Importing a flat pack kitchen from the UK to USA
Discussion
So im about to buy my first house in the US (New York) which requires., like every single house ii looked at, a new kitchen
Now no offence to an Americans on here, but i find the quality of US kitchens poor and very old fashioned in design, not to mention very expensive. i simply do not share the love of a 1980's style wooden farmhouse kitchen that even new builds seem to be fitted with.
he more modern affairs seems to be all from Germany and widely expensive
So wanting something more contemporary , and affordable , and having bought and fitted a Crown Imperial kitchen before, i thought about importing one into the US from the UK
Is this possible? or are there import restrictions on them?
Has anyone done anything like this before?
I wont be bringing the work top, that will have to be measured and fitted local, and i guess i cant use the oven/ appliances due to the 240/ 110 electric issue.
So i will buy the appliances here instead, and keep with 60cm items as opposed to the 90cm ovens that are more normal in the US (funny how at first that seems enormous but now the European ones seem tiny!!) due to not having oven housing that wide in the UK (it has to be a fitted mid level height oven, not an 'old gandma' stand alone unit that is common)
Out of interest, whats the score with bathroom bits as well? any one know if they are compatible?
Given the current UK USD exchange rate, just about everything in England seems like a steal, so furniture etc would all be on the hit list, but it all hinges on the Kitchen as the main driver for the hassle
Thanks
Now no offence to an Americans on here, but i find the quality of US kitchens poor and very old fashioned in design, not to mention very expensive. i simply do not share the love of a 1980's style wooden farmhouse kitchen that even new builds seem to be fitted with.
he more modern affairs seems to be all from Germany and widely expensive
So wanting something more contemporary , and affordable , and having bought and fitted a Crown Imperial kitchen before, i thought about importing one into the US from the UK
Is this possible? or are there import restrictions on them?
Has anyone done anything like this before?
I wont be bringing the work top, that will have to be measured and fitted local, and i guess i cant use the oven/ appliances due to the 240/ 110 electric issue.
So i will buy the appliances here instead, and keep with 60cm items as opposed to the 90cm ovens that are more normal in the US (funny how at first that seems enormous but now the European ones seem tiny!!) due to not having oven housing that wide in the UK (it has to be a fitted mid level height oven, not an 'old gandma' stand alone unit that is common)
Out of interest, whats the score with bathroom bits as well? any one know if they are compatible?
Given the current UK USD exchange rate, just about everything in England seems like a steal, so furniture etc would all be on the hit list, but it all hinges on the Kitchen as the main driver for the hassle
Thanks
I've not done it myself, but we did look at a house that was owned by a European family. They had imported the kitchen and a load of other stuff from Europe - I think they shipped a container over with all sorts of stuff in it. The Realtor (who I believe managed the property also) said it was a total nightmare because nothing could be sourced locally - everything had to come from Europe.
I think it's better to stay local...or at least within the same country! There are a number of 'DIY Kitchens' style companies out there that may be more to your price point?
I think it's better to stay local...or at least within the same country! There are a number of 'DIY Kitchens' style companies out there that may be more to your price point?
I know what you mean about the wood fetish, even the modern high rise midtown apartment we lived in had a pine kitchen.
Have recently been looking at renting out in the suburbs and 90% is some hideous wooden monstrosity of a kitchen.
I wood (
) assume that an international shipping company should be able to advise as long as you pay any duties I can't see any reason why not we bought some small furniture items over with us and had no issue with that, but that was coming over with us
If you find out post so I know for future reference!
Have recently been looking at renting out in the suburbs and 90% is some hideous wooden monstrosity of a kitchen.
I wood (
) assume that an international shipping company should be able to advise as long as you pay any duties I can't see any reason why not we bought some small furniture items over with us and had no issue with that, but that was coming over with usIf you find out post so I know for future reference!
TimLam7 said:
This sounds like a complete nightmare to me. A metric kitchen in an imperial country could bring up some brilliant headaches. Are you really really sure you can't find a kitchen in the whole of North America that'll suit you?
100pct sure, American kitchens suck, unless you like 1990's stlyle wood ones or 'custom made carpentry' involving exterior hinges like its 1030 stillThe metric conversion argument is not correct, German and Italian kitchens are imported all the time, at huge mark ups, it makes zero difference in a Kitchen what the measurements units are.
However, after going to the UK i found out that Wren kitchens are rather conveniently coming to the US, so looks like i can get a decent modern kitchen here in about 8 months time, just hope they dont over charge too much for them and carry the same modern style ranges
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