But really, why ARE German kitchens a cut above the rest?
Which kitchens have an unparalleled reputation for excellent build quality, innovative design and intelligent functionality? It doesn’t take a genius to work out that we’re talking about contemporary German kitchens here. And wouldn’t we all like one in our home?!
It’s not as if there’s only one or two brands to choose from either. The long list of long established German kitchen companies includes Bulthaup, Poggenpohl, ALNO, Nobilia, SieMatic, Häcker, Leicht, Nolte, Schüller, Eggersmann, Holzrausch, Warendorf and many others. When it comes to updating your kitchen German style, you really are spoilt for choice.
But what is it that makes these kitchens so irresistible? Let’s take a look behind the (probably) glossy, handleless façade of Teutonic excellence in an effort to understand what makes the Germans so good at producing kitchen furniture that looks fantastic, performs like a dream and stands the test of time.
Manufacturing heritage
History and heritage is a big thing for German manufacturing companies who tend to invest for the long term and focus on finetuning and perfecting their processes and methods over many years. Did you know that Poggenpohl, founded in 1892, is the oldest kitchen company in the world?
The forerunner to our modern fitted kitchens was the Frankfurt Kitchen, a pioneering concept developed in 1926 to optimise workflow, with innovative ideas which were quickly picked up by SieMatic, ALNO and Leicht among others, all of whom came to the market in the late 1920s.
What’s more, many German kitchen companies are privately owned and operated, often by generations of the same family. The management culture favours prudent financial planning to ensure sustainable long-term growth.
Made in Germany
Having built solid foundations and proved themselves at home, German kitchen companies saw major international growth opportunities and started to rapidly expand their export markets from the 1950s onwards, contributing to the astonishing upturn of the German postwar economy. The label ‘Made in Germany’ has since become recognized worldwide as a reliable mark of quality.
The combination of huge commercial success and an excellent international reputation proved lucrative, allowing for more funding for research and development to produce even better and more sophisticated kitchen furniture and further driving product quality. It’s a virtual cycle that’s paid huge dividends in terms of brand value, product quality and customer satisfaction.
German engineering
Vorsprung durch Technik (progress through technology) is what they at Audi, over in the automotive sector. Germany is, of course, famous for precision engineering generally and this includes the kitchen industry too. Many kitchens are built by long-established, 100-year-old manufacturing companies where principles of craftsmanship and quality are upheld just as they were back in the early days.
Cross-industry collaboration is another key ingredient for the success of German kitchens. It takes a wealth of different components to create the final kitchen product, but with many specialist manufacturers working together to exacting standards and pursuing a common commercial goal, it’s a mutually beneficial arrangement that has proved very successful over decades. As a result, kitchen companies and their established suppliers are often located in the same area in order to facilitate cooperation, particularly in Bavaria, North Rhine Westphalia and Swabia.
Innovative design
Take a look around your local German kitchen showroom and it’s hard not to fall in love with the contemporary styling and minimalist, functional design on display. ‘Form and function’ is something you’ll hear a lot with German kitchen design.
Made with today’s and tomorrow’s homes in mind, these kitchens incorporate technology led innovations that are practical, useful and unashamedly forward-looking. There’s no room for nostalgia in a German kitchen. If the sleek styling and timeless design appeals to you, it’s the perfect long-term investment for your home.
Minimalist kitchen design is unforgiving – it thrives on attention to detail, precise workmanship and a perfect fit. With a German kitchen, you can be assured of getting the real deal: functionality and design in perfect harmony.
Supply and service
Designing and building a stylish, quality kitchen is all very well but without a robust supply chain it all falls down at the last hurdle. German kitchen companies are known for their sophisticated order control and production schedules, reliable delivery timetables and logistics chains, so that the complete package is delivered as and when agreed.
With an integrated industry cooperating within a network of specialised suppliers all pulling in the same direction, it becomes possible to deliver outstanding products at competitive prices, on time to a worldwide market. Now that’s what I would call a cut above the rest.
