Hi all,

We have recently renovated our lower ground level (not exactly a
complete basement as it leads out to ground level) of our terraced
house. This has taken a LOT of time and money but we hope that it will
be worth it for the use we will get out of it. Part of this area
(approx 10m²) will be devoted to a kitchen and so we have been looking
to getting some quality units and doors.

We have a very nice Limestone floor (very pale white's, grey's and
linen colours) and as this are is south facing it has actually worked
out to be a very light room. So we were looking at a real dark wood
finish for the kitchen units, possibly American Black Walnut or a very
Dark Oak in a shaker style.

We currently have a kitchen in another part of the house which is a 5
year old MFI/Schreiber Valencia kitchen and although we may reuse the
units, I was not completely impressed with the quality of these with
their flimsy hardboard backs, dodgy speckled white interiors, add-on
end panels to complete the look and now old style non soft close door
and draws. Even if we did reuse these units I would also need to buy
more units anyhow as the new kitchen area is a different size and
shape.

So I started looking into various kitchen places locally and on the
internet. After a bit of research it seems to me that a lot of these
kitchen places are simply resellers for a few manufacturers as the
marketing blurb is always similar if not identical. Of those I liked,
they seemed to revolve around Second Nature kitchens (specifically
http://www.secondnaturecollection.co...id=scopewalnut)
and Burbidge kitchens (specifically
http://www.burbidge.co.uk/products/p...2&range=county).
Another style we have seen that we liked was a Dark Oak from Moben
(specifically http://www.moben.co.uk/ranges/range.php?r=22) but at
their quote of £11,000 I don't think this will happen! I also saw
some nice doors here but these are now getting expensive
(http://www.cantydesigns.com/catalogue.asp?c=flatPanel).

Most carcase units appear to be very similar made from 18mm melamine
faced chipboard but I want something that will match the doors. Does
anyone have any suggestions or good units with soft close hinges and
sliders? What about real wood carcases? Are these worthwhile looking
into and does anyone have any experience with such units. I have also
though about making my own and getting some use out of the router as
they seem to be of a of a fairly simple construction.

Any more ideas would be gratefully received.

Chris

Well after looking around it seems as though the Burbridge kitchens
seem to give the best all round design and quality for what we are
after. I have looked high and low for companies that will be able to
suppliy Dark Oak but have turned up with nothing, so the Black Walnut
looks as though it could be the one.

If have seen a couple of DIY places that sell these kitchens an
wondered if anyone has had anyone has had experience of these.

http://www.betterdiy.com/content.php
http://www.newkitchendiy.com/acatalo..._Kitchens.html (although
these guys wont deliver to us so I would have to arange for pickup.)
http://www.fitted-kitchens-uk.com/ (although thier cacase contruction
only seems to be cam and dowel.)

From the first post I also realised that Canty Designs
(http://www.cantydesigns.com/catalogue.asp?c=units) make true wood
veneered carcases which would look good but I haven't heard back on
costs yet.

I haven't found much out about real wood units either.