A question we are often asked is ‘what area do we cover’
The simple answer is that we will happily work with clients from any location. Although we are based just outside Royal Tunbridge wells and have plenty of clients in and around the Tunbridge wells area we will work with anyone anywhere. Our furthest afield work has been the south of France and we have done work deep into Cornwall too. It’s safe to say though that most of or work is within a 20 mile radius of Tunbridge Wells
A kitchen we installed recently just outside Tunbridge Wells
Working further afield does make things harder. It’s very difficult to get a plasterer to travel 4-5 hours to go and plaster a room or sending a plumber that distance just to tighten a loose tap however our fitters are used to working away from home and if a project is more than a couple of hours away then we’d normally allow a costing for accommodation within the project figures.
We’ve done quite a lot of work in Wiltshire, for example. Our fitters stay in an AirB&B which allows them to still be on site at 8am in the morning and they tend to work longer hours and complete the project in less time.
For those customer more local to us here’s a list of towns and villages that we regularly work in:
Tunbridge Wells
Crowborough
Groombridge
Tonbridge
Sevenoaks
East Grinstead
Forest Row
Mayfield
Wadhurst
Ticehurst
Cranbrook
Benenden
Heathfield
Here’s a kitchen we fitted in Billingshurst which is further afield.
Our showroom is in Groombridge so we do find ourselves in some of the smaller villages around us like:
Penshurst
Withyham
Cowden
Ashurstwood
Chelwood Gate
Firwarp
Maresfield
Buxted
Rotherfield
Hadlow Down
Mark Cross
Bells Yew Green
Matfield
Horsmonden
Marden
Yalding
Hadlow
Ightham
Knockholt
Edenbridge
If you’re thinking of starting a new kitchen project and want to discuss your options with a multi award winning designer, then just pick up the phone and give Dan a call. He’d be happy to chat with you and make your journey easier.
A kitchen island is highly practical and can become a beautiful feature within your home. Not only are they used for cooking and food preparation, but they can also be used as a seating area and a place to store your kitchen items. A kitchen island is the central focus point within your kitchen. It brings people together and gives you a lot of flexibility when it comes to designing your ideal kitchen. Here at Jones Britain East Sussex & Kent, we are proud of our ability to provide you with a stunning kitchen island which is tailored specifically to you. Our handy design service allows you to choose your own measurements, shapes, styles, materials, colours, countertops and storage options for your kitchen island. This enables you to truly personalise your kitchen to suit all of your individual needs and requirements. Our team of highly skilled designers and craftsmen will work closely with you to produce a kitchen island which is strong, beautiful and practical.
Why Choose a Kitchen Island?
There are many key benefits of a kitchen island which will help to make your life easier and make your kitchen more efficient.
Space
Kitchen islands can help to create more space within your kitchen and optimise the available space you already have. With an endless choice of storage solutions, a kitchen island can help to store or hide away all of your kitchen items for a clutter-free environment. With many different features such as drawers, deep drawers, shelving and cabinets, you can easily store your belongings away. You can also choose to have your appliances integrated into your kitchen island such as cooktops, ovens, warming drawers and microwaves etc.
Additional Seating
A kitchen island can act as an additional seating area for your family and guests, it is a perfect way for large families to gather around a central dining area and keep them in view whilst cooking. Compared to a dining table, a kitchen island is stronger and sturdier, meaning there will be fewer accidents from the table being tipped or nudged.
Versatile
A kitchen island is extremely versatile and can be crafted in a wide range of different materials, worktop surfaces, finishes and colours. This gives you plenty of freedom and flexibility to experiment with your design which enables you to truly personalise your kitchen so that it meets your individual needs and tastes.
Appliances
Kitchen islands are a great way to add extra appliances to your kitchen. Additional ovens, fridges, freezers, range hoods and microwaves etc can be extremely practical and are a must-have for avid cooks and busy families.
At Jones Britain, we can create your kitchen island in any size, shape or design you require. No two kitchen islands are the same and your individual choices will make it unique. We work closely with you to gather all of your ideas and determine your needs so you can enjoy a beautiful bespoke kitchen island which is tailored to you. Your kitchen island can be designed as a cooking only area, seating area, storage place or designed to run parallel with other worktops for an efficient running kitchen. With an extensive range of colours, materials and finishes, you will have plenty of choice and flexibility when it comes to designing your ideal kitchen island.
Using only the finest materials, our team of highly skilled designers and craftsmen ensure your kitchen island is high in quality, strong and durable. With a close eye for fine detail and precision craftsmanship, your kitchen island will be created exactly how you want it and we aim to fulfil even the smallest of details.
If you would like any more information about our beautiful bespoke kitchen islands, please do not hesitate to contact us here at Jones Britain. We will be happy to answer any queries you may have and help you to get started on your kitchen island project. We cover East Sussex, Kent and the surrounding areas. We look forward to hearing from you.
Perfect conditions for the storage of food or for the preparation of tasty sous-vide cooking. The new vacuuming drawer impresses with its wide range of applications. What is better than to be able to conjure up meals effortlessly that contain everything that the illustration in the cookery book promises. The basic function of the vacuuming drawer is impressively simple: The air (oxygen in particular) is sucked out of the film bags in which the food items are stored and then they are sealed so that they are airtight. This maintains the quality of food items for a longer period of time. In addition, the vacuuming drawer prepares food optimally for sous-vide cooking. Divide into portions, store and prepare for enjoyable cooking.
Step 1: Suitable bag for vacuum sealing The appliance comes with the correct plastic bag. You can buy replacements from Jones Britain by contacting us on 01435 866435.
2nd Step: Fill the bag Fill the bag with any type of food. Be careful not to over-fill the bag.
3rd Step: Insert bag Open the vacuum-sealing drawer. Place the filled bag in the appliance.
4. Step: To select a setting You have the choice between 3 vacuum settings. The sealing time can be freely selected from 3 settings.
5. Step: Start vacuum-sealing process When you close the appliance lid the appliance starts the vacuum-sealing process.
6. Step: Remove air In the vacuuming process the air is drawn out of the vacuum chamber and the plastic bag.
7. Step: Seal food At the end of the vacuum-sealing process the food is automatically hermetically sealed.
8. Step: Removing food Open the lid of the vacuuming drawer and remove the vacuumed food.
9. Step: Vacuum-sealed food The food is completely vacuum sealed and ready for use at a later date.
The sous-vide cooking method
People who are familiar with the sous-vide cookery method happily accept the longer cooking process. Exceptional pleasure is guaranteed! The advantage lies in the evenness of the cooking, whereby the aim is to achieve a specific core temperature. Overcooked edges are a thing of the past. Flavours do not react with oxygen and food stays moist. Food can also be vacuumed with spices or a marinade. The cooking results can always be reproduced.
Particularly tender meat
Meat is cooked very slowly at constantly low temperatures. It is therefore extremely juicy and tender. Thanks to the gentle cooking process the meat cells relax without losing any of their juices. It is impossible to overcook your food. If you like your meat seared, brown it off quickly either before or after vacuuming.
For more information or to view the showroom model, please get in contact with us on 01435 866435 or visit our Heathfield Showroom.
Blog Post written by: Chloe Hartnup, Junior Kitchen Designer at Jones Britain Kitchens
The Cooper Kelly Kitchen in Crowborough stands out in the mind as it was both challenging and different on many levels. The strong edges and bright colours really gave the kitchen a personality that could be felt when you entered the room.
What was the brief?
Design an industrial inspired room that was bold, brave but also functional. The couple had clear ideas about the vibe that they wanted their kitchen to have, and their experience of exotic hotels and bars around the world was a strong influence in the ambience that they wanted to create. There were also specific design elements to include, for example incorporating curved units and a mixture of working surfaces at different heights, as well as making an existing structural pillar a feature rather than concealing it.
What was it made from/finished in?
A mixture of washed and stained oak and lacquered matt painted doors, concrete worktop with endgrain oak butchers block accent and black paper bar. The floor was a mixture of bespoke tiles and engineered wood. The splashback was installed in bronzed mirror.
What appliances did it incorporate?
State of the art Miele ovens side by side, downdraft extractor, Gas hob a hidden wine cooler with touch to open door and an elegant Stainless steel sink, fully integrated dishwasher, washing machine and tumble dryer. American Fridge freezer that dispenses water and ice.
Were there any special requirements for the client?
Curved units were essential and a mixture of different working surfaces at different heights were requested. The client wanted the pillar holding half the house up to be visible but linked in some way. The polished concrete worktops were also poured in situ to create the desired effect and create maximum.
How much would a kitchen like that cost?
As all of our projects are bespoke based on your requirements we work within a pre-determined budget. This kitchen came in a budget of around £80,000 – £90,000.
This ultra modern linear design which we recently created could fair looking quite stark without colour and texture to warm it all up.
2017 is the year of mixing materials!
Texture
Texture is gradually taking centre stage with increasing popularity of two-tone kitchen designs. Texture offers designers a versatile palette to mix and match with different shades to layer a design while seamlessly blending the kitchen, dining and living areas together.
Many designers like us at Jones Britain believe the use of textures is just as important as considering other elements such as colours, lighting, flooring, storage and extraction.
Texture is very important for the on-trend kitchens as it offers a less sterile look. However you can use the same idea on more traditional kitchens to give them a more modern look.
How can texture benefit a kitchen?
Textured furniture may be the latest look for a wide variety of kitchen interiors however it also offers advantages within the design.
Using textures can help to break up a large kitchen or define areas to make zones of visual impact/interest.
Colours and textures can be used to give an island impact and stand apart from the run of units behind it or to define an area such as having a dark colour along a run of tall appliance housing units.
Texture warms up a stark kitchen, with many clients choosing handless less fussy kitchen designs the area can start to become quite stark. Colour and texture offers a warm more authentic experience.
Your client may wish to use natural decors which helps bring the outside back into the room and lighten it all up.
Jones Britain’s Most Recent Design
One of our most recent kitchen designs has had this issue- it is a beautiful modern new build with lots of windows, space and our client wanted a handless kitchen.
To warm up the design we made sure there was a range of colour and textures introduced.
Along the tall run of appliance housings we used a matt concrete effect door which contrasted enough against a pergamon gloss door to balance warm and cool.
We then decided to use a 30mm Quartz for the work surfaces. Most trends and kitchen designs we have completed recently involved a lot of lighter coloured work surfaces- this is not the case in this design.
To create more of an impact and keep the kitchen area feeling warm and inviting we have used Quartzforms Veined Baroque which is a dark grey quartz with lighter whisps of grey vein which appear in parts of the surface.
Creating elements of texture which help tie the design together was needed in the breakfast bar, low seating table area and the open bookshelf area. For this we have used a solid walnut work surface which again complements everything else we have chosen as well as warming the whole scheme up which in has given the overall design a real feel of home.
Blog Post written by: Chloe Hartnup, Junior Kitchen Designer at Jones Britain Kitchens
Planning a new kitchen is hard enough so taking on board a good kitchen designer will help you to unleash the full potential in your kitchen, finding and using spaces you didn’t know you had and creating functionality and elegance where you never knew it existed.
Many of us will have rummaged through lots of home and interiors magazines and have a pretty good idea of what we want to achieve in terms of the style and function from a new kitchen. However, using a experienced designer will fulfill the potential of your space and ensure that the layout works perfectly for your every day wants and needs. Having years of training and experience in the design/kitchen industry will give a designer the know-how and instincts to create a kitchen that will cater to your space and lifestyle.
Jones Britain’s lead designer/owner, Dan Stronge has been working in the kitchen industry for over 20 years now and carries a wealth of knowledge and inspirational ideas with him. A good designer will also attend to those easily overlooked details, such as creating crisp, neat lines along a run of units and ensuring you have the ‘working triangle’ allowing your sink, hob, ovens, bin and prep space to be incorporated within the same area.
The majority of kitchen companies offer some form of planning; if you are having a bespoke kitchen built, you are likely to enjoy a more comprehensive service than with off-the-peg companies. But even with the off-the-peg companies, a good designer will enable you to get the very best from what is available within their range of kitchen units. The key is to find a designer who shares your vision and you feel you could work with but, also someone who can provide you with the excellent customer service you require.
Why use a designer?
Many people nowadays have a genuine interest in design and will have gathered kitchen ideas for years. The designers job is to take these ideas and structure them for the client, offering the knowledge and practical advise they need. Many good designers will be able to provide photo-realistic CAD drawings or floor plans, which will help you visualize what your kitchen could look like. Even if you have a limited budget, bringing on board a talented designer can actually save you money by identifying potential problems and sourcing less expensive options where necessary.
Every designer will need to ask their clients initial questions regarding their must-haves, the way that they live as well as any areas which they wouldn’t mind compromise. Before meeting with your designer it may help to make a list, from this you can discuss any conflicts with your partner in advance and narrow down your preferred style. Nothing is set in stone at this point, however any insight into your style and preferences will speed up the design process. Taking all your ideas and inspirations to your kitchen designer will allow them to run with your thoughts and they will be able to use their experiences to help bring your thoughts together in one clever design.
How do I find a good kitchen designer?
Many of us will have already used some type of professional service, personal recommendation is a good way to get a feel for whether the designer is who you’re looking for. Contacting friends or family who have recently installed a new kitchen is the best way to get a feel for the design work that has been carried out. You can ask them about all the pros and cons, how smoothly the process ran, time frames and the designers willingness to resolve any technical issues. Many people feel uncomfortable talking about money however talking to friends and family about it is a great way to find out if the designer works within your budget.
Recommendations can also come from your interior designer, architect, surveyor or local planning office however, it is best to try to visit one of the designer’s previous projects or talk to a past customer on the phone. At Jones Britain we are lucky enough to have our beautiful Heathfield showroom full of different kitchen designs and many happy customers willing to share their Jones Britain Kitchen Installation with you.
Where do I start?
Before you go ahead with getting a good kitchen designer involved it is best to do a little initial research. Why not take some cuttings from home/interiors magazines, crawl interiors blogs for anything that inspires you and gather together any material samples that catch your eye whilst on your travels. Picking up lots of Home and Interiors magazines are brilliant sources for inspiration and will even include local stockists for the products you are browsing. There is definitely an interiors magazine for everyone, whether you like ultra-modern, Scandinavian, period or country cottage styles there is one for you. Many counties publish local magazines which include local kitchen/interior design sections and case studies, The Wealden Times is an example of this in Sussex.
Searching on the internet can also be very useful for finding nearby kitchen companies. Most well established companies will keep their social media platforms up to date with project progress images and offers/news. Interiors websites like Houzz and Pinterest are also great sources of inspiration and research, Jones Britain’s Houzz page has many sources of inspiration through past client professional photos and images that inspire us.
Visiting the Showroom
At Jones Britain making an appointment to meet with our good kitchen designers and seeing the actual product we believe is essential. It’s key to see the detail that goes into each kitchen which is something you aren’t always likely to see in a magazine or internet image. It is just as equally important to meet the designer or design team that you’ll be working with as you’ll get a feel for their personality and the way that they work.
There are far too many companies out there that only present a sales person to you at your first visit, not the designer which should be avoided. If you don’t like the showrooms window displays- don’t be put off, most designers can offer a huge amount of possibilities- it is impossible to fit every design out there within a showroom space! It’s a good idea to not request plans from more than three companies or you’ll end up more confused than when you originally started.
Making a connection
You can’t expect to have an instant bond with your designer however, if they aren’t at least on the same page as you after an hour of discussing your preferences, either ask to see another designer or walk away. Some customers may prefer to see a female or male designer, which isn’t a problem and the designer can always be swapped over to suit the customers needs. The kitchen is the heart of the home and planning a new kitchen is a long journey so never underestimate the importance of having a good connection with your designer. Always check the designers past work or speak to previous customers before you start.
Companies accredited by the KBSA or Trustmark, offer additional peace of mind. KBSA members like Jones Britain offer a top quality design, installation, first class customer service and the latest products. Using a KBSA retailer gives you confidence that you are using a reputable company. Before you make any decisions, go to the showroom of your retailer you’re thinking of using and look for the KBSA logo and membership certificate that will be on display.
Have a look at the KBSA website where you can check if your local kitchen designer is a listed member. Download the ‘Consumer Guide‘ to help you with any questions you think you might have missed asking your kitchen designer.
What to ask the designer?
Every company will operate differently but it’s always best to get the more difficult questions such as costs and budget constraints out of the way first. Find out if there are any design charges involved- many companies will refund the design fee upon your order, the level of service which they offer and their average kitchen installation price.
Buying from a bespoke kitchen company will result in a more personal service, with the furniture made to order precisely to fit your space. The higher end kitchen companies tend to have their own in-house installers and management teams, and are able to provide a full ‘turn-key’ solution covering plumbing, electrics, lighting and even soft furnishings and decorating.
More off-the-peg kitchens are usually available more quickly, but suppliers may not be as flexible when it comes to creating unique features or dealing with awkward spaces. If the kitchen design companies fitters are out-sourced, ask who is responsible for solving any problems during and after the installation. It is also a good idea to find out who will prepare the site, remove the old kitchen, sort the first fix services and complete repair work on the walls and floors. It is worth listening carefully to the advise your designer gives you regarding appliances and fittings- they will know all about the latest innovations, but don’t be afraid to ask about a more affordable option if you’re on a tight budget.
Moving forward
Once you’ve sorted your main requirements, arrange a site visit with the designer who will be working on your project- they will need to take a measure of the space and get a feel for the design which needs to be arranged. This will also allow you to discuss the layout in more depth and reiterate what you love/hate about your existing kitchen.
You can expect to be presented with designs for the kitchen within a couple of weeks. When the designer presents these to you make sure you go through them making any alterations you believe are necessary until you’re completely happy with the results. Changing your mind at the last minute can delay the installation timing, so it is very important to run through every eventuality and stay with the designs once they have been finalized. This is also an important time to agree on a schedule (most companies produce a gantt chart). Once everything has been agreed on you’ll need to sign the design or a confirmation form and provide a deposit that will secure your order, starting the production process rolling.
Blog Post written by: Chloe Hartnup, Junior Kitchen Designer at Jones Britain Kitchens
This earthy colour palette works in brilliant harmony with the beautiful views onto our clients garden bringing the outdoors in through colour and texture. The kitchen colour palette included pergamon base units on the wall run, veneered walnut tall and island units, a textural earthy coloured tile for the flooring and glacier white Corian worktops. The Corian worktops wrap around the spectacular curves in this very bespoke made kitchen.
We were asked to design a high end kitchen for a new build project in Esher that was not only different to your average kitchen but also innovative in its design.
This called for some pretty radical thinking outside the box.
This colour palette matched our Esher client’s kitchen brief perfectly.- our clients love the curved kitchen island and the retractable TV integrated within the Corian worktop.
This harmonious, lighthearted and highly contemporary colour palette of pergamon gloss, matte graphite grey and accents of minty blue create a harmonious colour scheme which is very pleasing to the eye. The kitchen colour palette also has been united with Walnut to give warmth and substance to the kitchen design.
Our client wanted a highly contemporary, harmonious kitchen design for a traditional barn conversion. The brief was to give a wow-factor feeling with a minimalist design appeal. In our design we chose a handleless kitchen with a mixture of pergamon high gloss lacquered doors and graphite grey matte silk accent for the tall and wall units. We integrated lights under the glass splashbacks, which give a superb effect at night. The Worktops we used are a mixture of quartz and walnut wood for the breakfast bar.
This colour palette matched our Broad Oak client’s kitchen brief perfectly.
Blog Post written by: Chloe Hartnup, Junior Kitchen Designer at Jones Britain Kitchens
This ultra modern, crisp palette of white gloss and accents of graphite grey subtly marry together.
This contemporary kitchen colour palette also has been mixed with clear mirror, stainless steel, light oak and a glossy black (from the appliances).
You really can’t go wrong with this colour palette, it feels completely timeless and would work in the majority of kitchen spaces.
Corian worktops with a designer illuminated fin at one end of the island. Graphite glass breakfast bar with a mirrored post and specially lit splash backs. The final elements of the design included a cleverly designed bulkhead for extraction, lights and surround sound speakers.
Our client wanted a ultra modern/contemporary kitchen design for their stunning new build. The brief was to give a wow-factor feeling with a minimalist design appeal.
Find out how we can help you with your kitchen colour palette..
Blog Post written by: Chloe Hartnup, Junior Kitchen Designer at Jones Britain Kitchens
On Tuesday two of our Bespoke Kitchen Designers Dan Stronge & Chloe Hartnup were invited to the Siemens wine and dine evening which was being held at Aveqia, London. They were lucky enough to be wined and dined by Michlen Star Chefs Eric Allouard, Roger Rahaman & David Collard. Eric has over 20 years of cooking experience, having worked at a string of Michelin- and top class restaurants around the world, such as la tour D’argent, Fleur Sketch and L’Etranger.
Siemens at Aveqia
Siemens have recently fitted ovens, hobs and extractors into Aveqia for use throughout the commercial kitchen. The Michlen Star Chefs and our Siemens representatives went through each of the appliances explaining what they are and how we can use them. Dan & Chloe found this training very useful as it has broadened their knowledge of the products therefore creating new and exciting design ideas ready for any new customers coming into our Bespoke Kitchen Showroom in Heathfield.
They were then sat down and the Michlen Star Chefs got to work in the kitchen. With the use of the Siemens appliances they were able to create some beautiful and delicious dishes for Dan and Chloe to try. Each course was paired up with a complementary wine showing us what can be achieved with beautiful food and wine flavours.
The Menu:
*Teriyaki glazed quail with pan fried foie gras and glazed apples For the starter, guests will infuse quail with a sticky sweet teriyaki glaze and pair with pan fried foile gras. We add glazed apples and gingerbread for a spicy depth. The preparation of this dish will give your group a great opportunity to explore flavour combinations and techniques.
*Red mullet bouillabaisse, clams and mussels, smoked aioli The second course celebrated Christmas in a Mediterranean style through the inspiration of a sun drenched beach. Plump fillets of red mullet are combined with an intense bouillabaisse, clams, mussels enhance the taste of the sea and smoked aioli completes the dish.
*Guinea fowl breast and sausage, truffle potato croquette and smoked celeriac puree With the main course, you will learn to prepare succulent Guinea fowl breast and make rich sausages from the thighs. Trufled potato croquette and smoked celeriac puree bring the warmth of a glowing Christmas Day fire and a piquant savoury touch is added through a pickle onion and sage jus.
*Valrhone and praline parfait, bitter orange curd and Grand Marinier gel For the finale of this Christmas menu, luxurious Valrhona chocolate and praline are combined to create a silky parfait. A subtle coffee meringue is complemented with a bitter orange curd and punchy Grand Marnier gel. All in all; a culinary gift which is a delight to unwrap…and consume!
For more information on Siemens appliances or appliance experience days feel free to contact the Kitchen Design Showroom on 01892 337575.
Blog Post written by: Chloe Hartnup, Junior Kitchen Designer at Jones Britain Kitchens
