Interview: In Frame Kitchens

Interview with the team at Simply In Frame Kitchens

a kitchen extension on our home in 2017 and I asked our builder (Adam Rush at AWR Building and Maintenance Services Ltd) if I could design and supply my own kitchen. Luckily, Adam was happy to go along with that, and he liked the kitchen so much he asked me to work on his kitchen projects going forward. This allowed me to build my portfolio and we haven’t looked back…we still work together on a regular basis.

In terms of style I started my working life as a teacher in Cheshire, then lived in Sweden, Germany, Hong Kong and Singapore with my husband and four children. All that travelling really opened my eyes to different architectural and interior styles, so when we moved to the UK in 2014 I took an Interior Design course to find out more…We completed, I’m a ‘Classic English Kitchen’ type of designer. I like the elegance and timelessness of a good, balanced design. I’m mainly into classic ‘inframe’ cabinetry and I think that style sits particularly well with the traditional property stock in Sussex.

The journey starts with a chat to get a feel for how the kitchen will be used and to get an idea about the clients’ desires. I complete a site survey and sketch a couple of layouts that I think will work in that space. After that, I develop a number of photo-realistic visuals to show the client using my kitchen-specific CAD software and we look at some sample kitchen doors together. If they are happy to proceed, I produce a full design pack and quotation for their approval and we go from there…If the client is embarking upon a kitchen extension it is always good for me to get involved in the early stages once their architectural plans have been finalised, and preferably before the building work begins.

I would say that you should follow your own style, whether that be contemporary or classical, but be mindful of contextual factors such as the building’s original features and the scale of the space. Specify durable door materials that will be easy to refresh/repaint in the future and keep cabinetry simple. Try to make each area of the kitchen easy to use by installing pull-outs for hard-to-reach areas and by zoning your work areas so that everything is to hand. Invest in what you touch on a regular basis, so quality handles and a quartz-based worktop (such as Silestone/Caesarstone) would be good to incorporate, as would appliances from respected brands like Neff, Bosch or Siemens. If you are remodelling and you can find a spare corner for a pantry, that’s always very handy to have!

I love working in Sussex because there are some lovely older properties here that are ready for a new lease of life. I’ve been very lucky to have worked with some wonderful clients here, who never fail to bring their own inspiration and enthusiasm to our projects. Sussex is a great place to live-beautiful countryside coupled with the convenience of being able to travel to London or the coast quickly and easily. After sixteen years abroad I think I’ve finally found home!