What was your design brief?
The kitchen/diner/utility area extension designed for our property would provide a contemporary living space but was rather distinctive and unusual in its shape. The brief to Ashley Jay for the kitchen/utility was to design an area which created a spacious feel that was streamlined, functional yet with a feeling of warmth and which complemented the contemporary nature of the extension. Units could be no higher than mid height but there still needed to be plenty of storage. In particular we said we wanted an island with breakfast bar but not one that was either square or rectangular.
Main goal of the project?
To create a kitchen area that allowed for socialising, with contemporary styling, good flow that had a ‘wow’ factor.
Why did you choose Ashley Jay for your luxury fitted kitchen?
Our preference was to use a kitchen design company that was local and independently owned. We were already aware of Alno as a manufacturer but had never seen any of their kitchens. We had passed Ashely Jay’s studio on our travels, noticing they used Alno kitchens, so one day we called in and there, to our delight, was a kitchen display using cream coloured, contemporary lacquered units - the colour we had already decided we would like.
The units on display that we were shown confirmed Alno’s excellent build quality with the range of options and accessories being very impressive.
The displays in the showroom illustrated imaginative design. Alno’s quality units provided the contemporary look we wanted. Just the combination we were seeking. Subsequently, we looked at both websites and spoke with friends to learn they had been very pleased with their kitchen designed and fitted by Ashley Jay. Through work we encountered another Ashley Jay designed Alno kitchen which had delighted the purchaser – initial impressions confirmed we looked no further.
What did you like about the service?
From the time of our first exploratory visit Ashley, Paul and Paula impressed with their interest and enthusiasm for our project. An excellent relationship was established. Time was taken to listen and take detailed notes of our wish list, to show us all the many varied options that having an Alno kitchen could offer - on all our visits, even if unscheduled, we felt welcomed. When shown the initial design it delighted us – all our wish list had been incorporated but, most of all, the design of the island unit simply stunned us – it really did deliver on the ‘wow’ aspect of the brief. In the process some alterations were needed with Ashley and Paul making suggestions and coming up with new ideas that were mindful of our wishes but which really enhanced the design concept. We were always kept informed, timescales were kept to and attention to detail during the fitting process was meticulous.
What do you like about your new finished kitchen?
How do you describe a dream come true? ‘Stunning, gorgeous, fantastic, wow, fabulous’ are just some of the superlatives that friends have used. We just love sitting at the breakfast bar sipping a coffee from our new machine, enjoying and still admiring our beautiful new kitchen. All our hopes and expectations were fulfilled by both Alno and Ashley Jay
