Good evening and welcome to the latest in our series of Design Talks at The Myers Touch. We’re sorry we can’t be with you in person due to ongoing restrictions, but we’re delighted so many of you have joined us tonight. I’m here with Keith, and we’ll be discussing a topic close to our hearts: award-winning kitchens.We hope this talk will give you a glimpse into our world and help you understand what makes a kitchen worthy of an award. We encourage you to ask questions throughout the presentation. Our designer, Jay, will be answering them via the chat box.

Our Studio and Recent Award

We’re broadcasting from our studio in Winchester. For those who haven’t visited us before, we hope you like the look of our home as much as we do. Imagine you’re walking up the steps, through our garden, and entering the studio.Recently, we were named Kitchen Retailer of the Year at Liverpool Cathedral. It’s one of the top awards in the UK for a studio like ours, and we’re honoured to be recognised.

What Makes an Award-Winning Kitchen?

When we design a kitchen, we’re not aiming to win awards; we’re aiming to win clients. Our goal is to create kitchens that capture your heart and impress your friends when they visit. That’s what we consider an award-winning kitchen.

Our Products and Approach

We’re a Siematic retailer, specialising in luxury German kitchens. We particularly enjoy working with their SLX range, which offers beautiful design and quality. Although it’s more of an off-the-shelf product, it’s highly customisable.Our studio features complete kitchen setups, not just partial displays. This allows clients to get a real feel for the kitchens and often helps them identify their preferences quickly.

Our Awards and Recognition

We’ve consistently received House & House awards for five years running. These awards are based on client ratings and the popularity of our designs on their platform. We’re particularly proud of our design awards, which place us in the top 2% of designers globally.

Project Showcase: Stately Home in Hampshire

One of our notable projects was for a stately home in Hampshire. The original 1970s kitchen was in disrepair and didn’t reflect the house’s style. We stripped everything out, including the ceiling, revealing beautiful architectural features.The client opted for a contemporary kitchen style, which created an interesting tension between old and new. We worked carefully to incorporate the client’s existing antique furniture and mirror, blending the old with the new.

Project Showcase: Award-Winning Kitchen from 2011

Another significant project was our first design award finalist in 2011. The client wanted a large island while maintaining a view of the countryside. Our innovative solution included built-in furniture, which was quite novel at the time.This project highlighted the importance of involving designers early in the process. The client later wished he had consulted us earlier, as we could have influenced the extension’s design to better accommodate the kitchen layout.

In conclusion, award-winning kitchens are those that not only look beautiful but also feel right for the people living in them. Our focus is always on creating spaces that reflect our clients’ needs and desires, rather than chasing awards.