My husband and I planned a new kitchen as part of our house renovation. The kitchen is in the new build extension. I started planning the kitchen before it was built, but didn’t really know what I wanted. I went to all the usual high street kitchen stores but wasn’t overly impressed. Then a friend recommended Bettinsons and I chose them because of the quality and personal service.

Planning was as much about aesthetics as it was function. However, one of the most important things about my brief was that I am always entertaining. Before, guests would always be standing right in front of the oven or the bin when I was preparing food, so I wanted to make sure that guests were seated away from where I was prepping.

I also wanted the island to be as big as possible and I knew that I didn’t want any wall units. With a kitchen this size, I didn’t need them and the look overall is so much better without them.

John planned the kitchen initially and we re-worked the first design because I had a budget that we wanted to stick to.

It was funny because I was advised to have electrics in the island but I was insistent not to! I knew it would mean iPhones charging all over my food prep area and I just didn’t want to have a design and features that allowed for everyone to be around the main prepping areas. There’s so much space. It turned out perfectly because people sit at the end of the island where the bar stools are, at the huge table alongside the window and in the living area that flows into the kitchen.

My choice of style needed to be both contemporary and traditional because the house, although newly built, is traditional in style. I actually chose British Racing Green for the kitchen colour but then took my sister along to the showroom just before we needed to make the final decisions. There was a really lovely kitchen in this dark blue on display at the showroom and I changed to that last minute.

We love the kitchen.

John is old fashioned and an original gentleman. He genuinely cares and nothing is too much trouble. Kind of how people were when you used to buy things years ago. Bettinsons are on par with big kitchen companies in terms of pricing, but they exceed these companies in terms of their quality and personal service.

John Bettinson – Delightful and beautiful property to put one of our kitchens in. Lovely couple who were such a pleasure to work with.