Wide view of an oak and black island kitchen with timber ceiling

Guides · Kitchens

Kitchen design guide

Eight in-depth articles that take you from budget to layout to the last finish — the same sequence we follow when we design a Nolte kitchen with you.

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Nolte Küchen design

01Where to begin

A kitchen design guide in three questions

Most kitchen projects stall on the same three questions: what will it cost, what shape should it be, and what should it be made of. This kitchen design guide answers them in that order, because each answer narrows the next one.

Start with what a German kitchen costs so the budget is honest from day one. Then work through kitchen layout ideas and islands with seating with a tape measure in hand. Materials come last: frameless or framed cabinets, lacquer, veneer or laminate fronts and kitchen cabinet colors.

02Reading list

What each kitchen guide answers

Budget
Typical US ranges per linear foot and per project, Nolte's price groups PG1–PG9, and what a quote should include.
Brands
How Nolte, bulthaup, LEICHT, SieMatic, Häcker, Poggenpohl and Schüller differ — told fairly by a Nolte dealer.
Layout
Single run, galley, L, U, peninsula and island plans with the walkway widths that keep a kitchen comfortable.
Islands
Seat widths, overhangs and clearances behind stools, plus power, storage and stone ideas for the island.
Construction
Why European cabinets are frameless, and what that means for storage, access and the look of a frame front.
Fronts and trends
Lacquer, veneer and laminate compared, and the 2026 ideas — from matte lacquer to Matrix800 — that actually last.
Colors
White, grey, black, green, blue, beige and wood fronts in the Nolte range, with two-tone combinations that work.

Black matt island with light worktop and tall black units on a wood floor — Nolte Küchen design

03Planning on Nolte's grid

Why German kitchens are planned differently

A Nolte kitchen is built from standard metric modules: base units from 30 to 120 cm (11.8 to 47.2 in) wide, three carcass heights of 750, 800 and 900 mm, and a 150 mm (5.9 in) grid that keeps every joint lined up. The guides explain how that system meets American rooms, appliances and the 36 in counter height people are used to.

Because the system is modular, planning is where the value is made. A good designer uses the grid to absorb awkward walls with fillers and panels, so the kitchen looks fitted rather than assembled. You can see how modules snap together in our 3D kitchen configurator.

04Then see it for real

Kitchen pages to read next

In this section

Kitchen design guide

FAQ

Questions, answered

Still deciding? Call +1 (213) 776-0000 or send us your plan.

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Which kitchen guide should I read first?

Start with the cost guide, then the layout guide. A realistic budget and a workable plan decide far more than any finish, and both are easier to settle before you look at samples.

Do the guides apply to kitchens that are not German?

Much of the advice — clearances, layouts, material care — applies to any kitchen. Where something is specific to Nolte or to frameless European cabinetry, we point it out.

Can I test the ideas before booking a consultation?

Yes. The 3D configurator lets you try layouts, fronts and countertops and see a ballpark budget range. You can send the result to our team when you are ready.

Do you write about kitchen colors and finishes too?

Yes — the fronts guide compares lacquer, veneer and laminate, and the trends guide covers Nolte's 2026 matte lacquer colors. Both link to the configurator so you can try the shades.

How much should I budget for a German kitchen?

Start with the cost guide: it explains typical US market ranges per linear foot, how Nolte's price groups move the number and what a quote should include. Those ranges vary by specification and are not quotes; the configurator gives a ballpark for your own layout.