What to Expect from the Design and Build Process

Commissioning a bespoke kitchen is not like buying a product. It is more like commissioning a piece of work. There is a process, it takes time, and the result is something that exists nowhere else. If you have not been through it before, here is what to expect at each stage.

The first conversation

The first meeting is informal and exploratory. We want to understand what you are looking for, not in terms of specifications and part numbers, but in terms of how you want the kitchen to feel and function. How do you use your current kitchen? What works well and what frustrates you? How many people cook? Do you entertain regularly? What is the rest of the house like?

We encourage you to put together a wish list before this meeting. Think about what needs to fit into the new space: the appliances you have and the ones you wish you had, the storage that is lacking, the way the room connects to the garden or the dining area. Browse Pinterest and save images that appeal to you. All of this gives us a sense of your taste and priorities.

Site survey and measurements

If you have architectural plans for a new build or extension, we would like to see them at this stage, ideally before building work begins. Getting involved early means we can make suggestions about service positions, structural openings, and floor levels. For an existing room, we carry out a detailed site survey, measuring every wall, every window, every service point, and noting any features or constraints. Ceiling heights, beam positions, floor levels, door swings, radiator locations: all of it matters.

Initial design drawings

We produce initial design drawings as a starting point for discussion, not as a final proposal. We might present two or three different approaches to the same room, each with a different emphasis. One might prioritise a large island. Another might focus on maximum storage. A third might explore incorporating a pantry. Some clients know exactly what they want. Others need to see the options. Both are perfectly normal.

Refining the design

The design develops through a series of meetings where we refine the layout, discuss materials and finishes, select colours, plan the appliance positions, and work through the storage requirements in detail. We talk about what goes where: which drawers will hold cutlery, where the baking trays will live, how the recycling will be managed, whether the toaster has a home inside a pantry or stays on the worktop. This level of detail is what separates a kitchen that works beautifully from one that merely looks good.

Colour selection, worktop choices, and hardware are all resolved during this phase. We recommend painting large samples on the actual walls and bringing physical handle samples to see finishes in context.

Workshop build

Once the design is signed off, the build begins in the workshop. This is the stage that takes the most time, typically several weeks, because every component is made individually. The carcasses are constructed, the doors are made, the joinery is completed, and everything is dry-fitted and checked before being prepared for delivery.

Coordinating with your builder

While the kitchen is being built, we coordinate with your builder, electrician, and plumber to ensure the room is ready for installation. Services need to be in the right positions. Walls need to be plastered and dried. We provide detailed drawings showing exactly where every service point needs to be, so there are no surprises on installation day.

Installation

Installation typically takes one to two weeks, depending on the size and complexity of the project. Our own fitting team carries out the work, rather than subcontracting to a separate installer, because they understand the kitchen they are installing. The cabinetry goes in first, carefully levelled and fixed. The worktops are templated, fabricated, and fitted. The appliances are connected. The painting is done on site, which adds a few days but ensures the best possible finish.

Final inspection

At the end, we carry out a thorough inspection with you. Every door is checked for alignment and smooth operation. Every drawer is tested. Every surface is examined. If anything needs adjusting, it is dealt with before we consider the job complete. We want you to be entirely happy, not mostly happy.

Timeline

The whole process, from first conversation to finished kitchen, typically takes three to six months. It could be shorter for a straightforward project or longer for a complex one involving building works. The timeline reflects the fact that this is not a mass-produced item being delivered from a warehouse. It is a piece of furniture being designed, built, and installed specifically for you and your home. And the result is worth the wait.