What’s more, bespoke means getting exactly the look you want. ‘There’s a huge range of finishes, materials, colours, fittings and styles,’ adds Jamie. The secret to a successful bespoke kitchen is working with an established company with a proven reputation. But before you decide, check out these expert tips.
Professional advice from:
Charlie Borthwick of Cue & Co of London
Jamie Telford of Roundhouse Design
Debbie Bowden of Barnes of Ashburton
Mowlem & Co
The benefits of bespoke
While a bespoke kitchen is a serious investment when compared to an off-the-shelf solution, the disadvantage of the latter is that it has not been designed with you or your space in mind. ‘It’s a generic, “one size fits all” approach that rarely results in a totally satisfied customer, because compromises invariably have to be made,’ says Debbie Bowden.
Your kitchen is also on call every day and has to stand up to the rigours of daily use. ‘By spending more on a bespoke kitchen, you’ll get one that’s built to last rather than one that needs maintenance after a couple of years,’ adds Jamie Telford.
While a bespoke kitchen is a serious investment when compared to an off-the-shelf solution, the disadvantage of the latter is that it has not been designed with you or your space in mind. ‘It’s a generic, “one size fits all” approach that rarely results in a totally satisfied customer, because compromises invariably have to be made,’ says Debbie Bowden.
Your kitchen is also on call every day and has to stand up to the rigours of daily use. ‘By spending more on a bespoke kitchen, you’ll get one that’s built to last rather than one that needs maintenance after a couple of years,’ adds Jamie Telford.
Colin Cadle Photography
What made-to-measure means
A key benefit of a kitchen designed around you is that you can specify any non-standard dimension or detail you desire. You could, say, ask for an oversized, curved island unit to suit a difficult-shaped but busy kitchen; you might request an unusual worktop finish and a way of hiding small appliances so they don’t clutter it; or you could ask for bespoke storage that will tuck under your sloping ceilings.
Perhaps it’s a kitchen for a tall or short person, or one that needs to be accessible to someone with a disability. Perhaps you’re set on a space with serious eco credentials, using sustainably sourced timber. Your cabinets will usually be handmade locally, which can also be a draw, as well as an assurance of quality craftsmanship.
A key benefit of a kitchen designed around you is that you can specify any non-standard dimension or detail you desire. You could, say, ask for an oversized, curved island unit to suit a difficult-shaped but busy kitchen; you might request an unusual worktop finish and a way of hiding small appliances so they don’t clutter it; or you could ask for bespoke storage that will tuck under your sloping ceilings.
Perhaps it’s a kitchen for a tall or short person, or one that needs to be accessible to someone with a disability. Perhaps you’re set on a space with serious eco credentials, using sustainably sourced timber. Your cabinets will usually be handmade locally, which can also be a draw, as well as an assurance of quality craftsmanship.
Barnes of Ashburton Ltd
You could even brief your designer to build a dog bed into one of your units – or something quirkier.
Cue & Co of London
Consider semi-bespoke
If the idea of starting from a blank sheet is overwhelming, look for a well-established kitchen company that uses existing ranges as the foundation for its bespoke kitchens. While these ranges are not strictly bespoke, the furniture is still built to order and tailored to fit your space and lifestyle.
‘Most clients need inspiration and some kind of design boundary within which to design their ideal kitchen,’ explains Charlie Borthwick. ‘While someone might end up with a similar kitchen to you, through the use of colour, materials and finishes, you can create something distinct, making it unlikely something identical will exist.’
If the idea of starting from a blank sheet is overwhelming, look for a well-established kitchen company that uses existing ranges as the foundation for its bespoke kitchens. While these ranges are not strictly bespoke, the furniture is still built to order and tailored to fit your space and lifestyle.
‘Most clients need inspiration and some kind of design boundary within which to design their ideal kitchen,’ explains Charlie Borthwick. ‘While someone might end up with a similar kitchen to you, through the use of colour, materials and finishes, you can create something distinct, making it unlikely something identical will exist.’
Increation
Search for inspiration
‘Initially, it’s worth going online and looking at sites such as Houzz to help you pinpoint the style you want to go for,’ says Charlie. Start building a mood board and soon you’ll see certain recurring themes coming to the fore. These will be the foundation for your new kitchen.
Fire up your mood board by checking out these kitchens in deliciously dark shades
‘Initially, it’s worth going online and looking at sites such as Houzz to help you pinpoint the style you want to go for,’ says Charlie. Start building a mood board and soon you’ll see certain recurring themes coming to the fore. These will be the foundation for your new kitchen.
Fire up your mood board by checking out these kitchens in deliciously dark shades
Stoneham Kitchens
Who to hire
Choose an established company with a reputation for hand-crafted joinery – the foundation of your new kitchen – and one that is prepared to listen. ‘Recommendations from friends are priceless, but in their absence, ask the kitchen company if you can go to look at some of their previous projects; they are usually more than happy to arrange this,’ advises Debbie. You can also read reviews and ask questions directly to professionals via their profile on Houzz.
‘Use the opportunity not only to look at the quality of the fitting, but to quiz the homeowner. How well does the company respond to problems and what is their aftercare service like? Do the kitchen fitters make much mess and do they provide a skip? These are important issues that can be overlooked at the design stage,’ she adds.
Choose an established company with a reputation for hand-crafted joinery – the foundation of your new kitchen – and one that is prepared to listen. ‘Recommendations from friends are priceless, but in their absence, ask the kitchen company if you can go to look at some of their previous projects; they are usually more than happy to arrange this,’ advises Debbie. You can also read reviews and ask questions directly to professionals via their profile on Houzz.
‘Use the opportunity not only to look at the quality of the fitting, but to quiz the homeowner. How well does the company respond to problems and what is their aftercare service like? Do the kitchen fitters make much mess and do they provide a skip? These are important issues that can be overlooked at the design stage,’ she adds.
Roundhouse
Build your brief
Visiting various showrooms will further help you to identify the company you want to work with. ‘Take along your mood board,’ says Debbie. ‘A good designer will be able to interpret this and establish what is important to the customer. Ask for a meeting at your home so the designer can get to know your style and better understand the brief.’
Visiting various showrooms will further help you to identify the company you want to work with. ‘Take along your mood board,’ says Debbie. ‘A good designer will be able to interpret this and establish what is important to the customer. Ask for a meeting at your home so the designer can get to know your style and better understand the brief.’
Artichoke
Don’t be afraid to ask…
Always ask lots of questions, stresses Charlie. ‘Really scrutinise the materials a company is using and find out why the team prefer some materials over others. Ask what makes the company stand out and what it puts its design emphasis on.’
Always ask lots of questions, stresses Charlie. ‘Really scrutinise the materials a company is using and find out why the team prefer some materials over others. Ask what makes the company stand out and what it puts its design emphasis on.’
Cue & Co of London
…or to answer questions
As you chat, a kitchen designer will invariably want to build up a picture of you and your family in order to create your dream kitchen. ‘Don’t be surprised if you’re asked about your lifestyle,’ says Charlie. ‘It may seem unnecessary, but designers love to see the whole picture.’
As you chat, a kitchen designer will invariably want to build up a picture of you and your family in order to create your dream kitchen. ‘Don’t be surprised if you’re asked about your lifestyle,’ says Charlie. ‘It may seem unnecessary, but designers love to see the whole picture.’
deVOL Kitchens
Go prepared
Preparing a wish list for your kitchen designer is extremely helpful, suggests Charlie. ‘For example, do you have any special requirements that need addressing? This could be anything from particular storage space solutions through to colours and finishes. The more thoughts and information you take to the meeting the better.’ If the meeting isn’t at your home, take along photographs and the dimensions of the room, too.
Love these copper pendants? See why brass and copper are big style news
Preparing a wish list for your kitchen designer is extremely helpful, suggests Charlie. ‘For example, do you have any special requirements that need addressing? This could be anything from particular storage space solutions through to colours and finishes. The more thoughts and information you take to the meeting the better.’ If the meeting isn’t at your home, take along photographs and the dimensions of the room, too.
Love these copper pendants? See why brass and copper are big style news
Davonport
The cost
A bespoke kitchen can start at anything from around £18,000 to £35,000 – and can obviously go up dramatically, into the hundreds of thousands, if you have a long list of very specific requirements and expensive finishes.
Jamie recommends you always have a clear budget in mind at the outset. ‘Be frank and upfront about it,’ he concludes.
TELL US…
Have you had a bespoke kitchen fitted? Please share your advice, thoughts on the design and photos in the Comments below.
A bespoke kitchen can start at anything from around £18,000 to £35,000 – and can obviously go up dramatically, into the hundreds of thousands, if you have a long list of very specific requirements and expensive finishes.
Jamie recommends you always have a clear budget in mind at the outset. ‘Be frank and upfront about it,’ he concludes.
TELL US…
Have you had a bespoke kitchen fitted? Please share your advice, thoughts on the design and photos in the Comments below.
http://www.houzz.co.uk/photos/kitchen
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