Latest Fits

[Joe the chip]

I've never posted photo's on here before so I thought i'd better had.

I opened a showroom in November, displaying Crown and JJO kitchens. Were doing really well so far, far better than we thought we would do for the first couple of months.

Here are some images for two recent fits I've done. I've got to go back and take more pictures once they get their flooring and decorating sorted (both are having Karndean installed).

The first is Midsomer by Crown Imperial, painted in pale grey, with Quartz tops from cimstone, in Lapland. With Luce by Hotpoint appliances.

The second is a Nova from Crown Lifestyle, its a handle-less in oyster gloss, with Luce appliances again, and Strauss Noir Gloss worktops from BushBoard.

[marc1106]

Both look really nice! And surprise surprise another handle less kitchen
Only 1negative comment is that there are to many drawers in the handless which in my opinion kind of spoils the look! But again both look to be top notch installations!

[Colour Republic]

Look nice and I like the colour of the midsomer

I've not sold any Luce yet, I like the styling of a lot of the range but then because of the price I find it harder to sell as people still see it as Hotpoint and would rather go with Neff or Bosch in that same price range.

How do you rate it? both build quality and ease of installation?

[PREM]

I like the draws on the handleless kit, just the panels in-between brake the line up.
looks like the boiler housing is hanging over the window reveal.?

like both tops, good look for a lam that noir.

I to not a fan of luce, all the same chassis just the different facias with some nice designs.

[snezza]

Joe, in the first pic of the handless kitchen, the plant on panel (next to a tall int. Fridge...???) goes all the way to the floor. But in the second pic, the panel on the side of the oven housing stops short, level with the bottom of the cabinet.

Why? Surely, they should both match.

Don'nt want to be too critical, but I dont like to see a panel going all the way down in the middle of a long run as I think it spoils the look.

Personally, I like the look of the drawers. The intermediate panels between them do break up the clean look to a degree, but I had the same problem on a handless kitchen that I posted pictures of on here a few weeks back.

It does look a nice finish overall though

Regarding Luce appliances, I was going to start selling Scholtes appliances 18 months ago. They were also part of the Hotpoint/Luce/Scholtes company. Unfortunately, Scholtes pulled the plug in the UK and I had already taken delivery of 6 appliances ready to fit into a new display. I believe a lot of the Scholtes models were going to be moved up into the Luce brand and a few dropped down into the Hotpoint brand.
Overall, I was impressed with the Scholtes Brand and its quality and the POS materials were second to none. They had some really innovative ideas, including a large capacity single oven with a very slimline control panel (which my Mum now has and is well impressed with ). One of the other appliances that I was going to put on display was an Induction Cooker. It was a bit like a deep fat fryer, built in to the worktop. I understand it won all sorts of awards for design and function.

Snezza.

[Joe the chip]

Thanks for the Clints guys.

We put all the drawer line units in as the customer, and I, felt that it looked a bit boring on that long run with just doors. I agree about the end panels spacing out the 3 drawer pack spoiling the lines a bit. It was mainly done to avoid having too large a filler next to the oven housing. I didn't want to enlarge one of the drawer packs as I like to get the wall units above 100mm narrower, so that the extractor can be centralised with an even gap.

I like to cut the end panels off at plinth height too, and had done everywhere else. However on that run I would have had to join the plinth in length, which I hate doing.

I really like the Luce appliances. The direct flame hobs are really cool. And I like the styling of them. They seem to have slightly reduced their prices this quarter, and we've sold quite a few packages as they have an offer where you buy 3 appliances and get the direct flame or induction hob for free. The offer this quarter from water line is if they buy a Crown Imperial kitchen for £4000 retail including the VAT, and buy 2 other Luce products they get the hob and 45cm coffee machine for free.

I've had a few people say they've never heard of them, or thinking they're not as good quality as Bosch, Neff or Siemens because they're Hotpoint. I usually compare it to cars, call Bosch Neff and Siemens, Mercades BMW and Audi, Luce a Lexus and Hotpoint Toyota!

[snezza]

The Luce brand has still got a way to go before it is a recognised name by the general public. From what I have heard and seen, it is getting there and if the Scholtes stuff was any indication of what is to come, then "Watch This Space" !!!!

Snezza.

[Daz Gizmo]

Hello Joe

I have been in conversation with Luce about there hobs and they mention the following:
“Kitchen cabinets adjacent to the appliance and taller than the top of the hob must be at least 600 mm from the edge of the hob”
This is with either Induction (one design I have sold only has 450mm so I may have to change to an alternative brand) and their Gas hobs. This is also goes across all the standard Hotpoint range and Indesit hobs.

I did speak to a technical guy to clarify why this is so and he said it is to do with heat build up and ventilation around the hob.

I never thought it would also be with any of there hobs. This dimension is so big as you know Gas safe regs mention 50mm but recommend 300mm for pan handle room. Other manufacturer's like Bosch and Neff mention 200mm.


I wonder what you guys think to this?

Daz

[PREM]

its 50mm with a none combustable material, you cant do 50mm next to a tall tower housing unless its shielded with a NCM.

600mm sounds to much, but MI are king.