Location
Crouch End, London
Materials
Formica on Birch Plywood
What did I make?
Doors and drawer fronts with integral handles
End panels
Adjusting of units
What would I charge for a similar project?
£5800.00
What the client said
We really love our kitchen cupboards made by Duncan. The process was really enjoyable and stress free. Duncan is extremely professional and it was a collaborative process. He came up with some really good suggestions which we incorporated into our plan. His craftmanship and the care he took were exemplary. He worked really well with our builders. We would highly recommend him and are thrilled with everything.
There were a few changes to this project as the building work progressed. This was not a problem as we had already agreed that in order to work with the builder’s schedule, the units and appliances would go in first, followed by a later date by my bespoke elements.
The client was very involved and so made the changes to the layout herself, responding to how she viewed the space as the extension emerged from the ground.
As such, my role was very much in the detail of the project, suggesting possibilities that she would have no reason to know were available. One of these was the insert in the integral handles. Learning that she was fitting a Bamboo floor, I let her know that I could use some of this in the handle. Recognising that this helps makes the kitchen fit in the space, she went with this.
Another detail is the extra use of panels either side of and above the fridge. This gives a nice finishing touch and fits with the end panels used elsewhere.
Something I left until last were the units above the fridge. These had to adjusted to fit the width of the fridge. A detail that isn’t noticed day to day but would stand out like the proverbial sore thumb if it wasn’t there, is the width of these two cupboards. Rather than make them equal, I ensured that they line up with the doors of the fridge underneath.