Bespoke kitchens – Handmade, Made to Measure
Kitchen Solutions @ bedrooms-kitchens.co.uk
 The Ultimate Luxury
A bespoke kitchen is regarded as the crème de
la crème of kitchen design – with a price tag to match! However, while
it’s true that you can pay mega-bucks for this ultimate kitchen luxury,
there are also plenty of reasonably priced options that fall into the
‘bespoke’ category.
What are the
advantages?
- Gives a perfect fit for
awkward-shaped kitchens
- Provides a real ‘one off’
design
- No limits on what can be
achieved
The term ‘bespoke’ means ‘specially designed
to the client’s requirements and measurements’. So if you have a
unusually-shaped kitchen with, for example, 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. 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, fitted out 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.
Taking the plunge
- Find a company specialising in
your chosen style
- Pick a design and materials that
won’t quickly go out of fashion
- Establish a timescale for
production and fitting
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!
Materials
- Traditional and modern provide
similar durability
- Glass gives spacious feel to small
rooms
- Choose a finish to complement your
lifestyle
Your choice of material should depend not
only on personal taste but on your lifestyle. For example, easy-clean
surfaces are the best option for busy people and families with young
children. Materials like glass are higher-maintenance and best left for
those with time to care for them – or a cleaner to do it for
them!
Wood such as maple ,birch and walnut is
always a safe choice but if you want something more sophisticated, try
brushed stainless steel or aluminium – materials which have become modern
classics in kitchen design.
However, materials such as veneers, laminates
and vinyl-wrapped MDF are gaining in popularity and offer the same kind of
durability as more traditional materials. Factory-applied lacquers are
acknowledged for their hard-wearing advantages and have a easy-clean,
light-reflective glossy finish.
Developments in glass technology have
resulted in its increased use in kitchen design – even for work surfaces.
This is a material that gives a light, airy feel to a room and is
especially suitable for creating an illusion of space in small
kitchens.
 Contrary to uninformed views, modern bespoke kitchens are 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 are used by many good
designers.
And, of course, many companies still use
traditional methods such as mortice and tenon and dovetail joints, and
they mainly work with solid wood.
Budget bespoke
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 sometimes make bespoke affordable to
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 (shown elsewhere on this website) and don’t allow
yourself to hurried into making a
decision. | 
