ABOUT DARREN TAYLOR
OWNER OF 
SEARLE & TAYLOR KITCHENS

Darren Taylor Managing Director
18-year old Darren Taylor featured in the Alton Herald in 1991
I have been in the kitchens industry for my entire working life. I live, love and breathe it, and I really enjoy designing kitchens and furniture to this day.

Following a two-year apprenticeship in skilled cabinet-making and with some very big ideas, I started designing and making kitchens in 1991, when I was just 18 years old. Following a feature in the local Alton Herald Newspaper we began receiving commissions for bespoke furniture and kitchens, which started to build the business. With my former business partner, I gradually made the transition to designing bespoke handcrafted kitchens from a small farm workshop in Alton until we soon moved to larger premises in Winchester.

Today, I remain the proud owner of Searle & Taylor, which is now the longest-established kitchen design studio in Winchester. Over this time, we have designed and made thousands of kitchens for clients in Hampshire and beyond and we have always been renowned for providing outstanding and considerate customer service.

I am supported by a fantastic team of talented designers and craftspeople, some of whom have worked closely with me for over 20 years. My foundation in bespoke cabinet-making ensures that we all have a fundamental understanding of every aspect of kitchen design and planning; from expertly hand-crafted curved cabinet displays, to walk-in larders and foldaway pocket doors. All elements intrinsically come together and work beautifully with one another.

We bring your ideas to life with our thoughtful and intelligent designs and working with you, we create both practical yet elegant solutions to suit your needs and desires. Offering precise installation advice our kitchens and furniture pieces are built to withstand the test of time.

If you are considering a new kitchen, or you are just looking for some design inspiration, pop into our stunning Winchester showroom for a coffee and an opportunity to discuss your project with one of our dedicated team. We look forward to meeting you soon.
Our History

1991-2024

Searle & Taylor has been designing and making kitchens in Hampshire and beyond since 1991

1991

First shop opens displaying furniture handmade by Darren

1991

Darren Taylor is featured in the Alton Herald

1992

A farmer’s workshop was rented to make orders sold in the shop

1995

As the business grew, kitchens became a staple for the company

1998

Searle & Taylor specialised in kitchens made from reclaimed pine

1998

Searle & Taylor opened a factory showroom in Hampshire

2000

Searle & Taylor started outsourcing its designs

2003

Gavin Alexander joins the company

2005

Searle & Taylor started manufacturing for other brands

2007

Darren and his business partner started looking for larger premises

2007

A new kitchen showroom in Ropley, Hampshire

2008

Exhibiting at Grand Designs Live with Kevin McCloud

2013

Darren Taylor opens a new showroom in central Winchester

2015

Searle & Taylor rebrands with a new logo 

2015

Paul New joins the company

2016

Searle & Taylor in the press

2018

Darren appears as an industry expert on Watchdog

2019

Searle & Taylor moves in entirety to the Winchester showroom

2020

Working alone throughout the pandemic

2021

Searle & Taylor celebrates its 30th anniversary

2022

Searle & Taylor wins the Winchester Business Excellence Award

2023

Works begin on a new extension to the Winchester showroom

2023

Searle & Taylor receives its 100th five-star Google review

Searle & Taylor is the longest-established independent kitchen company in Winchester

COMPLETE KITCHENS WITH PREMIUM APPLIANCES 
AND WORKTOPS

We design and make complete kitchens that are built to last and we only partner with, and display, the very best kitchen furniture, worktop and appliance suppliers. As an independent retailer, we choose to work with those suppliers and we always present their products in a totally unbiased manner, helping you to decide what is right for your project. This provides the reassurance that the products we display and supply are proven in terms of quality and value for money, and all come with a full customer service support and warranty package running in the background, should we ever need it. We have been working for decades with many of our suppliers and we have long, trusted relationships with them.

WE DESIGN OPEN PLAN KITCHENS AND LIVING SPACES

The kitchen has evolved over the last decade from being much more than simply the place where food is prepared to now being the busiest multi-purpose room within our homes. It really is the heart of your home and is often an entire lifestyle space that incorporates cooking, dining, hosting friends and family, relaxing and living. At Searle & Taylor we have all the experience required to create that dream kitchen and enjoyable living space whether you are in a period property or in a modern townhouse.

This often means that additional building work is required: walls may need to come down, new lighting necessary and new flooring with underfloor heating, together with a number of additional home automation options including Wi-Fi connectivity. We can advise you and oversee this work from the removal of your existing kitchen to the fixing of services such as plumbing, electrics and gas etc. We work very closely in partnership with a local and highly reputable building company that can undertake these major lifestyle projects.

We also regularly work with architects and we have a full comprehension of the planning process and recent updates. Please ask us should you require additional building work, so that we can create an appropriate estimate that fully encompasses all your requirements.

WE MAKE BESPOKE FURNITURE FOR EVERY ROOM IN YOUR HOME

Because we are specialists in crafting handmade bespoke kitchens, we also make complementary freestanding furniture, such as dressers and pantries. We also create furniture for other rooms in the home such as utility rooms and boot rooms. We can make bookcases and decorative shelving, dining room furniture, bedroom furniture, wardrobes and walk-in-wardrobes plus integrated seating areas. We fully project manage every scheme from design to installation so if you are planning a home renovation, then we will be happy to discuss your requirements. Please see our Kitchen Details and 
Furniture Details pages for more information.

QUALITY KITCHENS - QUALITY ASSURED

Searle & Taylor has earnt an excellent and long-held reputation for listening to the ideas and unique requirements of its discerning customers and translating them into creative, intelligent and thoughtful designs. Every project is personal to you and to us, which is why we take pride in the highest quality and we never consider our part in any project to be finished until you are completely satisfied with the result. Please see our Testimonials page for more information.
01962 850 851