Clients Journey
Val, St Mellion
A Kitchen Worth Smiling About
When Val from St Mellion decided to redesign her kitchen, she already had a clear vision. Having seen the results KF Kitchens had achieved for a neighbour, she was confident they could meet her expectations. As it turned out, they exceeded them. "In fact, they've more than met them, they've gone beyond them," she said.
The Design Challenge
Val and her husband had lived in the property for ten years. The previous kitchen had the sink in a different position, and the island was oriented differently and occupied a lot of space. Val had a clear vision of what she wanted but invited Nathan to the property after visiting the showroom at Faraday Mill, specifically to hear alternative options before finalising her own ideas. "He showed us things that we might not have thought about. But we really wanted to do that so we could confidently confirm our original vision."
The Solution
Rotating the island by 90 degrees freed up significant space in the room. Removing part of the wall adjacent to the utility room allowed the integrated fridge, freezer, and wine cooler to be housed in the kitchen. The utility room was also refurbished as part of the project.
Val selected a Nolte kitchen in Oak Barolo, equipped with Miele appliances, Silestone worktops, a Blanco sink, a Quooker tap, and engineered oak flooring. The appliance list includes a combination conventional and steam oven, a warming drawer, a coffee maker, and an induction hob on the island with an integrated extractor. KF Kitchens organised for Val to visit the Miele Experience in London, where a chef prepared a three-course meal to showcase the ovens' capabilities. "I absolutely love the steam oven, that's been eye-opening. I'd never have thought about having a steam oven but now, I use it all the time."
Throughout the design process, Val and her husband had time and space to make decisions at their own pace. Options were displayed on screen and printed out across four choices, covering different handles and colours, which they gradually narrowed down. "We never felt pressurised at all."
Installation & Completion
All work was carried out by the contractors KF Kitchens, whom we have worked with over many years. Installers Kevin and Wayne custom-made a cupboard to house the boiler in the utility room and found a solution for filling the gap between the oven units and the ceiling. "They were wonderful. It was actually a pleasure having them here in our home. Nothing was a problem, whatever we asked, Nathan said 'yes, we can do that' or 'my team can do anything'."
The Result
The reconfigured space changed how Val cooks and how much time she spends in the kitchen. "The re-organisation makes the room a lot bigger. When I'm cooking, everything now feels ergonomically correct. It's revolutionised how I cook."
The energy-efficient appliances have also made a tangible difference. "We are spending much more time in the kitchen, and it's actually a joy to cook. And we've future-proofed ourselves. Economically, because the appliances are energy-efficient, I've noticed the difference when I check the smart-meter."
Asked to sum up the finished kitchen in three words, Val offered more: "Beautiful, up-market, practical. Oh, and can I have a fourth word? Because what I think really sums it up is 'joyful'. Every morning, I come in here and I smile."
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