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FIVE BENEFITS OF BUYING A HANDMADE BESPOKE KITCHEN OVER AN OFF-SHELF PRE-MADE KITCHEN

Since handmade bespoke kitchens are more expensive compared to off-the-shelf pre-made kitchens, so they require a lot of prudence and proper motivation while investing money in them. However, the benefits of custom-made, bespoke kitchens are more than cheap, ready-made kitchens. This article will discuss some of the distinct advantages of a Reeve & Co handmade Kitchen from Suffolk.

1. Personalised Exactly for Your Space

Every home is different in size, design and structure, so it is almost impossible that a bulk-made off-the-shelf kitchen will not be a perfect fit for your room. It is a fact that readymade kitchen companies follow the trends. Still, even high-end brands will provide you kitchens with slimline cabinetry and filler panels that may fill up various slots in your room but with clutter and not maximise the space like a handmade bespoke kitchen.

On the other hand, handmade bespoke kitchens are crafted in such a way that they can cover all the dimensions of your room and make the most of the space. Everything is perfectly proportioned, be it kitchen cabinets or islands, free-standing kitchen units, or kitchen appliances. In simple words, every kitchen element is designed to maximise space utilisation.

If your home has special architectural features, our joiners and designers will craft a personalised bespoke kitchen to add value to your space.

2. Unmatched Quality that Speaks for Itself

Are you someone who wants to add quality to your home to increase its value? If yes, rest assured that pre-made off-the-shelf kitchens are not for you. The best match for you is a handcrafted bespoke kitchen in which no single detail is overlooked. All of Reeve & Co’s handmade kitchens are made by seasoned joiners and craftsmen to ensure every detail of quality is achieved while making cabinets and other kitchen units.

Handmade Bespoke kitchens such as Traditional Shaker Kitchens, Contemporary Kitchens, Kensington Kitchens, Scandinavian Kitchens, etc., and other furniture items manufactured at Reeve & Co are kept in mind modern and traditional techniques and use the best materials to ensure that they possess exceptional quality.

3. Follow Your Taste Instead of Trends

While spending money renovating your home, everyone wants everything to suit their taste and imagination. Some people want modern contemporary style decoration while some people want antique style interior. High-street off-the-shelf kitchen planners follow market trends and always try to provide their customers with what is in vogue, but in doing so, the customer’s preferences and tastes are pushed down. Such kitchens may look very modern and up-to-date for a while, but when the trends change, they also become outdated in a few years. After that, either the customer has to buy a new kitchen or live with the old design kitchen.

Since handmade kitchens are custom designed, our designers and joiners take care of your tendencies and make the kitchen as stylish and evergreen as possible so that it will look out-of-date even ten years from now.

4. Built to Last Bespoke Kitchens

If you have ever bought flat-packed furniture, you must have experienced that in their boxes, you will find spare parts like screws and other hardware. High Street companies know that their furniture is cheap but also unsustainable. That’s why they ship with some extras.

But if you spend more on a luxury bespoke handmade kitchen, rest assured, you’ll choose furniture built to last. Custom kitchens and other furniture use everything from sustainable raw wood to the highest-quality finishing materials. Also, the look of a handmade kitchen can be changed with little effort and cost. In classic Shaker kitchens, a change of colour or a change of handles and knobs looks like everything else in the kitchen has been changed, completely updating your Kitchen after a few years.

5. Enlivened Your Dreams with Expert Advice

Comparing pre-designed kitchens from catalogues with kitchens hand built by experienced joiners and carpenters with years of experience based on your ideas would be utterly unfair if you want a great and quality bespoke kitchen for your home. In that case, you need to leave the idea of spending money on a pre-built kitchen and visit our showroom in Suffolk, UK., where you will tell the experts your design specifications and budget. Our joiners will use all their skills to make your dreams come true by crafting a top-notch bespoke handcrafted kitchen. We work locally in Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk and Cambridge, along with London but do also work in the whole of the UK.

6. Sustainable Materials are Kinder to the Environment

Mass-produced off-the-shelf kitchens use materials that have a negative impact on the environment. In contrast, in making handmade bespoke kitchens, care is taken to use sustainable FSC timber materials and make the production process as eco-friendly as possible. All our electricity is renewable too.

At Reeve and Co, we guarantee that everything from raw wood crafting to furnishing is done under environmentally friendly principles. That cleanliness is taken care of in factories and the homes we fit in.

If you are planning to get a new Bespoke Kitchen or renovate an existing one, it’s essential to get into the right place. Last year our world entered a new decade of the century. And with the new era, handmade kitchen and interior design requirements have also been updated like other things.

Suppose you are wondering how to plan a kitchen design. In that case, many design elements must be considered, such as splashbacks, worktops, sizing, colour schemes, storage spaces, and a good layout with the best working triangle. In the past few years, there has been a significant change in the design choices of bespoke kitchens. Until recently, traditional and classic style kitchens were preferred, but as the living space has become relatively smaller, people prefer contemporary and minimalist styles. Also, all-white and light colours have been in trend for kitchens for a long time, but now, in 2022, The homeowners’ choices have gravitated towards cosy and warmer colour combinations.

For example, bright blue can be a good choice, or teal and mustard are a great combination. However, it is entirely up to your personal preference and inclination. It’s just important to remember that whatever you choose should be the best because it’s your kitchen. The heart of your home! And this kitchen represents your taste and style. So have fun with it and make sure that you love the result!

Last year and this year, we built many new style contemporary kitchens here in Suffolk, UK. In this article, we will introduce recent bespoke kitchen trends that became popular in 2022 and will further reach the heights of popularity in 2023.

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1. Trending Looks for Bespoke Kitchens in 2022

It can be anticipated that the natural elements of wood will have to come to the front once again to enhance the beauty of kitchens. Apart from this, the use of stone countertops can also be popular, and brass fixtures are also expected as they add to the bespoke kitchen’s grandeur.

Whatever the design, kitchen functionality is critical, so hidden appliances and ample storage will remain key features. However, the open kitchen concept is worth mentioning. The dining room and living room will be kept to a minimum for ease of entertaining and daily living, increasing functionality and usability.

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2. Dark and Bold Color Schemes

Classic shaker kitchen cabinets without handles are still among the most loved handcrafted bespoke kitchen trends, but it can be hoped that we are slowly moving towards colourful cabinets. Along with anti-fingerprint matte finishing, people now demand bold colour schemes.

Among other trends today, teal blue, forest green, and anthracite grey are dark and bold colour schemes that people are increasingly looking to define with their kitchen cabinets.

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3. Hidden Storage Units

Lack of space is the biggest issue nowadays, so organising storage to promote overall well-being is imperative for kitchens. Hidden storage is becoming a trend in kitchens where everything from ingredients to cooking utensils and crockery must be kept.

A plan to create ample space for hiding the clutter of objects in hidden storage is like building a bridge over the bridge. For this purpose, it will be necessary to customise any bespoke kitchen layout according to your space.

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4. Wood Flooring for the Win

Wood design porcelain tiles in a herringbone pattern are trendy as they reflect light very well and do not feel dull even in sunlight. In addition, they add warmth and a textured look to the kitchen and are very easy to clean. You can also use these tiles as splashbacks as they are also available in fine textures.

Sustainable and eco-friendly options like FCS-certified wood, cork, and Lino can also be excellent choices for you.

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5. Contemporary Handles

Handles are an essential component of kitchen cabinetry. Shaker doors use contemporary tumbled black or brass handles. Over the past few years, people have started to prefer gold and brass profiling instead of the classic style handles, which gives these doors a more contemporary touch.

These metal handles look very attractive on blue and green units, but when it comes to marble texture cabinetry, we cannot use these types of handles as stone effect doors reflect our focus on the environment and nature.

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6. Utility Rooms and Pantries

It is arguably proven that utility rooms are one of the most sought-after bespoke kitchen trends today. As kitchens are becoming much more open-space living rooms these days, it becomes necessary to have a small space next to the kitchen to keep extra utensils and laundry out of sight.

Pantries are next to the list of top trends. No problem if you don’t have the space for a separate utility room. Having a kitchen pantry is an enviable addition if you have floor-to-ceiling open shelving.

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7. Simplicity with Functionality

The streamlined kitchen trend will be the most popular Bespoke kitchen layout in the coming era as it provides the most minimalist look in the least space, making the kitchen look calm with clean sweeping lines. This contemporary look is the epitome of functionality and simplicity, but you have to choose the best materials to achieve this look. This type of design uses hidden storage units to keep smoothness forefront. You can update your existing kitchen with clever storage solutions to clear worktops.

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8. Two-Toned Kitchens

As we enter this new decade, the trend of combining two colours through bespoke wooden kitchen cabinetry has gained popularity. The combination of two different colours not only gives a new twist to your aesthetic taste but also takes the whole feel of your room to a different level in the best way. Two contrasting colours, one bold and dark and one light and bright, will add depth to the aesthetics of your kitchen.

This trend is not only limited to different colour combinations on the walls, but you can choose anything from worktops and cupboards to other painted items.

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9. Green Cabinetry and Accessories

The blue was observed excessively in recent years, but now we expect to see green in kitchens. It involves in use of green cabinetry and tiles. This trend of darker hues and combinations has been practised since early 2021. Deep forest green in the tones of emerald can be combined with latte shades, smoky glass, and softened metallic handles and hardware to bring opulence to the kitchen, with white marble work to bring light to the kitchen.

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10. Modern Twist on Tradition

As mentioned earlier, classic designs, especially Shaker-style kitchens, are still loved today; giving them a modern touch is also becoming a new trend. To adopt this style, you must use modern colours in a traditional kitchen.

Your kitchen is the heart of your home and gets a lot of use. Even if you aren’t a big cook, the chances are you use your kitchen on a daily basis, so it needs to look good but also work hard. 

Your kitchen should be a space that you enjoy, whether you use it for cooking, entertaining or family meals. This means you need to make it work for you, which takes some thoughtful kitchen design. 

Here at Reeve & Co, we help create stunning bespoke kitchens to help bring your plans and inspiration to life. However, to help us design and make a kitchen that truly ticks all the boxes, there are a few things you should consider about what you want and need your space to deliver. 

Here are a few things to think about when designing a kitchen from scratch or renovating the room you have.

Traffic Flow

The traffic flow of your kitchen helps you ensure that everything is put where it needs to be for easy use. Not considering how you use your kitchen could mean you end up crossing it multiple times when cooking a meal as nothing is to hand where you need it. 

Your layout needs to follow the way that your family uses the kitchen so you can use it easily and without needing to work harder. For example, food and other ingredients should be stored near the cooker, as should pans and utensils. Ideally, your cooker should be placed away from high traffic areas to avoid spillages, whereas your fridge should be easily accessible to those cooking in the kitchen and people passing by. 

Think about the way you use your kitchen and what annoys you about the layout of your existing room to create an accurate traffic flow that will help with the layout. 

Corners

Corners can prove to be a nightmare in a kitchen. You don’t want to have to close the kitchen door just to be able to open the oven, so you need to ensure that cabinets and appliances are placed carefully. 

To achieve this, you need to plan solace for every cabinet’s door clearance and the same with your oven and fridge. You need to make sure that doors can be opened at the same time without banging each other, otherwise, the functionality of your kitchen will be affected.

Lighting

The lighting in your kitchen shouldn’t be an afterthought as it is an important part of creating the right ambience for the space. Your lighting helps to set the mood and allows you to change the feel of your kitchen depending on what you’re using the room for. You also need to be able to cook and prepare food safely, which means being able to see what you’re doing. 

Consider what types of light sources you want to use and where you may need extra lighting. It is generally a good idea to incorporate some wall lighting – either in the form of spotlights or a cooker hood – along with overhead lighting so you can fully tailor the feel of your kitchen. 

Ventilation

You want your kitchen to look great but it also needs to be functional, which means thinking about proper ventilation. Ventilation when cooking is important as it helps to avoid condensation, which can lead to mould and mildew, as well as gets rid of cooking smells. 

Ideally, you should include an extraction fan in your kitchen design plans to help improve ventilation and ensure your space stays fresh. 

Countertop Details

Ensuring you have ample countertop space is important both for storage and cooking. Too little countertops can leave you working in cramped conditions and make it difficult to keep your kitchen clean and tidy. 

Think about what appliances need counter space at all times, if there is anything else that will be kept on the counter – such as coffee canisters and knife blocks – and how much space you’ll likely need for cooking. 

If space is at a premium in your kitchen, you can also start considering clever storage options that still make things easy to access but don’t result in a cluttered countertop. This can include pop-up plug sockets, magnetic knife strips and fold-down spice racks. 

Island Function

If your dream kitchen includes an island, the best way to ensure it is actually useful is to decide on its function. It’s great to have extra counter space but if you aren’t sure how you’re going to use that space, you won’t get the most out of it.

Is your island going to be used for cooking, eating, as a sink area or something else? Will it help with the design and use of your kitchen to use the base of the island purely for storage or will it help with the flow of your kitchen to place appliances like your dishwasher underneath it?

Thinking about these factors will ensure that you can fully use your island rather than it simply taking up space. 

Materials

The materials used in your kitchen will determine both the way it looks and its longevity. Ideally, you want to use materials that look great, are suitable for the way you use your kitchen and will continue to be strong and attractive for years to come. 

While it can be tempting to cut corners to bring the price of your kitchen down, this is usually a false economy with cheaper materials costing you more in the long run. Choosing high-end materials will ensure your kitchen continues to be functional, is less prone to damage and will still be doing you proud for years.