Jones Britain Kitchens is a leading kitchen design and installation company covering a 20 mile radius in and around Royal Tunbridge Wells. We are only 10 minutes from Tunbridge Wells and our extensive showroom has plenty on offer for you to see when you visit. Parking spaces are a plenty and the country vibe is very relaxing. If you’re planning to visit Jones Britain Kitchens to choose your new kitchen, you can make a day of it by exploring the beautiful village of Groombridge and surrounding area.
Things to do before your visit to Jones Britain Kitchens
Book your appointment in advance. This will ensure that you have the time and attention of our designer who can help you create your dream kitchen.
If you are working with a builder, then don’t forget to bring measurements of your existing kitchen or architects plans of the new space. This will help our designer to build a plan that is tailored to your specific needs.
Think about your budget and style preferences. This will help our designer to narrow down the options and find the perfect kitchen for you.
Things to do after your visit to Jones Britain Kitchens
If you’ve got time on your hands then you could take a ride on the Spa Valley Railway to and from Groombridge. This heritage steam railway runs from Tunbridge Wells West Station to Groombridge Station, and the journey takes around 45 minutes. It’s a great way to see the beautiful countryside and enjoy a relaxing steam train ride. It’s truly like going back in time.
Groombridge Place is currently closed for renovation and will not reopen until 2025, when it will become a high-end hotel and restaurant chain called The Pig. You can, however, walk into the grounds and see this beautiful 17th-century manor house and its moat up close if you wish. We look forward to welcoming The Pig into the area.
Go for a walk on the Forest Way. This 14-mile long footpath runs from East Grinstead to Tunbridge Wells, and passes through some of the most beautiful countryside in Sussex. It’s the perfect place to go for a walk to clear your head and enjoy the scenery. The Forest Way runs close by to the showroom
Have lunch at one of the many excellent pubs in Groombridge. The Junction Inn and The Crown are both popular choices, and both offer a variety of delicious food and drinks in their traditional settings.
Harrison’s Rocks is a popular climbing and bouldering area located near Groombridge in East Sussex, England. It is situated within the High Rocks nature reserve, which is known for its unique sandstone rock formations. Harrison’s Rocks is a favorite destination for rock climbers and boulderers due to its varied climbing routes and beautiful natural surroundings.
Further afield
Visit Scotney Castle. This romantic moated castle is located just a short drive from Groombridge, and makes for a great day out. You can explore the castle, wander through the gardens, and enjoy a picnic on the grounds.
Visit Pooh Corner. This shop and visitor attraction is dedicated to the Winnie the Pooh stories, and is located in the village of Hartfield, just a short drive from Groombridge. You can browse the shop for Winnie the Pooh merchandise, visit the Winnie the Pooh Museum, and take a walk through Ashdown Forest, the inspiration for the Hundred Acre Wood.
After your morning adventures in Groombridge, make your way to nearby Tunbridge Wells for a delightful lunch experience. The town is renowned for its charming eateries and gastro pubs. You can savour delicious local dishes made with fresh ingredients at popular spots like The Ivy Royal Tunbridge Wells or The Beacon, which offers panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. For a more casual option, explore the Pantiles, a historic colonnaded walkway filled with cafes and artisanal shops, where you can enjoy a light meal or afternoon tea.
Tips for planning your day
Wear comfortable shoes. You’ll be doing a lot of walking, so it’s important to wear comfortable shoes.
Bring a raincoat. Even if the weather forecast is good, it’s always a good idea to bring a raincoat in case it rains.
Pack a picnic lunch. This is a great way to save money and enjoy the outdoors.
Book your restaurant reservation in advance. Especially if you’re visiting during peak season.
Allow plenty of time for your visit to Jones Britain Kitchens. There’s a lot to see and do, so it’s important to allow plenty of time.
Conclusion
Groombridge is a beautiful village with a lot to offer visitors. Whether you’re interested in history, nature, or simply want to enjoy a relaxing day out, there’s something for everyone in Groombridge. And of course, no visit to Groombridge would be complete without a visit to Jones Britain Kitchens to choose your beautiful new kitchen.
It’s not often that we are prepared to recommend a product that we don’t actually sell but having worked with Ultraline sliding doors on a recent project we can’t speak highly enough of them.
Having helped our client source a good quality sliding door product there isn’t a huge amount of information we now don’t know about sliding doors. Ultraline came up trumps! their security, thermal properties and 20mm sightline were the best we could find and the service from the factory and production office were second to none giving us advice prior to installation that was invaluable.
They are not the cheapest on the market but in turn we really felt they were value for money and they look absolutely superb in situ.
Although they are base near Birmingham they do cover the country and they had a team of highly competent fitters who came to site and installed in a relatively short period of time. They were manufactured in 5 weeks which is a lot shorter than other companies had quoted.
Installation day came and our builders were ready for the Ultraline sliding doors to turn up. The doors had been made floor to ceiling and so they were very large panes of glass. 3 sets of doors each having 2 sheets spanning around 4 metres total length for each door. This seemed to be no trouble for the installation team and within an hour the glass doors had been fitted.
We were especially impressed with the locking system. As the doors are minimal frame there is no room for a lock. Instead the locking system is hidden in the top frame with a bolt that drops into place at the press of a sensor button connected to the cables that our electrician had installed.
Once the doors were fitted we were able to plaster in the framework giving the impression of the whole outer frame only being 20mm thick.
The whole kitchen extension project is heading towards completion and we’ll soon be able to post photo in all its glory but for now here are a couple of photos to wet your appetite.
If you are interested in finding out more information about Ultraline sliding doors from our recommendation please contact them at the details below.
Ultraline
5a Grammar School Lane, Halesowen, West Midlands, B63 3SW
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 scandi colour palette works tremendously well in this bespoke kitchen design, allowing the beautiful curved features in the kitchen to do all the talking. The Kitchen colour palette included Farrow & Ball Pointing on the units alongside a light natural oak which was used on the chopping block and mantel. Glacier White Corian worktops and a natural light oak flooring were also used within this scheme keeping it simplistic yet complementary against the design and shapes.
The use of a Scandinavian colour palette and traditional design has put a stylish and elegant twist on this bespoke kitchen design.
Our client came to Jones Britain having seen the advertisement of our KBB review awards finalists kitchen. They really liked our design ideas and wanted to use us for our skills in imaginative design.
Our brief was to design a kitchen that was large, spacious with plenty of working surface. The kitchen design had to be light bright and interesting with a major focal point at some point in the room. A slightly more traditional feeling was discussed – the buzz words were ‘Elegant’ ‘Stylish’ and ‘Functional’.
“We are absolutely delighted with our new kitchen. We occasionally send a photo to friends overseas and, without exception, they all say it is like something out of a glossy magazine.”
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
