The Journey of a Bespoke Kitchen: From the Initial Consultation to Installation

What exactly happens in our workshop and studio while we make a bespoke kitchen? We often get asked about the process and what all the steps entail, so we thought we’d dedicate a blog post to it! We’ll break the steps down and explore them in detail below to help you understand the process, and how we like to work.

Before we start, have you ever wondered how long it typically takes to make a kitchen, from start to finish? We usually allow about 8 weeks in total, for everything from the initial contact to installing the kitchen. Perhaps it sounds like a long time, but there’s lots to do. Let’s take a look.

1 – Initial consultation

Once you get in touch with us, we will reach out to you to discuss your project and your needs in more detail, to learn as much as we can. This could be via email, a phone call or over Zoom - however you’d prefer. 

If you’re local to us we like to visit you to look at the space. It’s also a nice opportunity to meet each other for the first time. We’ll undertake an initial survey of the space, which we’ll use to model your room in 3D and develop our proposal for you. If this isn’t possible we will work from architectural plans until we’re able to visit the site.

Our aims at this point are for us to get the best sense of what you are hoping to achieve, and to start getting to know each other to lay the foundations for a great working relationship.

2 – Concept design

Choosing to buy a bespoke kitchen or piece of furniture is a big decision. In order to help you with this, we put together a concept design document for you without any obligations to go ahead with the project.

The concept design shows our ideas sketched out, along with a moodboard to help inform the design and material palette, and an estimated price based on this proposal. 

It often doesn’t end up being the exact route that we end up taking together, but it sets us off in a direction of travel so that we can iterate and evolve the design together from a solid starting point.

We know that the concept design is a really valuable document when making the decision whether to use us, so we put a lot of care and consideration into preparing them for you.

3 – Design development

The sample library in our design studio

If you are happy to proceed with the project, we begin the more detailed design process in earnest. It’s a really important stage in the journey - we want to make sure that we get the design right and that you are really confident and happy in what’s being made for you.

We like to invite you to our design studio to talk ideas and explore the sample library, where together we move forward with developing the design direction and material palette for your new kitchen or furniture piece. It’s a really exciting part of the journey! 

Sometimes we carry on down the same path that was imagined when we first spoke with you, and other times the design takes a totally new direction once you’ve visited the workshop and looked through all the different materials we have available. This stage is all about honing the design in until you’re feeling really confident about what you’ll be getting - all before we make a single cut.

4 – Making

Once everybody is happy with the design, we start making. 

People often ask us how long this part of the process takes. We usually estimate that for one person, a medium sized kitchen might typically take about 4-5 weeks to make.

There are lots of processes involved in making a kitchen, and many variables within that too. For example, constructing traditionally made solid wood shaker doors is a much more in depth and lengthy process than a more modern veneered door - this alone could add or take away a week or so from the length of the project - and varying the cost quite substantially too.

We usually start by making the internal cabinetry and drawers. Once we’ve made this, it’ll go into the spray booth for about a week. While this is happening we will get started making the doors, drawer fronts and handles - then they can have their turn in the spray booth after the cabinets have come out! We’ll then assemble all of the cabinets, adding feet, fitting drawers, LEDs, and all the finishing details. Once the doors are ready, we can fit them to the cabinets along with the handles, making lots of micro adjustments so that everything looks and works perfectly.

We love to invite you to visit the workshop to see your project in construction - it’s always exciting to see things come into being after a lot of time spent planning and imagining, and taking a look behind the scenes.

5 – Installation

It’s an exciting day in the journey - we deliver your kitchen to you! It will have been carefully packed and delivered by us - after spending so long designing and making we always make sure that nothing gets damaged in transit.

Once it’s unloaded safely in your house it’s time to start to fit it! How long does it take to install a kitchen? It can take between a week to two weeks depending on the size and complexity of the kitchen.

We know that this can feel like a long time to have people in your home. We’re always thoughtful and considerate when we’re installing; working quietly, cleanly, and taking great care of the space that we’re in, and of course your new kitchen.

6 – Handover

We enter the last stage and most important stage of the journey - the kitchen’s life with you! 

We love seeing our customers’ reactions to their new kitchens and furniture. It can have such a huge and positive impact on your daily life - and it feels amazing to have played a part in this.

We don’t disappear completely once we’re done - we are always at the end of the phone if you have any questions, or if you need something adjusting once you’ve lived with it for a while.

The kitchen is yours to live with and enjoy, and it will hopefully be with you for a lifetime.