Kitchen

Our experience

The whole thing started back in [March] 1999 when Karen suggested that if we were ever going to replace the existing kitchen (which neither of us liked), we should really do it before we considered starting a family. That way, both of us could contribute to the cost. From such little seeds great acorns grow!

We're both keen cooks, so a good oven was going to be essential. Preferably it should be wider than the present one (so you can fit two Yorkshire pudding trays side by side), and have two ovens (so that the main course can be cooked at a different temperature to the pudding). It doesn't sound too much to ask, but such a thing simply does not exist in the UK.

Eventually, Karen found a firm in London ((Moneyhill interiors) which imports an American brand called DACOR (Domestic Appliance CORporation), a smallish family-owned firm in [ ]. They produce a range of single and double ovens which are 25" wide (about 67cm - just perfect) and also self-cleaning which is wonderful. The showroom were selling off a display model at a much reduced price, so we snapped it up, and now there was no turning back.

We started looking in earnest at designers / manufacturers in the Spring, including a trip to the Ideal Home exhibition (well worth it, if only to see what's available) and short listed four firms: Interior Designers Guild (IDG) in Winchester; Rivendell, also in Winchester; Smallbone of Devizes; Moneyhill; and Kimmel Kitchens in [ ], who supply the Alno range of units.

Kimmel were the cheapest, and the Alno range is very good, but being a fixed range were unable to accommodate our American oven. Moneyhill were similar (but much more expensive), so we turned to the other 'bespoke' suppliers to see if they could fit our requirements.

Rivendell rather blotted their copybook by offering us a 'free' NEFF dishwasher in place of our existing Miele. Not only is it a poor exchange, but the prices they were charging for the other appliances was so outrageous they recouped the cost several times over. Smallbone was much more attractive. We found the designer (in Devizes) very congenial, and their kitchens are beautifully made (hand finished, door-in-frame construction from real wood). At the end of the day though, we realised that 'bespoke' meant that they could adjust the width of an individual unit (e.g. to accommodate our oven), but they wouldn't design furniture specifically to fit our kitchen. They were also much the most expensive.

So we decided to go with IDG. It was an easy decision: they were convenient (in Winchester); we got on well with them; the quality of their work is excellent; and they worked out cheaper than all the others except Kimmel. All these things helped. The real decider though was that the designer, Mike Fowler, was happy to design the whole thing from scratch, specifically for us. This was great. We worked alongside Mike for a good six months while we played with layouts and designs, found the appliances we wanted, and co-ordinated it all with lighting, tiles, worktops and floor.

What we ended up with is Maple furniture, with an inset blue glass design on the top cupboards, and inset beading on the drawers. We have a built-in pantry with a granite shelf (something none of the other firms could manage), and a small granite shelf built into the wall of the dining room to support a fish tank. In the dining area we now have a glass-fronted dresser which complements the design of the main kitchen.

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Hints and tips

	Don't feel bad about getting a free design from a number of different suppliers. OK, most of them will not get your business, but it's the only way you will find out if the designer, and the product, is going to work for you.
	If you want to use a particular product (say, an appliance or a worktop material) or layout, and the designer is against it, then by all means listen to them; but if you're not convinced, insist on what you want. If they still won't do it, get a different designer.
	Do your research. Read all the reviews you can, get the brochures, but most importantly visit the showrooms and get a feel for the real thing - are the controls where you would expect? - is it solid or flimsy? - does it actually look anything like the photos? - how long is it going to last: 5 years, 10 years, or less? If you can, get to a show like the Ideal Home where you've got lots of different manufacturers displaying. If you can't make that, i can recommend the Alno showroom in [Chiswick] - not so much for the furniture (which is pretty good) but for all the showrooms they have using different manufacturers' appliances.
	Don't feel you have to get all you appliances from the same manufacturer. I know this is easier for the designer, but I'm not convinced that any one manufacturer makes the best products across the whole range (Gaggenau or Miele could probably make a fair case, but they don't come cheap!).
	Check out the prices yourself. I can't emphasise enough how important this is, or how easy it can be. In the bad old days, the only way to get the prices of appliances was to go to a retail shop (which takes for ever), get a price list from the manufacturer, or accept whatever price the kitchen designer gives you. Now, we have the power of the internet, and it's great. There are any number of discount retailers who publish comprehensive price lists on their sites. Try R-Two Design at [ ], Davies electrical at [ ] and Woodalls at [ ]. Find the cheapest price, then get the designer to match it!

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Links

Manufacturer	Product(s) used	Rating	Contact
DACOR	CPS227 electric double oven	ЕЕЕЕЕ
DeDetrich	WB 2000 vitrolotus gas hob	ЕЕЕЕЕ
	GG4134 freezer	ЕЕЕЕЕ
ATAG	Horizon WG411z extractor hood	ЕЕЕЕЕ
Leibherr	KI 2444 refrigerator	ЕЕЕЕЕ
Gaggenau	EM119 microwave oven	ЕЕЕЕЕ
Miele	G959SCi Dishwasher	ЕЕЕЕЕ
Kindred	Stainless steel under-mounted sinks	ЕЕЕЕ
Dornbracht	Taps	ЕЕЕЕЕ
InSinkErator	ISE W/65 Waste disposal	ЕЕЕЕЕ
Amabis	Hand made wall tiles	ЕЕЕЕЕ
	Granite (Blue Pearl and Black Zimbabwe)	ЕЕЕЕЕ
Marmoleum	Linoleum flooring	ЕЕЕЕЕ

Pictures

Below are the quick 'before' and after pictures. There are more photos of particular features if you follow this link >