Kitchen Design and Planning Advice from the Experts - Tim's Kitchen Interviews - Julia Kendell - Designer

Inspiration, Information, In the Kitchen

Next up in our series of interviews is the beautiful designer Julia Kendell, whose specialist discipline prior to becoming a regular on our TV screens, was that of a a Professional Kitchen Designer. Here she offers some great tips and a candid opinion to the questions I posed.

Julia Kendell You’ve been a mainstay on our TV screens now for a number of years appearing on 60 Minute Makeover and DIY SOS among other home makeover shows but which, of all the shows you’ve taken part in, are you most proud of and why?

I'm proud of what we achieve and the difference it can make to a family's life in all my programmes, but I do particularly enjoy DIYSOS The Big Build where we have the opportunity to take on whole houses, complete them to a high specification and transform a family's life completely. I used to work privately for wealthy clients, but nothing beats the look of joy, I call it the 'Oh my God!' moment, when a down-to-earth family see for the first time what we have achieved for them and you can actually see the weight lifting from their shoulders. It's a huge privilege to be a part of the process

I know from our time working together, that you specialise in Kitchen Design and given that our website is visited in the main by kitchen buyers seeking expert advice, what are your top five tips for efficient and ergonomic kitchen design?

1 Consider the flow around your kitchen, ie how you will move around it, trying not to put obstacles in the path of main thoroughfares. Be particularly careful if you are incorporating island units or a peninsular with angled corners.

2 Ensure you have the right kind of storage for your needs. Before you start the planning process, make a list of everything you have that needs a 'home' to ensure you have the right storage in the right place within your kitchen.

3 If you are incorporating a hob on an island, build in a small prep sink into the island too to prevent the need for carrying pots of boiling water over to a sink on another worksurface. I see this badly thought-through detail in kitchens all the time and it is so dangerous.

4 Work out your real cooking style before you invest in a Tepan plate or uber-large range oven you'll never use!

5 Use practical worksurfaces and finishes that you don't need to be too precious about. If you want your kitchen to look good for years to come its important to make the right choices for your family.

There’s been a recent a debate regarding Kevin McLoud’s opinion on kitchens relating to a quote taken from his latest publication in which he states ”Structurally there’s negligible difference between the £5000 kitchen and it’s £50,000 equivalent” Do you agree with this if we consider primarily the construction of the furniture and doors?

Mmm.. it's not quite as black and white as that is it?! Certainly kitchens at the lower end of the price bracket have improved massively in recent years using good quality hinges and soft-closers as standard. And by the same token I know of high end kitchens who use standard mfc carcassing. However, there is a huge difference between manufacturers when it comes to drawer box quality and door composition. Its very important for buyers to look carefully at the internal construction of their kitchen of choice before committing. If anything feels 'flimsy' it will not stand up to wear and tear. There is no doubt that the detailing and door quality massively improves as you move up the price bracket, as generally does design expertise and attention to detail.

I think the bigger question is the difference between £15,000 and £50,000. Often it is just expensive store locations and marketing. But then many will pay for designer branding as with any commodity.

There.. that's another cat amongst the pigeons!

Who is your favourite designer and why?

Without question it is Johnny Grey. He has pushed the boundaries of kitchen design and taken a wholly fresh approach. I love his confidence in putting many different timbers and colours together creating a marvelous cacophony that is both energising and uplifting. His disregard for the norm is inspiring and I look to him alone for my own inspiration.

If you had the power with the flick of a finger to create something to make your work as a kitchen designer easier what would you choose?

Probably a degree in psychology. I find one of the hardest roles in design is managing the relationship between husband and wife! I think people underestimate what an important room the kitchen is. Replacing your kitchen turns your life upside down for a brief period but is a very emotional time. I often find myself between two warring factions!

In your projects outside of television how important is the use of the internet to both raise awareness of your private projects or commissions and in sourcing quality products?

For the past three years I have had little time to indulge in private commissions, but with the demands of the television programmes I simply could not do what I need to do without the internet. When I started my business in 1997 the internet was in its infancy and I would trawl around London and trade fairs to source products. These days I can locate exactly what I want, read reviews, download technical spec within minutes. Having the internet on my phone means I can continue my work whenever I'm travelling the length and breadth of the country by train.

Do you keep your finger on the pulse in the KBB sector? Do you read the trade mags, visit KBB Events, check out the internet for kitchen industry updates?

I'd like to say a resounding 'yes' to that, but if I'm being honest I am not as up to speed as I should be. I am working across the entire spectrum of design these days, including eco building and renewable technologies so there is simply not enough hours in the day to be a specialist in kitchens any longer! I speak at NHIS and present at the Homebuilding and Renovating shows so always take time to see what's new there.

What new tools do you believe are essential for the 21st Century designer?

I use a Leica laser measure that is ridiculously accurate and able to plot straight into my CAD system direct from the measure - its phenomenal and saves me lots of time. Every designer should have one!

If you were to choose five kitchen components to use in your ideal kitchen what would they be?

I am currently designing my kitchen for our new house build and as this is a house we intend to live in for many years I am determined to get it right. I am motivated by self-sufficiency and, as we have a small-holding and kitchen garden, the most important element is a separate cold store/larder for storing my produce. I also intend having two kitchens, one as a 'theatre kitchen' where I cook within the open plan space and one 'closed off' for prep and dishwashing. Corian is my worksurface of choice which I will mix with quartz stone and timber. I'm an Aga fan so no fancy extractor for me sadly! A wine chiller is near the top of the list, as is an ice maker and 90cm wide fridge.

Finally Julia, do you use Social media for your business and if so which are most effective for your business as a whole and what is your twitter address for fans to follow your tweets?

I love using Twitter. I think it is a phenomenal marketing tool and works instantly to put you in touch with your target audience if used cleverly. I have been introduced to many interesting new products by small businesses, trades people offering great services and the opportunity to put other people together. I try to avoid Facebook as I think it would be too easy to lose valuable time.. I just don't trust myself!

Twitter: @juliakendell

I'd ike to thank Julia for her comprehensive and inspirational answers to my questions and to discover more do browse over to her website www.juliakendell.com

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Inspiration, Information, In the Kitchen