Author: Neil Straker

The days are shorter, the frost has set in and we are soon to approach the most wonderful day of the year.

In the season to be jolly, we find ourselves surrounded by our family and friends. It’s at this time we tend to gather in the hub of the home with our guests more so than any other time of the year, so why not create the perfect space for entertaining?

Layout

When designing any kitchen, you should consider the flow. The working triangle, an ultimate kitchen design rule, is a concept that enhances efficiency and allows you to move effortlessly between the sink, fridge and cooking stations. The three points join to make an invisible triangle and create a safe and comfortable environment when entertaining.

Open-plan kitchens have become increasingly popular as they provide a space to socialise while the chef is preparing and cooking. An island is an excellent addition to an open-plan kitchen, offering guests and family a central area to gather, eat and drink or join in the preparations.

Seating

Seating is pivotal when entertaining. The gathering zone should provide your guests with a place to rest their feet and pop down their drinks while picking from a selection of canapés. As many tend to gravitate towards the centre of the kitchen, the island is the most logical place to add seating, becoming a communal area when cooking and chatting.

Open-plan kitchens offer an array of seating opportunities. You can create a relaxing area with a sofa, or more of a formal area with a dining table, enabling you to stay seated in-between courses without sacrificing your conversation.

Appliances

If cooking is part of your entertaining process, appliances need to be well-placed. Integrating appliances like the Neff Wifi oven creates a seamless finish and comes with the latest technology allowing you a few extra minutes in bed on Christmas morning while setting the oven to pre-heat from your phone.

If you chose to have one, your dishwasher should be situated out of guest view but easily accessible by the chef. The Mile dishwasher is a great addition to the kitchen as it can be double-tapped to open, removing the need to touch the cabinetry with mucky fingers.

If you have an island, it is the ideal place to put your hob as it means you’ll always be facing your guests. Leave the mulled wine to simmer and fill up from your seat.

Smart storage

You must think about smart storage solutions when designing your kitchen. Before any get together, especially Christmas, you stock up on food and drink. A built-in pantry is a great way to create space while incorporating it as part of your kitchen.

Wine coolers often take up valuable kitchen space and storing bottles can be challenging. Bespoke wine racks are an excellent alternative and make a unique feature.

And why not include a drinks cabinet to easily prepare festive cocktails and night caps without leaving the room?

For help designing your dream kitchen, please get in touch or visit our showroom.

Choosing the right kitchen appliances for you is crucial. We’re focusing on two appliances that are in high demand, the Quooker Flex and Neff Venting Hob.

The design process is a significant step in a kitchen renovation. It’s also the most exciting as you see all of your ideas come together to create your unique kitchen.

In the design phase, we consider everything from how you want your space to look, feel and function, discussing finishes, usage and overall look.

When it comes to appliances, the options are endless. We focus on finding you the right applicants to suit your kitchen, cooking style and preference e.g. gas to induction or wok burner to steam oven.

Lately we’ve seen a demand for two appliances, in particular, the Quooker Flex and the Neff Venting Hob. So, why have these been so popular?

About Quooker…

The demand for a hot tap has rocketed over the past year. Now, nearly all of our customers request a hot tap of some sort and this is when we introduce the Quooker Flex.

The Quooker Flex instantly provides 100 degree boiling water from the spout with a simple double press and twist motion, while offering the traditional hot and cold functionality. The unique flexible pull-out tap makes it easy to rinse and clean the sink at any point.

The Flex frees up worktop space, reduces waiting time and is more energy-efficient. Vegetables can be blanched, quick boil to pasta pans and an instant cup of tea are just some of the advantages of the Flex.

Why do we choose the Quooker over alternative hot taps? Because when equipped with the CUBE, the Flex has the bonus of chilled carbonated and filtered water, straight from the mains. The CUBE reduces your plastic consumption by eliminating the need for big plastic bottles cluttering your fridges and cupboards.

About Neff

For those who require their kitchen to look uninterrupted, a downdraft extractor, like the Venting Hob by Neff is a great choice.

The induction hob has automated pan recognition, reducing heat immediately when pans are removed. Removing the need for a wall-mounted fan, the Venting Hob extracts through the centre of the induction and recirculates clean air beneath the cabinet.

The extraction automatically adjusts depending on the amount of steam or odour being produced and can be overridden if necessary.

The built-in extractor is un-intrusive and allows you to reclaim space, creating an open and airy area in your kitchen.

The Quooker and Venting Hob are on display in our Devizes Showroom. If you require a demonstration or would like to discuss your kitchen project, please contact us and our design team will be in touch shortly.

Investing in young people and developing their skills is an important part of our culture at Cheverell and allows us to maintain the highest level of skills in-house for the future.

We’re therefore delighted to announce that Owen Thomson has recently passed his apprenticeship, becoming a qualified Cabinet Maker and an established member of our team. Congratulations Owen!

Owen joined us two years ago after completing the first year of his three-year course at college. During the past two years, Owen has worked with our skilled in-house cabinet makers gaining valuable experience as well as completing the final two years of his Carpentry and Joinery college course.

Since completing his apprenticeship, Owen is using the skills he’s learnt over the previous two years to produce high-quality furniture for us.

Owen has followed in the footsteps of many other Cheverell apprentices over the past 30 years who have become successful and highly-skilled cabinet makers. We are proud to be investing in our staff and being part of the development of the best joiners in the industry.

We will continue to invest in our staff and look forward to supporting our next apprentice as they start their careers.

The only way to truly appreciate the possibilities that Cheverell can offer is to see our work for yourself.

Based on the edge of the market town, Devizes, our showroom has recently undergone a luxurious remodel. You’ll find a selection of our exquisitely designed work on display, including kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms and storage solutions.

The showroom represents some of our best-handcrafted carpentry and allows visitors to visualise their perfect space and pick up inspiration.

Kitchens

We have various kitchen designs on display, one being a modern twist on a traditional kitchen. The cockbeaded inframe cabinetry is hand-painted using contrasting colours and two types of worktops, Honed Nero Assoluto Granite with Honed Carrara Marble, creating a gentle contrast throughout. Finishing touches are the antique mirrored splash-back and polished nickel knob and pull handles.

The bold and contemporary kitchen display is spray-painted in Hague Blue. Cabinets combine several styled doors, including the classic shaker, reeded panels and fluted glass. The 12mm thick porcelain worktops, splash-backs and antique brass handles compliment the striking units. Wifi-enabled cooking appliances from Neff are integrated into the limed-oak cabinetry, including tall larder storage. The new Quooker Flex tap and Cube are been installed to free up worktop space, providing chilled filtered, chilled sparkling, boiling and normal hot and cold.

Bathroom and wardrobe

The showroom also displays one of our most popular bathroom designs, the traditional vanity cabinet with beaded doors and glass pumpkin knobs with polished chrome backplates. Continuing with the traditional theme, we’ve added Perrin and Rowe taps above the oval basin with appealing dark Marron Imperial marble. Three large framed mirrors sit behind the vanity with display shelving on either side with downlights. The display shelving is made from low iron glass, offering a soft edge.

Our display bedroom wardrobe combines front folded silk and mirrored cabinetry. The mirrored doors have intensified intricate miter detail and beaded pilasters with a break fronted appearance. The Cornice top, glass pumpkin knobs create the perfect exterior finish. Sensor lighting brightens inside the wardrobe, shining on the adjustable shelving, drawers, shoe trays and brass hanging rails. Hidden magnets in the timber and doors pull the doors in quietly and softly.

Media unit

This media unit offers a unique way to incorporate useful storage space around your TV. The cabinets have grey birdseye veneer centre panels with bronze inlays mitred into the doors, finishing with a sprayed worktop with a specialist finish. Clever use of LED lighting with the backlit material panels give the piece a warm and ambient feel.

Whether you’re looking for inspiration or have a project in mind, our showroom is the perfect place to browse and begin your journey, and to discuss ideas with our experienced designers.