Hello Celia and Diane, as soon as I read Diane's post I knew I had to reply.
First if you are seriously thinking about getting an embroidery machine then the chances are high that you need a cabinet that will take this larger machine - I do not think the whole range can take the larger machines, and also the weight of these giants.
Most places that say you can order a cabinet from them mean just that, all the cabinets and tables come from Horn direct and are brought into your home, upstairs can be a problem, so if this is the case you need to have this put on the order form. Why not ring Horn direct and try and talk to David the owner - he can send you a Horn catelogue which will give all the measurements, and also advise perhaps which is best for your individual needs.
I have had my cabinet for about 20 years and would not be without this now it is brilliant for what I am doing. Now I really did look into all the different models, and chose one that has the lid that opens from front to back and thus gives me a huge work table. Okay when this cabinet is all folded up it can be placed back against a wall and look just like a sideboard, but in order to use this for any sewing whether it is large or small, you will need to pull the whole cabinet forward in order to open the lid and get the machine into position. I personally like the flat bed option for machining so much nicer and easier to use and there is no risk of drag as the fabric going through the machine falls off when it is in the free arm position. I also use my overlocker in this way - i.e. as a flatbed and that is brilliant. I actually had a plexi cut to fit my overlocker that I had at the time and sent a template in brown paper down to Horn for them to cut one to fit.
Another point to remember is the doors when open, some cabinets have handy storage caddies fixed to one of the open doors, and if this is on the left as you sit facing the machine, the chances are that the fabric you are sewing is going to catch on these caddies and their contents - mine is on the right hand door.
Next a lot of the larger cabinets have provision for the storage of an overlocker which is a huge plus, as it can be left in its position until you need to lift it out to use, so it is tucked away out of sight and therefore kept nice a clean and away from prying little fingers or pets paws!!
Over the years I have had new machines and have had no hesitation about buying another plexi for that machine, and I also have a complete uncut plexi bought when Horn were doing a special offer, so a discounted price and thus this can be used to fill the machine opening and a light stood on the platform below on its lowest setting so useful for using as a light box.
I live in a bungalow, and when this cabinet was delivered, it was just a driver and he manipulated this giant of a cabinet so easily, flipped it over once the cardboard box was removed and put the various wheels on, flipped it back and made it look easy - no I do not flip mine over - there is no need!!! Then he asked which machine was going to be used most and set the platform for that particular machine. Now when I use my elderly ElnaSU which is about 47 years old I need to put two little mats on the platform first to bring this machine up to create the flatbed with its plexi - that is far easier to do than to fiddle around trying to adjust the platform - and I believe there is a right and wrong way of altering the platform's position and I am not prepared to go messing about and run the risk of a machine dropping suddenly to the lower storage position - my Elna and older Bernina might be the same age, but they work and are brilliant machines.
Currently I have one machine in position on the storage setting, and my cardboard cutting out mat open on top of the cabinet so a lovely huge work space, I can have the right hand door open and can sit at this table top with my legs in enough to be comfortable and work on the table.
Yes they are expensive but I find mine a joy to use. Yes I had to go to a machine dealer in order to order and pay for the cabinet and I suppose I had to wait perhaps three weeks for delivery - Horn try to deliver in an area rather than here and there which does make a lot of sense.
Horn are based in Swindon, and it is a family run business and they are charming people and so helpful. I first got to know the owner David when he had his set up in Bishopstoke in Hampshire, such a small place but this was where my mother was born, and for anyone who knows Bishopstoke it is really like a village, so it was a surprise to find an outlet like this in that place. I also have a separate cutting out table which is so useful, however my husband was too heavy handed with this when moving it one day (I don't let him help me any more!!!) and rather forced one of the extending flaps down when the supporting flap was not closed and thus buckled the hinge resulting in the top no longer being smooth - it had a hump and it showed and you could feel this hump. David's son Jason kindly helped me by finding an appropriate replacement hinge and this came through to me via the post. The other person that I have dealt with down there is Angela, Jason's wife so you see a real family business.
When I first got my cabinet, one of the first garments I made was my daughter';s wedding dress, and it was a real joy to sew using this cabinet, the machine played beautifully, the fabric stayed put and did not try and escape by falling off a narrower top, I could close the machine up at night - well I was sewing this in my tiny lounge as I did not have a sewing room then, and the beauty of this cabinet is that I can manage to move this from room to room if I want to, however these days I do have a dedicated sewing room. I chose not to have the handles screwed on the doors because of moving this from room to room, it would have been a tight squeeze getting this through some narrow gaps, but sadly I did managed to sever the key which I had left in the lock one day, and it cost me £5.00 to replace - I have learnt my lesson.
So whilst you can see some of the cabinets at a sewing machine shop by no means do they carry samples of them all. Very occasionally though the shops do sell off their display cabinets especially when a new model comes out, I was lucky in that when I bought my cabinet I was able to see the one I have on display but that was 20 years ago and as we know the shops have disappeared fast. The other place to see them is at one of the exhibitions, but which models they have on display then is another matter. Try and talk to David at Horn direct, and he could possibly tell you where you would actually see the one/ones you may be interested in. Good luck to you both.