Local sites apt to be a trifle undercooked

Most New Zealand kitchen sites are little more than "brochureware" - a primitive use of the web to place an online advertisement.

It is the cyber equivalent of putting up your shingle outside your place of work to attract business.

While not really taking advantage of what the web can do, brochureware is an entirely reasonable first internet step.

But it is important to realise the medium is different from print.

Kitchen Philosophy, for example, tries to show off the work of several accomplished kitchen designers. But the small pictures make it difficult to view their designs properly.

Alexander Marton Design makes a better effort, showing samples of designs and allowing the viewer to zoom in for a larger view. An online questionnaire gets the design process going.

Creazioni Kitchens offer the style and panache of Italy. Pity about the website, which offers postage stamp-sized pictures of kitchens that may very well be stylish if only you could see more.

But the site does have links to some very stylish Italian sites such as Valcucine. My only problem here is my poor understanding of Italian.

Kitchen Expo incorporates Innovative Kitchens, The Cream Kitchen Company, Kitchens To Go and Kitchen Renovators on the one site, but still gives very little online interaction. It is, however, a good piece of brochureware because it made me want to visit their showrooms.

Christchurch-based Kitchen Express is similarly scant on detail but it is one of the few New Zealand sites to give pricing - which every kitchen buyer has to deal with at some stage.

Kitchen Studio is a nicely designed site but also does not move much beyond brochureware status - although here I did spot the sliding drawer things I'd been looking for and other nice details. The site also has useful links.

Kitchens By Design proclaims: "Great kitchens don't just happen ... they happen by design."

But there's not much happening on its website - five measly photos and a contact form. Perhaps it is promoting minimalism.

Paraparaumu-based Zest is probably the best New Zealand site I found - not great in look and feel but by far the best in terms of useful kitchen information.

Great detail on finishes plus a link to the 20 20 Technologies online design service.

Mastercraft, with branches in Tauranga, Thames and Hamilton, has an excellent gallery of designs and you can zoom in for a good look.

Canterbury-based Country Kitchens is very much a work in progress, with several sections and an online design service listed as "coming soon." A step in the right direction.

Links:


Kitchen Philosophy

Alexander Marton Design

Creazioni Kitchens

Valcucine

Kitchen Expo

Kitchen Express

Kitchen Studio

Kitchens By Design

Zest

Mastercraft

Country Kitchens