The Advantages of Modular Kitchens & Bespoke Kitchens
When designing your dream kitchen, there are two main manufacturing options: modular or bespoke.
So, what exactly do these terms mean? And which one should you choose?
In this blog, our expert designers explain the differences between modular and bespoke kitchens and the benefits of each to help you make the right decision for you.
What Is a Modular Kitchen?
A modular kitchen is designed and mass-produced in a factory using precision machinery. Modular kitchens are designed to fit together modularly to create a custom kitchen layout. Modular kitchen furniture is typically made of materials such as plywood, MDF, or particleboard and is finished with various materials such as laminates, acrylics, or veneers.
What Are the Advantages of Modular Kitchens?
An engineered modular kitchen is a flexible, customisable, and convenient option for homeowners who want to create a modern, stylish, and functional kitchen. The main advantages are:
Price
Manufactured kitchens are typically less expensive than bespoke cabinetry, as they are engineered and produced on a larger scale using precision machinery rather than crafted by hand.
Precision Engineering
While not all modular kitchen brands are equal, our modular kitchens at KCA are produced using high-quality engineered materials and offer exceptional quality and value for money. Our kitchens are precision engineered and tested to ensure rigorous quality standards making them an excellent choice for hard-working family homes where durability is essential.
Flexibility
Modular kitchens don’t have to be modern. They can be designed in several styles, from traditional shaker to contemporary, industrial, rustic, and transitional styles that blend modern and classic furniture. Our German modular kitchen brands are recognised for their unrivalled quality, customisation, and design flexibility, which allows our designers to create kitchen designs that feel truly curated and personal.
Wider Choice of Textures & Finishes
Advancements in manufacturing have created more flexibility when it comes to cabinetry textures and colour choices for modular kitchens. Textures range from wood reproductions to stone and metal textures, offering amazing opportunities to create unique and eye-catching designs. High-quality modular kitchens such as our German brand come with colour-matching 190 RAL and 1950 NCS RAL colour systems, so you can find the perfect colour for your interior scheme.
Faster Manufacturing
Modular kitchens can be installed faster than bespoke kitchens as they are pre-manufactured and easily assembled on-site. Bespoke kitchens typically take longer to design, build, and install.
Adaptable
Modular kitchen units are easy to disassemble and reassemble, benefiting homeowners who want to adapt their design without replacing the whole kitchen. It’s great for clients who wish to refresh their kitchen designs with new doors and hardware or change up the layout of their designs.
What is a Bespoke Kitchen?
Bespoke kitchens are custom-designed and handmade to order by skilled craftspeople. Bespoke kitchens are considered luxury kitchens made with high attention to detail and quality materials, such as solid wood, typically constructed using traditional woodworking techniques. Each kitchen is unique and tailored to the customer’s needs and preferences. Bespoke kitchens offer a range of materials, finishes, and designs and can be completely customised.
A traditional, handcrafted shaker such as our Davonport kitchens will feature solid wood drawer boxes, timber interiors, and marks of craftsmanship such as dovetail joins.
What Are the Advantages of Bespoke Kitchens?
A bespoke kitchen is a truly made-to-order option, great for anyone looking to invest in quality craftsmanship for their home. The main advantages are:
Custom Made & Bespoke
Bespoke kitchens are designed and custom-made to fit your space perfectly to reflect your individual style. This means you can create a unique kitchen design tailored to your needs and space, including working with unusual floor plans or the uneven walls and angles found in period homes. When designing with bespoke furniture, there are no restrictions.
Quality Materials & Craftsmanship
Bespoke handmade kitchens are created with the highest level of craftsmanship and attention to detail. Investing in craftsmanship means the kitchen will last decades, adding value to your property.
Enduring & Timeless
Bespoke shaker kitchens are recognised as being timeless and enduring. The shaker style has been around since the 1860s and remains a popular style and a staple of British design.
Personalisation
Bespoke kitchens are handcrafted to each client’s specifications, including personalisation such as custom carvings to label drawers or pantry crates or even monogrammed cabinetry with a special name carved into your design. A handmade kitchen gives you the freedom to influence every aspect of your kitchen, down to the last detail, from cabinetry shape to bespoke cutlery internals to suit your favourite set of knives!
Unlimited Colour Options
Bespoke kitchens are usually hand-painted, so you can choose from unlimited paint colours when searching for the perfect hue.
Potential to Refresh Over Time
A handpainted bespoke kitchen can be refreshed with a new lick of paint. Repainting your bespoke kitchen can restore any signs of wear and tear and give your kitchen a completely new look to suit trending styles and your home colour scheme.
Conclusion
Modular and bespoke handmade kitchens each have their advantages. Overall, the main difference between handmade bespoke and modular kitchens is the level of customisation and craftsmanship involved in their production. The choice comes down to your preferences, your specific requirements for the space and your budget.
With a bespoke design approach, unique kitchen designs tailored to you can be created with both bespoke and modular furniture. The key to a great kitchen design is balance, investing in the areas that are most important to you; this could be cabinetry, appliances, or a combination of features.
At KCA, we offer both high-quality modular kitchens and bespoke handcrafted kitchens in all styles. Our designers can guide you and offer independent advice to help you to choose the perfect fit for you and your home.
Book a free design consultation at our expansive Berkshire showroom or at your home today. It’s never too early to get in touch.
