What makes a good kitchen?

Most home owners when renewing their kitchen will seek out a kitchen designer, hopefully discussing their needs and desires in situ. The role of a kitchen designer is a testing one, empathising with the client and fulfilling a brief for them which may be described in many alternative ways. One thing very evident is, that we as clients are better informed and rightly more demanding than ever, expecting the best for our budget.

BRYAN TURNER KITCHENS

At first glance, it is hard to imagine why a retired semi pro rock musician would now be making bespoke kitchens for a living. Thirty five odd years on from leaving ‘The Kiss’, the well known progressive rock group back in the late Sixties and early Seventies, Bryan Turner’s artisan carpentry business is flourishing. His roots in woodwork stem back to his childhood, with a keen DIY-ing father often to be found in his well equipped joinery shed, there was some inevitability to his taking up cabinet making as a profession when the music business no longer gave him the buzz.

Employing some 22 people in his extensive Wymondham based workshops, Bryan and his dedicated team only build some 80 – 90 kitchens a year, with each taking upward of 350 man hours to create before they go to their new home for fitting. With this level of time taken, it is easy to appreciate how detailed and refined the skills and efforts of the craftsmen are. Rather than products, Bryan talks of selling a finished look, a completed kitchen as a concept for a particular property, wholly individual. 90% of their kitchens are made of solid wood, but fashionability often now sees it painted, with veneers and laminates being used more and more. As the same quality level remains, this is not to save money. The move to more refined less natural raw materials is all about getting just the right look and modern style, which their discerning clients now require. In fact all the wooden components are cut and put together from scratch on site, no pieces are ever bought in.

In the twenty five years of making kitchens, Bryan has seen dramatic changes in what he sells – ‘the traditional oak style is waning, gradually being replaced with the coloured finishes on tighter grained wood such as North American poplar ‘tulipwood’, though the drawers are still solid oak behind the fascias. Asking after the latest fashions in kitchen design, he said it is now so much about the appliances ‘wine cellars and chillers, huge Americanised ranges and fridge/freezers, steamers, espresso machines, all of these are now standard for many of our clients… I always laugh when I hear kitchen islands being described as all the rage, my first kitchen back in 1981 had one!’

Of course, choosing a bespoke cabinet maker is more expensive than your average DIY store, a typical Bryan Turner kitchen costs from about £20,000 once completed, including fitting, worktops and appliances. Enquiring about what spurs him on, Bryan spoke of ‘passion, quality, style in what we do, I love working with such a huge variety of clients, with differing needs and thoughts, getting a buzz from what they are envisaging with such excitement and anticipation about their property, and of course later on seeing the happy smiles when we’ve put it all in place for them’.

Bryan Turner Kitchens, Fitzmaurice Court, Station Road, Wymondham, Norfolk
T: 01953 601567  W: bryanturnerkitchens.com

GALTON ON BRYAN TURNER

season cooking correspondent Galton Blackiston (Michelin starred chef and proprietor of Morston Hall, with his wife Tracy) on why they trusted Bryan Turner Kitchens with their home: ‘About three years ago, we wanted to replace what is the most important room for any chef in our converted cottage. Through a mutual acquaintance we met Bryan and he created a traditional Georgian look in keeping with the house, finished with matchstick cream painted cabinets. He really is an exceptional kitchen designer and we are very fortunate to have had our kitchen designed and handmade by him and his professional team. In my opinion, kitchens do not get any better than this.

In truth, as with most house improvements, when you have a new kitchen fitted, you get what you pay for. With Bryan’s creations, what you pay for is top quality in every aspect of design, build and craftsmanship. My favourite bit of their design is the way the drawers never stay half open, they slowly close and are perfectly made. What makes Bryan Turner Kitchens stand out from the norm is Bryan’s own personal expertise and knowledge alongwith his hands-on approach. All in all, one is left feeling very assured that the most important room in the house is safely in the right hands and the end results are going to be stunning and practical.”

THINGS TO CONDIDER WHEN DESIGNING YOUR KITCHEN

SIZE AND STYLE

How large is the property and how does the kitchen relate to it. Age, history, views, landscaping, so much about the house and its environs will have an impact on what will look right. The overall look of the property is critical, such as interior design choices in other rooms. What are the existing kitchen facilities (if any) and how/why were they created before.

LIFESTYLE

How we live our lives in terms of work, play, hometime, holidays, activities, play a big part in determining the relative importance of the different functions the kitchen needs to satisfy. Are we home a great deal or out socialising every weekend? Do we have a house keeper or au pair? Outdoor types or home-loving sorts? Is the kitchen the homely hub?

FAMILY

Do children live there, if so how old are they? Do they join in with cooking? Any dogs, cats or other pets and are they likely to cause damage?

COOKING

Keen cooks? Eat en famille? Is it to be a combined kitchen/diner? How often do you cook and bake? Entertaining over dinner parties regularly? Weekday suppers – ready meals or home made?

ERGONOMICS AND BALANCE

How the various parts inter-relate is so important. Firstly consider the vital fridge-sink-cooker triangle, giving plenty of worktop space for food preparation and equipment. Also important is the balance of the design, especially shapes of doors and their finishes, storage solutions, choice of sink and taps, all in all how the kitchen design interacts together.

TRENDS

Current trends seem to be for simple classic traditional kitchen furniture with a modern ‘twist’. 21st century touches are not restrictive, it might be chic edges such as swanky handles or conversely flowing unfussy design, but whichever way, build for the future and kit the look out with clean modern appliances and accessories. Of course the fitted kitchen is not the end but merely the beginning, the entire décor of the room will influence the contemporary feel, including pictures, curtains, blinds, furniture and ornaments.