Good Küchen: 9 German Kitchen Systems - Remodelista
From Mercedes to Miele to Montblanc, Germany is famous for its engineering—but in an increasingly globalized world, to be a German brand is not always to be manufactured in Germany. Common in Europe but still a nascent concept in the US, kitchen systems make for one-stop shopping: Typically, a company designs a set of wall-mounted or freestanding cabinetry and workstations down to the minute details. Founded in 1927, Alno makes its kitchens in Pfullendorf in the south of Germany. Established as a top-of-the-line brand, the company has expanded to include several lines at varying price ranges. Family-owned since its founding in 1949, Bulthaup and its competitor Poggenpohl are arguably the premier names in German kitchen systems. Visit the Bulthaup Dealer Search for showroom locations around the world, including New York and LA. Eggersmann is a relatively small manufacturer with a production output of roughly 6,000 kitchens each year. Shown here is an Eggersmann kitchen in House Hamburg. Holzrausch is an interior design firm with its own manufacturing arm and a growing portfolio of modular kitchens. There are no Holzrausch locations outside of Germany; contact the company to inquire about availability. Next 125 is a new high-end brand from established German kitchens manufacturer Schüller, which makes more than 100,000 kitchens each year at its factory in the Franken region. Founded in 1892, Poggenpohl is the oldest kitchen company in the world and manufactures in Hereford, Germany. Shown here is a Pure kitchen from Goldreif by Poggenpohl, the company’s most affordable line. In 1922, SieMatic began making kitchen “dressers,” which were something like china hutches. For an impressive SieMatic drawer (with designated places for spices, knives, flatware, and tools), see Mise en Place: Kitchen Tool Drawer Organizers. Warendorf was created as an offshoot of Miele in 1973, and until 2010 was still branded as Miele Kitchens. A growing brand with three stores in Germany, Warendorf has distribution in 24 countries and recently collaborated with Philippe Starck. 9. Wiedemann Werkstaetten Wiedemann Werkstaetten is a third-generation, family-owned company based in Munich. Now run by Georg and Lucia Wiedemann, the company also makes storage units, staircases, and custom architectural details.