German kitchens vs Wren
A showroom quotation and a factory-direct quotation are built up very differently. Here is what to line up on each, which lines actually reflect the cabinets, and where German factory-direct pricing tends to land once the discount theatre is stripped out.
Last updated 14 August 2026
What differs, line by line
We state what we supply. For the showroom column, treat each row as a question to put to your own quotation, since specification varies by range and by store.
| UK showroom retailer, e.g. Wren | LindenHaus, factory-direct German | |
|---|---|---|
| Buying model | National showroom retailer with designed-in-store quotations, usually supply and fit as one package. | Authorised UK importer quoting direct from the German factory, supply-only by default with fitting available. |
| How price is presented | Frequently a large percentage off a list price. Ask for the final itemised figure, since the headline discount is not a comparison point on its own. | One itemised quotation with no list-price theatre, unit by unit, typically up to 30% below a like-for-like showroom figure. |
| Carcase | Ask for board thickness and whether cabinets are rigid or assembled on site, and get it stated on the quote. | 19mm rigid carcase, built, drilled and edged in the German factory and delivered assembled. |
| Hardware | Confirm the hinge and drawer runner brand in writing. It varies by range and is a genuine cost line. | Blum on Schüller, nBox drawers and Sensys hinges on Nobilia, full soft-close as standard. |
| Finishes | Wide showroom-led selection, strong on gloss and painted styles. | Full German programme: true handleless, perfect matt anti-fingerprint, real wood veneer, glass and stone-effect fronts. |
| Warranty | Check the cabinet and hardware warranty terms on your paperwork. | Nobilia 10 years and Schüller 5 years on cabinets, manufacturer-backed. |
| Lead time | Varies by branch and by installation schedule. | Typically 6 to 8 weeks from order to UK delivery, made to your specification. |
Six checks on your quote
Ignore the discount, read the total
A percentage off a list price you have never seen is a starting position, not a saving. Compare final itemised figures only.
Unbundle supply and fit
Showroom quotes often bundle installation. Split it out so you are comparing cabinet cost against cabinet cost.
Count the cabinets
Ask for the unit schedule with every code, width and height. Fewer or shallower units explain most apparent savings.
Check the panel finish
Door-matched end panels and plinths sit in the door price group. Laminate substitutes cut cost at the expense of texture match.
Look at the interior
Cutlery inserts, pan drawer dividers, corner pull-outs and LED lighting are separate lines. A bare interior looks cheap on paper.
Separate the appliances
Appliances are locally sourced and swing widely. Keep them in their own column on both quotes.
Common questions
- Is a German kitchen cheaper than Wren?
- On a like-for-like specification, factory-direct German pricing is usually up to 30% below a showroom quotation for equivalent cabinets, because there is no display floor or commissioned sales overhead in the figure. The only reliable way to know for your project is to compare itemised cabinet columns, which we will do free of charge.
- What should I check first on a showroom quote?
- The unit schedule and the hardware brand. Those two lines tell you whether the two quotes are for the same kitchen. After that, split cabinets, worktops and appliances into separate columns.
- Do you supply and fit, or supply only?
- Supply-only is our default, which keeps the comparison clean and lets you use your own installer. We can also recommend experienced German-kitchen fitters covering most of the UK.
- Are German cabinets built differently?
- The measurable differences are 19mm rigid factory-built carcases, Blum or nBox soft-close hardware as standard, and manufacturer warranties of 10 years on Nobilia and 5 years on Schüller cabinets. We state all of it on the quotation so you can check it against anything else you hold.
- Can you match a quote I have already had?
- We price the same specification factory-direct, which is more useful than matching. Send the quotation or plan and we rebuild it against the factory unit list, then show you line by line where the difference is overhead and where it is a genuinely different kitchen.
Send your quote for a comparison
Attach the quotation, a plan or a phone photo of a showroom printout. We rebuild the same specification factory-direct and send back a CAD plan, 3D render and itemised figure with the differences flagged.
Up to 30% below a showroom quote
Same factory, same finishes, same hardware, same warranty. Delivered nationwide in 6 to 8 weeks.