KNOWLE, SOLIHULL
OUTSTANDING PLANNING AND EXECUTION.”
Lynne and Bruce from Solihull were impressed that the design team at Culina + Balneo interpreted their dream kitchen so flawlessly. After struggling to find the perfect style of kitchen to suit their home and lifestyle with several other Kitchen companies, by chance they were driving through Solihull and Bruce pointed out the Culina + Balneo showroom they were passing. On a whim, they decided to drive back around the island and stop in, even if they were, in Lynne’s words; “Just looking for inspiration really. Neither of us were expecting to see the kitchen of our dreams as soon as we walked through the doors.” But that’s exactly what happened.
The exceptional German-made kitchen range was just what Lynne and Bruce had been looking for and was available in exactly the colour scheme Lynne had wanted, but so far hadn’t been able to find with other companies. With the Showroom staff being friendly, helpful and knowledgeable and the cost of such a beautiful kitchen well within their budget, it wasn’t long before plans were being drawn up.
Both Bruce and Lynne loved that the C+B design team didn’t, at any time try, to oversell or put excess pressure on them; understanding that this kind of project was a huge undertaking for any customer and explained the normal anxieties which come with a large renovation project like this. So, when they were shown the proposed design of their kitchen in 3D, both were captivated with how their personal designer had interpreted the brief, how easy it was for them to visualise the end product and to see how all the different accessories and cabinetry worked together within the space.
DESIGNING THE KITCHEN
DESIGNING THE KITCHEN
Nick, the designer was thrilled with how much trust Lynne and Bruce placed in him and the team; “They were very open minded, when I suggested that they could rearrange the layout of the kitchen, blocking up an unused window and section of the garage, which would really open up the kitchen area and maximise the usable space, they were both excited and enthusiastic. It’s so nice to have customers’ trust in your creative ideas and allow you a blank canvas to surpass their expectations.”
With the design agreed and the building plans in place, work could begin. Despite the size of the project and the fact that they had no working kitchen, Lynne was reassured by the quality of the work and with the care of the fitters, (who worked 7 days a week for the duration of the build) and the business owner visiting the site every other day to explain the progress of the fitters and which stage was coming next. She and Bruce never felt out of the loop; reassured that the project was coming together with far less work or stress for them that they originally thought.
As their new kitchen was taking shape, the installation team ensured that as each section of the build was completed, those extra touches which guarantee a perfect finish were supplied. For example; being able to pick the colour of the plug socket accessories to match their kitchen colour scheme was something Bruce wasn’t aware of.
When the team from Tilestyle arrived to fit the new floor tiles, Lynne was so delighted with the style, colour and fit that she promptly ordered the same tiles for the rest of the hall way and dining room, enhancing the fluidity of the design. With the construction section of the installation process completed (taking out the partition wall between the old kitchen and dining room, extending the side of the kitchen to create a brand-new utility room with stunning wine cooler), the modern beauty of their German-made kitchen was taking shape quickly.
With no glitches and enjoying the peace of mind of total trust in the Culina + Balneo team, Bruce and Lynne could turn their attention to the finishing details. Lynne channelled her impressive interior design skills to selecting accessories and furnishings for the kitchen and dining room, hand picking each item and colour to complement the colour schemes and personalised character of the space
The only problem they encountered during the whole project was being unable to find a dining room table which fit with their overall design aesthetic. After multiple unsuccessful shopping trips, Bruce mentioned to Dali one day that he couldn’t find exactly what he wanted, to which Dali promptly suggested that he use the same material as the stylish new worktops to create their own dining table. With Bruce being an engineer before his retirement, he realised that this was the perfect solution. Culina + Balneo supplied the wood the next day, and Bruce began designing and creating an 8-seater dining room table by himself. The finished result was stunning. Using the same materials as the work top ensured seamless integration from kitchen to dining room and Bruce’s design gave them a bespoke and unique piece of furniture, tying the whole space together with Lynne’s interior design skills.
When the project was finished, both Lynne and Bruce were amazed at how beautiful their new space had become and with so little stress and anxiety. They had spent several weeks dining out with friends or eating microwave meals whilst the kitchen space was out of commission, and were now excited to start inviting friends over to repay the kindness and enjoying their stunning new German-made kitchen.
With accessories such as Quooker taps, Siemens single ovens/combination oven and microwave, entertaining was now easy and an enjoyable experience. The kitchen has become the hub of their home, and when friends and family come over, they can all share the same entertaining space. As Lynne pointed out, “It’s so lovely to be cooking and entertaining with people around me and not being shut up in the kitchen missing all the fun.”
It isn’t just entertaining they enjoy, one of Lynne’s favourite things is to have her morning cup of coffee in the peace and beauty of her new space, and Bruce agrees. The layout and design of the kitchen works perfectly for their home and lifestyle,
“My favourite thing about the space isn’t so much the individual features, it’s the combination of the all the elements which work so well together. We couldn’t be more satisfied with the end result.”
So impressed were Lynne and Bruce, they have been recommending Culina + Balneo and Tilestyle to their friends and family, knowing that the whole process was made as easy as possible for them. When asked if there was anything that could have been improved about any stage of the process, Lynne replied immediately;
“Nothing! It couldn’t have been any better. I would give Dali, Nick and all the team of fitters and tradesmen ten out of ten.”
Which is the best thing for any company to hear; satisfied customers, enjoying their stylish and modern new kitchen which gave them everything they dreamed of and more. To see how Culina + Balneo can help you create the kitchen or bathroom of your dreams, contact your local showroom now or click on the button at the top of the screen to book an appointment at any of our 5 showrooms across the Midlands and Worcestershire, each staffed with highly trained and talented design teams.
Contact our Solihull showroom (or nearest branch to you) to find out more about our kitchen design Solihull service.
