Bespoke kitchens
Top tips
- Check that the supplier is offering a genuine bespoke service
- Timescales are significantly longer than for ‘off the shelf’ units
- Bespoke designers often specialise in a particular style
A bespoke kitchen is the crème de la crème of kitchen design – and
often has a price tag to match! It is true that you can pay tens of thousands
of pounds for this ultimate kitchen luxury but there are also plenty of reasonably-priced
options that fall into the ‘bespoke’ category.
‘Bespoke’ means ‘specially designed to the client’s
requirements and measurements’. So if you have a unusually-shaped kitchen
with, say, curved walls or beams, awkward corners or unconventional window
positions, you may choose bespoke out of necessity.
If you want a kitchen that is a true one-off and different from any other
this is the only option. For the biggest benefit of ‘bespoke’ is
that you get units and furniture designed specifically for you – to fit
your kitchen and to comply with your wishes. You don’t have to compromise
in any respect. Your options are limited only by your imagination, the shape
of your kitchen – and the size of your wallet!
It’s worth sounding a note of caution here. Beware of companies that
apply the term ‘bespoke’ to a kitchen that is, in reality, put
together from their comprehensive ranges of ready-made units. These come in
a variety of shapes, sizes and colours and the resulting kitchen may well be
unique but it won’t be bespoke.
If you’re not sure whether you’re being offered a genuine bespoke
service, you can check it out by requesting an item that doesn’t appear
in the company brochure. If the company can’t come up with the goods,
it is not offering a bespoke service.
Like their more modest counterparts, bespoke kitchens come in a variety of
styles that range from traditional, solid-wood designs to hi-tech, contemporary
sophistication – and everything in between.
Most bespoke designers specialise in a particular style so it pays to do your
research and find those companies that produce the style – and work in
the materials – you prefer. Take time to talk to the designers and the
workmen to satisfy yourself that this is a company you trust to translate your
wishes into reality. Ask if they have any customers who would be happy to show
you their kitchens.
When choosing your design and materials it’s wise not to be too swayed
by fashion. What is the latest word in kitchens this year could look totally
passé within 12 months or so. Unless you are in the fortunate position
where money is no object, a bespoke kitchen is a major investment that is being
built to last – and look as stylish in five or ten years as it did the
day it was installed. Remember that once you have the basic kitchen fittings
you can ring the changes and add those touches of high fashion over the years
by changing colour schemes and furnishings.
Bear in mind that bespoke kitchens take significantly longer to produce and
fit than ‘off the shelf’ units. Ask the company for a realistic
estimate of the timescale – and be patient. Craftsman-produced items
come at a slower pace than mass-produced goods!
Modern bespoke kitchens are every bit the technical equal of their predecessors.
The wealth of materials available has not diluted the quality – the veneers
and composites used are rigorously tested to very high standards and, of course,
many companies still use traditional methods such as mortice and tenon and
dovetail joints.
Although craftsmen of all types are a diminishing breed, it is sometimes possible
to find a skilled individual who is experienced in the art of kitchen design
and fitting. With relatively low overheads they can often bring bespoke kitchens
within the reach of customers who might otherwise not be able to stretch to
such luxury. They are few and far between, though, and usually found through
recommendation – and, of course, if they are good they are booked up
well in advance!
Whichever route you go down on your search for a bespoke kitchen, remember
to follow all the rules that apply to any kitchen purchase and don’t
allow yourself to hurried into making a decision. It’s a major investment
and, as such, deserves careful consideration.
For more information on bespoke kitchens log on to www.bedrooms-kitchens.co.uk/bespoke_kitchen.asp
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