, dividers and dust seals on the doors... We can also get what we want in terms of dimension, unit type etc. I'm a chartered surveyor and have project managed every detail of the build so far so sorting appliances and tops will be no big deal.
The cost saving will be huge and it seems like a good option but is there anything I'm overlooking here perhaps?
Cheers
JC
Apparently, we were told they start at £35k and go to, well, the sky is the limit. They have chipboard carcasses and 5 panel MDF shaker style doors with a painted finish. Nothing exotic here.
Now, we've had initial designs, had these tweaked and costed and came to £54k inc Corian tops. I asked for a price excl Corian and it came within budget. Since then, we've added an island and a couple more glazed doors (small) and they quote has shot up to £56k EXCL any tops which is £8.6k for granite.
£65k for a kitchen with Neff appliances, really? £40k on cabinets alone, £7k on appliances, plus fitting etc VAT and tops...
This is some way above budget now and this is without decorative end panels which will add thousands.
We have also become quite frustrated with the inflexibility of Siematic and anything "non-standard" attracting a massive premium even if it is a small dimension change to a cupboard door.
It has got me thinking, my wife isn't in to gadgets and gizmos and really wants a functional rather than a show kitchen, why not go with the local joinery firm we are using to do the rest of the furniture. In the end of the day, its still chipboard and MDF but we can do away without the fancy drawer liners, dividers and dust seals on the doors... We can also get what we want in terms of dimension, unit type etc. I'm a chartered surveyor and have project managed every detail of the build so far so sorting appliances and tops will be no big deal.
The cost saving will be huge and it seems like a good option but is there anything I'm overlooking here perhaps?
Cheers
JC
Edited by JMC180 on Wednesday 14th September 00:47
JMC180 said:
The cost saving will be huge and it seems like a good option but is there anything I'm overlooking here perhaps?
Cheers
JC
Sounds like the sensible way to go, especially as you already know the local joinery firm, and therefore their standard of workman ship.Cheers
JC
Edited by JMC180 on Wednesday 14th September 00:47
German kitchens are very nice, but as you have found attract a big premium.
astroarcadia said:
garyhun said:
I looked at Siematic when I did my self build a few years back and thought it overpriced. Was quoted around £50k for mine.
Ended up getting Leicht with Gaggenau appliances for around £30k and was very happy.
Horses for courses I guess.
Any pics Gary?Ended up getting Leicht with Gaggenau appliances for around £30k and was very happy.
Horses for courses I guess.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
I've gone flat doors which you don't want but am sure other styles are available.
We went with a joinery company for ours (granted it is an in frame shaker so not quite the same) and couldn't be happier. Have subsequently got them to make wardrobes, chests of drawers, bedside tables etc. It is nice getting the personal touch and dealing with the business owner rather than a salesman.
garyhun said:
I looked at Siematic when I did my self build a few years back and thought it overpriced. Was quoted around £50k for mine.
Ended up getting Leicht with Gaggenau appliances for around £30k and was very happy.
Horses for courses I guess.
I love the around bit Gary Ended up getting Leicht with Gaggenau appliances for around £30k and was very happy.
Horses for courses I guess.
Still looking good, they now do the 400 series in the same colour. You might want to consider Handmade Kitchens Direct and get a local bloke to fit it if you don't fancy doing it yourself.
Very pleased with mine and the carcasses aren't chipboard either. Just done a largish kitchen for £11k plus appliances / worktops / fitting (did it myself though)
http://www.handmadekitchens-direct.co.uk/?gclid=CI...
Very pleased with mine and the carcasses aren't chipboard either. Just done a largish kitchen for £11k plus appliances / worktops / fitting (did it myself though)
http://www.handmadekitchens-direct.co.uk/?gclid=CI...
£30k + kitchen and they are using chipboard carcasses?
Chipboard is so cheap and horrible. Fine for Howdens etc, but for that sort of money, I would be expecting something a bit more substantial than chipboard.
Even Birch ply, or something a bit more solid, would be much more durable and longer lasting.
I'm sure it's come up before and Baltic Birch ply was said to be a better option for carcasses than chipboard etc.
Chipboard is so cheap and horrible. Fine for Howdens etc, but for that sort of money, I would be expecting something a bit more substantial than chipboard.
Even Birch ply, or something a bit more solid, would be much more durable and longer lasting.
I'm sure it's come up before and Baltic Birch ply was said to be a better option for carcasses than chipboard etc.
RevHappy said:
garyhun said:
I looked at Siematic when I did my self build a few years back and thought it overpriced. Was quoted around £50k for mine.
Ended up getting Leicht with Gaggenau appliances for around £30k and was very happy.
Horses for courses I guess.
I love the around bit Gary Ended up getting Leicht with Gaggenau appliances for around £30k and was very happy.
Horses for courses I guess.
Still looking good, they now do the 400 series in the same colour. I'm living in an 18thC barn conversion now but will build again in a few years time and have to say will use Gaggenau again. It is lovely stuff.Slagathore said:
£30k + kitchen and they are using chipboard carcasses?
Chipboard is so cheap and horrible. Fine for Howdens etc, but for that sort of money, I would be expecting something a bit more substantial than chipboard.
Even Birch ply, or something a bit more solid, would be much more durable and longer lasting.
I'm sure it's come up before and Baltic Birch ply was said to be a better option for carcasses than chipboard etc.
Could show you a six figure kitchen with "chipboard" carcasses although that's not the word they use. Chipboard is so cheap and horrible. Fine for Howdens etc, but for that sort of money, I would be expecting something a bit more substantial than chipboard.
Even Birch ply, or something a bit more solid, would be much more durable and longer lasting.
I'm sure it's come up before and Baltic Birch ply was said to be a better option for carcasses than chipboard etc.
Depends where the money is spent on and with who.
RevHappy said:
Could show you a six figure kitchen with "chipboard" carcasses although that's not the word they use.
Depends where the money is spent on and with who.
The finest, most exotic wood goes in to their particle board! Or another similar word?Depends where the money is spent on and with who.
Seems bonkers to pay all that and have the same material you would get in a B&Q kitchen. You'd think the core expense is the materials used, and that would be what sets them apart (appliances aside).
The markup must be enormous if they are using the same materials and, presumably, the same construction techniques as the normal trade places.
I've just finished a large kitchen extension and the quotes for units (including island and silestone w/tops etc. etc.) ranged from £50,000 to, cough, £200,000! I ended up finding a proper carpenter from 'oop north who hand built, arguably in better materials, exactly the same for £25K!
Go with the craftsman - no need for chipboard ever!
Go with the craftsman - no need for chipboard ever!
ettore said:
I've just finished a large kitchen extension and the quotes for units (including island and silestone w/tops etc. etc.) ranged from £50,000 to, cough, £200,000! I ended up finding a proper carpenter from 'oop north who hand built, arguably in better materials, exactly the same for £25K!
Go with the craftsman - no need for chipboard ever!
Seems to be the way to go.Go with the craftsman - no need for chipboard ever!
It seems like these fancy showroom type places just rely on people having more money than sense, and try and sell on the basis of them being 'designer' kitchens.
Decent joiner or cabinet maker could build something of better quality for a reasonable cost, and make it to exactly how you want it.
I'd feel a lot better knowing I'd given the work to a small business than spunked £60k on some fancy brand name.
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