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John and Deb Digby had a kitchen they only walked into to cook. It was dated, impractical for daily life and not a space they felt proud to host in. Designer Jon Chater kept every service exactly where it was, designed the new cabinets around their existing plumbing and built a storage island with seating angled to look over the garden. Now, it’s their favourite room in the house.
“We didn’t use it a lot at all, except to cook”
– how John & Deb got a kitchen they actually live in
The old kitchen was uncomfortable and dated, and wasn’t a space the Digby’s wanted to spend time in. They simply went in to cook, and then came straight back out.
“We spend a lot of time in here [now],” John explained. “The old one was uncomfortable, it was very old fashioned, and we didn’t use it a lot at all.” Like so many homeowners, they had simply learned to live with a kitchen that was impractical and unappealing, and came very close to never transforming their space.
“We’re not brilliant at getting things done. We talk a lot about organising things, but we thought, let’s book an appointment, what can go wrong!” Said Deb.
Choosing Leekes for their dream kitchen project became a no brainer for the Digby’s after multiple other quotes didn’t meet their needs.
“We had a few quotes, but Jon listened to what we wanted.” shared Deb. “With Leekes, it’s all coordinated, so it feels smooth”. “You don’t have to go off and see one person and coordinate the tiles, and then somebody else says, well, that’s not my department.”
Deb had also maintained a 15-year relationship with Leekes. “I used Leekes for my last kitchen in Miskin, probably about 15 years ago, possibly even longer. So, I’d known about the process, and the big thing that we like about Leekes is that they coordinate everything.”
Like most homeowners tackling a renovation, John and Deb wanted to keep the cost down as best as they could. Jon was able to prioritise this in the design, without sacrificing the quality and premium finish of the kitchen.
“He didn’t try to over sell us.” recalled Deb. John noted, that “We knew what we wanted, but it was how were we going to do it for the price.”
Jon, the designer, then suggested using a more affordable unit range in the utility room. Because it’s a space designed for practicality, rather than somewhere guests spend time, it was a smart way to make savings without compromising on style. Matching fittings ensure the two spaces look almost identical, creating a seamless flow between both rooms. This allows the kitchen to remain premium, while the utility room takes care of the everyday jobs.
Kitchen Designer, Llantrisant · 20 years
“Working with John and Deb was such a pleasure. They were always open to my ideas, which allowed us to create a kitchen and utility that worked perfectly for their family. I suggested using the Minster door from our Omega range in the utility, keeping the same colour and styling as their solid timber Manor House kitchen, but at a more accessible price point. It was a practical choice for a hardworking space, and helped keep the overall investment balanced without compromising on the finished look. I do this a lot with many kitchens, as lots of our ranges have similarly styled doors in lots of different price points. From a distance you would never think they were different!”
The island was designed with storage in mind. Taking up no more space than a dining table, it provides room for crockery, glasses and even a chilled wine fridge. As well as helping to keep the kitchen clutter-free, it creates a natural spot for family and friends to socialise, as Deb explains:
“[The island counter] is functional – it’s not just a big table with a couple of chairs; the storage is amazing underneath. Jon designed that, as we wanted as much storage space as possible!”
To further maximise the island counter’s position in the kitchen, John and Deb wanted to be able to see the garden when sitting at the counter. By carefully positioning the bar stools to be facing the windows, they can now enjoy their morning coffee at their beautiful breakfast bar, while admiring stunning views of their cottage gardens.
The finishing touch to the island came from Creative Bridge, a local Barry company, specialising in bespoke handcrafted wood. Their custom worktop provides a striking focal point, adding a unique element to the space that Jon was happy to incorporate into their design.
The Digby’s had already bought their cooker before the design work began, so the entire kitchen had to be built around a fixed point. Rather than treat it as a limitation, Jon made it the starting point for the whole project.
“We’d chosen our cooker first, so he had to work around the cooker, because we’d already decided what we were having,” said John. “Brilliant purchase, that was. So then [Jon] worked around everything. He did it to the millimetre.”
The same thinking applied to the services. John and Deb arrived without a fixed plan, and it quickly became clear that the existing layout was already doing more work than they had realised.
“We actually went in pretty open-minded, although it very quickly became apparent that we could virtually leave things wired up in the same place. We had a fridge, a fridge-freezer, a dishwasher there already, so that setup was good,” John explained.
Keeping the plumbing and electrics where they were took both cost and disruption out of the project. At the top of John and Deb’s wish list was a kitchen island, and they drew on Jon’s expertise to ensure its proportions were perfectly suited to the space. “We knew we wanted an island. Again, Jon used his knowledge to tell us how big we could have it,” said John.
One of the most challenging aspects of any kitchen project is visualisation, as homeowners are often asked to commit to a design that exists only on paper. Jon designed John and Deb’s kitchen in 3D first, using ArticadPRO. That way, every decision could be seen before it was made – something Deb found invaluable.
“It was good, because we could just sit and chat with Jon, and then we’d say, ‘Actually, yeah, we will have the glass, can you show [us]?’ and he’d show us what it would look like in 3D,” she said.
“John’s better at imagining things. I have to see them. So actually being able to do that, and Jon saying, ‘Right, this is what it’ll look like if you have the glass cabinets, this is what it’ll look like if you have the island’ — for me, that was really helpful.”
Being able to test an idea on screen, rather than imagine it, is what allowed them to keep refining the design right up until they were happy with it, before making an expensive commitments.
John and Deb’s gorgeous golden retriever, Sam, was just a puppy when the kitchen went in.
A newly completed kitchen is very different from one that has been lived in, and John and Deb are the first to admit that it picks up the occasional mark, especially with a puppy in the house. “Which you do, if you have a dog,” said Deb, on the small scratches that come with everyday life.
Thankfully, Jon had planned for the natural wear and tear of everyday life. “Jon got me some touch-up paint from the supplier, so if we get little scars, we’ve got a little thing we can just touch up and it disappears,” said John.
Sam is lucky enough to have his very own space in the utility room. As well as the cupboard filled with his treats, toys and walking gear, Sam also has his very own personalised dog bowl. By using the off cuts of the utility room countertop, Steve the fitter was able to fashion a bespoke dog bowl stand, which perfectly matches the kitchen units in the room.
Two years of real use, a dog, hosting friends, and everyday cooking have not changed how they feel about it. “We’d never change it,” said John. “So the process must have been done right.”
John and Deb had three quotes before choosing Leekes, and the difference came down to being listened to.
“It was impossible to try and describe what we wanted to those people,” said John of the alternatives; one with a limited range of units, another that would not visit the house at all. “The other guy came out but didn’t really listen to what we wanted. Jon did.”
Two years on, the verdict is unchanged. “Delighted,” said Deb. “Delighted with it, and we would recommend Leekes,” said John.
“So 100%, we’d use them again,” said Deb. “100% recommend Leekes,” added John.
Selecting a more cost-effective range for the utility room is a clever way to manage the budget without compromising the overall look. By choosing units that match the kitchen’s design, you maintain a seamless appearance throughout the space while reserving the premium units for the room that sees the most use and entertaining.
Yes. In many cases, a new kitchen can be designed and installed around your existing plumbing, electrical and gas services. Keeping services in their current locations can help reduce installation costs and minimise disruption.
Absolutely. Your kitchen design should reflect your personal style, and many customers choose to incorporate their own ideas and bespoke features. In this project, the Digbys enhanced their kitchen island with a custom-made worktop from Creative Bridge in Barry, creating a unique focal point that complemented the overall design. Your designer can work with you to seamlessly integrate specialist materials, finishes or custom pieces into your new kitchen.
John and Deb stayed in the house throughout the process, turning their dining room into a temporary, makeshift kitchen, with a kettle, microwave and air fryer set up.
