New kitchen puzzle- layout and brand

[jojo2305]

Hello! I'm hoping you good people will have some ideas my future kitchen. I've no interior design talent at all.

There are two points I'm stuck on. Firstly which brand to go for. Does anyone have experience of mid- possibly high range German style handleless kitchens? We've had a few quotes from the likes of Poggenpohl and Bulthaup (both painful!) And from Hacker, Pronorm and Siematic (all more reasonable) but I'm confused about what I'm meant to get for my money. Realistically only the Bulthaup was visibly better quality but too expensive.

Secondly the room is a long and quite narrow space (5m long by 3.6m wide) that is then open to the living space. There is a very tall window at one end. All the designs feature a run of 3/4 low units and a run of 4 2.4m units along the long wall and an island. But i cant work out if we should have the high units in the corner next to the window or if the low units (with the sink) should go there. Which option feels like it would block less light or look less odd?

It's a new build so only have a month or so to make decisions! Thanks!

If there is a howden near you, try them. Or go to B&Q, even if they don’t have the style you want, you can get a couple of free designs made to give you an idea of layout.

Personally I would have the sink next to the window.

If you are looking at that end of the market, I suggest get a professional designer to do the layout. An expensive beautiful kitchen that is cramped or impractical would be just gutting. It's so much more than placing bikes round the walls. Especially if a new build you need to get drains, electrical connections etc right, maybe lighting and extraction.

Bikes? BOXES (cabinets I mean)

Ring round some 'posh' kitchen makers - google for names - and ask them what makes their kitchen better than (insert name). Or ring some kitchen showrooms and ask them what you get for the extra money. But I agree with NotMeNoNo if you're spending shedloads get it designed professionally - by the company you're buying from?

There is a MNer who is a designer called OnePlan on Houzz, at your budget level it would be well worth considering her services. Her previous projects can be seen on Houzz.

Thanks, we've been to 5 companies and had their designers draw up plans based on our space and they types of appliances we'd like . They've all come up with fairly similar solutions but leave the final decision on the placement of the units to us.

Honestly I just don't see the quality being that much better to justify the higher prices of the top range ones so I'm leaning towards the more middle range options.

Have you looked at DIY kitchens? We have just had one put in and I love it..cheaper but better quality than howdens because you have to do your own plan.

I’m using one plan houzz to plan our kitchen- it’s affordable and I expect to get a better result for less