At Searle & Taylor we have partnered with Quooker for many years. A Quooker Boiling Water tap is one of our most requested appliances and one that we love to demonstrate. At our Winchester showroom we feature the recently launched Quooker Flex which we believe is a gamechanger in the kitchen because of its truly flexible functionality. No need for a kettle, no need for a filtered water jug – just the tap.
The Flex is the latest innovation from Quooker. A boiling-water tap equipped with a flexible pull out hose for hot, cold and filtered cold water. This makes it very easy to pour a glass of water, make a pot of filtered coffee or clean your pans quickly and effectively.
We are often asked if the Quooker Flex Boiling Water tap is safe? It is extremely safe thanks to the boiling-water stop. The Flex will not dispense boiling water when the pull out hose is pulled out. In order to get boiling water, you must also first use the (double)-push-and-turn handle. The insulated spout and fine aerated spray ensure no risk of scalding or burning.
Knocked over kettles cause hundreds of casualties each year, especially for young children. Such accidents are a thing of the past with the Quooker, thanks to its childproof handle and insulated sides that ensure it never feels hot to the touch. The water is boiling, but the flow is a fine spray rather than a solid jet, giving you plenty of time to get your hands out of harm's way. The boiling water control is entirely separate from the standard hot and cold. Safety and ease of use go hand in hand with the Quooker.
We are also asked if the Quooker is energy efficient? The patented insulation of its tank means that its standby consumption is less then 3p per day. It uses less electricity than repeatedly boiling a kettle. Most of all, having a Quooker Flex Boiling Water tap means that you have the convenience of all different types of hot and cold filtered water from a single tap.
Please come and ask for a demonstration at our Winchester showroom and you can view the benefits for yourself.
In March last year, I was delighted to be invited to a private view of the launch of the new Gaggenau Vario 400 cooling series; a modular range of refrigerators, freezers, fridge-freezers and wine climate cabinets which can be configured to meet an array of individual needs.
I am pleased to have our selection of the new Vario 400 series now installed in the Searle & Taylor Winchester showroom and the fridge, freezer and wine cabinet look fantastic installed side-by-side as a ‘cooling wall’ in a dramatic contemporary anthracite matt glass Intuo kitchen display on the ground floor.
As you would expect from a luxury brand like Gaggenau, there are a lot of stunning features that make this cooling system stand out from the crowd. The most innovative aspect is the Gaggenau opening assist system: push to open the handleless door and the mechanism will effortlessly open it for you – and this mechanism can also be tailored to excatly suit your requirements. Thanks to its ingenious proximity sensor, even the door‘s ice and water dispenser anticipates your needs and automatically activates the light and touch keys as you approach.
The doors to the larder fridge and integrated freezer open to reveal a complete stainless steel interior and dark anthracite anodised aluminium elements. Clear glass shelving and solid aluminium door racks are further complemented by a stunning atmospheric glow from the warm-white, glare-free LED lights.
The Vario wine climate cabinets in the 400 series take inspiration from the oak barrels used to age wine. Oak and dark anthracite aluminium bottle trays fully extend on telescopic rails to provide gentle support for the wine. Further safeguards are provided by the cabinet’s low vibration, humidity regulation, and the activated charcoal air filter which protects the wine from odour contamination. Up to three independently controlled climate zones can also be adjusted via the newly installed intuitive TFT display. This means part of your wine collection can be stored in cellar-like conditions, while bottles that should be enjoyed now can be served on demand.
We feature a wide range of Gaggenau appliances on display at our Ropley and Winchester showrooms. If you are ordering one of our kitchens with Gaggenau appliances, we can also organise for you to have a private appointment at the Gaggeanu showroom in Wigmore Street, London to view the full range.
Please call or visit us for more information.
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This contemporary kitchen is designed by Searle & Taylor with  furniture from Austrian manufacturer, EWE. Featuring glass fronts, the grey tall units combine perfectly with the white cabinetry. A huge kitchen island is the central focus of the kitchen with a matching Silestone worktop and all appliances are by Neff.
Project:
Contemporary open plan kitchen and lifestyle space.
What Searle & Taylor created:
Due to the extremely generous size of the room the owner wanted to explore every option so that the space was maximised for a large family and regular entertaining and a large island unit of an unusual shape was always part of the brief. Using cabinetry by Austrian brand, EWE, we designed the largest island possible for the kitchen whilst taking into account a sensible gap all the way around. We also had to consider the large glass ceiling lanterns and position a ceiling extractor between these. Therefore, the position of the hob was very important as the extractor had to be directly over it to ensure it worked to its optimum level.
The island was too big to have the Silestone quartz worktop made from one single slab; instead, we create two thicknesses, which also provided contrast. The seating section is built up to 80mm whereas the working side of the island is 20mm. To work with the vast amount of windows in the room a two-tone kitchen was designed using glass fronted Intuo cabinets in Quartz contrasted with Panna colourways.
This kitchen is highly functional because almost all the base units are pull-outs and the ovens are positioned in tall cabinets. Appliances are by Neff: together with the bank of four ovens and large warming drawers, the tall run of Anthracite units holds a full height fridge, full height freezer and two full height larder units with internal pull-out drawers. The plinth beneath was specially ordered in stainless steel slats to provide the necessary airflow required for the integrated fridge/freezer.
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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]This handpainted Signature Bespoke has a number of unusual features. Part of an extension, it has curved tall units and a stunning kitchen island with a cantilever breakfast bar. Offering  dual functionality,  it has a fully integrated workstation concealed behind pocket doors. Cooking appliances are by Miele and Gaggenau.
Project:
Signature Bespoke open plan kitchen with integrated workstation.
Design Inspiration:
The kitchen was to be designed as an open plan lifestyle space that also included a full workstation that could be concealed when not in use.
What Searle & Taylor created:
The kitchen was part of an extension to a detached house that was built during the 1990’s. The extension was designed as an open plan lifestyle space that incorporated a kitchen and separate dining area, a ‘snug’ seating area and importantly, a workstation that could be hidden from view when socialising and entertaining.
Floor to ceiling cabinets were designed against the back wall with a large linear island in front. To soften the look of the room, the corner units were curved at equal angles on either side and includes a tall walk-in larder with internal shelving at separate heights. Also integrated is an extra wide 90cm Liebherr fridge freezer with ice maker and a bank of built-in cooking appliances, as specified by the client.
The large central island with granite worksurface houses nine drawers with shell handles and is designed with a dual purpose: for food preparation and cooking on one side and for relaxed seating with a cantilevered solid oak breakfast bar on the other. The cooking area houses a centrally positioned full surface induction hob, which is directly beneath a flush mounted ceiling hood.
As requested, to the right hand side of the cabinets, a work station was created that could accommodate files, folders and a large screen PC. In order to be as functional as possible, a set of pocket doors were developed on a bi-fold system that return into side pockets to leave the workstation clear and open. Complementing the rest of the cabinetry, the doors feature carved semi-circles within clean lines together with semi-circular handles that reveal a mandala-inspired design when closed.
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At Searle & Taylor, one of the most exciting aspects of working in the kitchen design business is sourcing fantastic complementary appliances and products for our showroom displays that we believe people will love and want in their own kitchens.
We seek out exciting niche brands to bring them to your attention, and one that ticks all the boxes in the lead up to Christmas is the Kaelo integrated wine cooler that can be retro-fitted into your worktop.
The Kaelo is one appliance that is a must-have for anyone who socialises or entertains on a regular basis. It is designed to keep chilled wine or Champagne at the perfect ambient temperature when opened, so you can just relax and pour. Handmade in England, Kaelo uses a patented dry cooling system to keep the bottle within one to two degrees of its opening temperature with no need for ice or refills, and no drips. It is integrated into your worktop and just needs a plug, so if you have an open plan kitchen, your open bottle is always close to hand.
We have a Kaelo integrated wine cooler on display at both of our Ropley and Winchester showrooms, so please pop in or arrange an appointment and we can demonstrate it to you.
Searle & Taylor is one of Hampshire’s few premium kitchen companies that make fully bespoke kitchens. There are even fewer that can create curved and circular furniture, as it is a very complicated process, but we always love to keep ahead of the curve…
Having trained as a cabinetmaker, I have always loved working with beautiful and pliable timbers, and that training also allowed me and my team to develop designs where we can feature curved furniture within an otherwise linear kitchen layout. By adding  curved units we can continue a line of cabinets around corners in a seamless run, and we can also maximise storage space by doing so. By incorporating a curved breakfast bar to a rectangular island makes a cold space seem much warmer and more inclusive.
We are delighted that one of our Signature Bespoke curved designs is featured in the October 2018 issue of Utopia Kitchen & Bathroom; a newsstand magazine dedicated to luxury interiors.
Curves soften the look of a room, no matter how large or small. If you are seeking a beautiful bespoke kitchen with lots of different and up-to-the-minute design ideas, then please talk to us about our Signature Bespoke kitchens.
Many of the kitchens we design are part of open plan living spaces that are multifunctional rooms. Because of this, the kitchen furniture needs to blend with the rest of the living area and appliances need to be as unobtrusive as possible. However, part of our design process is to consider ‘the working kitchen’ for years to come, and this includes what happens when you cook, clean and use your appliances on a regular basis.
In order to keep grease and cooking odours at bay in a working kitchen, we recommend a range of different extraction options, from concealed hoods to the latest combination versions, where the extractor comprises part of the induction hob. The most popular type of extractor that we specify for open plan kitchens and lifestyle spaces is the fashionable integrated ceiling hood and while it is ideally situated directly above the hob, it can be installed anywhere above the overall kitchen space. These discreet extraction models are designed to remove bad odours while recirculating fresh air, so you can live in an ambient environment.
A ceiling hood does not disturb the eyeline nor compromise the aesthetic of the kitchen furniture and we partner with two extraction brands that feature powerful, yet very quiet extraction models, so they won’t drown out the sound of conversation when you are entertaining.
Even if you have a period property with limited veiling space between the joists, we can recommend compact ceiling hoods with integrated motors of less that 20cm in depth, and we can also recommend motorless versions and also the best recirculation models.
For ceiling hoods we recommend two brands: Novy and Westin.
Firmly established for over 50 years as the leading premium extraction innovation brand in Northern Europe, Novy is a relative newcomer to the UK. Manufactured in Belgium, Novy invented and patented perimeter extraction and the first silencer in cooker hoods and its appliances are proven to be the quietest and most powerful on the market. Every Novy ceiling hood features LED mood lighting that can be easily adjusted by remote control from cold light for cooking and warmer tones when socialising. Exceptional quality is paramount with Novy products, which accounts for their premium position. We were proud to be one of the first kitchen specialists to feature a Novy remote-controlled ceiling hood on display in our luxury boutique showroom in Winchester.
Searle & Taylor is a Novy Premium Innovation Partner and we can source all Novy induction, combination and extraction models for your kitchen.
There are very few truly British appliance brands, but Westin, based in Huddersfield, Yorkshire is one of them. Established in 1921, the company makes a range of cooker hoods including true bespoke versions, if required. Every hood and extractor is hand-built, and they make a wide range of options to suit all kitchens, with a focus on British kitchens. They have a middle to premium position and we have been a retail partner of Westin for a number of years.
We feature Westin remote-controlled ceiling hoods on display at our main Searle & Taylor showroom in Ropley. We can source all types of Westin cooker hoods and extraction models for your kitchen.
On Thursday 19th July, Searle & Taylor will be one of six businesses to open their doors between 6pm and 9pm for the Southgate Street Soiree; the first event of its kind, and you are invited…
Southgate Street in Winchester has always been home to a range of diverse independent boutique businesses and has a heritage dating back centuries. Our Searle & Taylor showroom is situated in a listed Georgian building and is located at 19 Southgate Street, directly opposite the world-famous Hotel du Vin.
We will be on hand to show you round our capacious showroom which features a range of Signature and Handmade Bespoke displays together with luxury contemporary kitchen styles by Austrian brands, Intuo and EWE. Our highly trained team will be available to discuss the latest trends in kitchen design and to answer your own design queries.
We will be serving Prosecco chilled in the Kaelo, the latest must-have integrated wine cooler for the kitchen. If you would prefer to have a cup of freshly brewed coffee, then we will make it using our luxury built-in Gaggenau coffee machine, while freshly cooked canapes will be made in our range of stunning Miele ovens. There will also be two representatives from the brand who will also be able to answer any questions you have about cooking using Miele appliances.
The other businesses taking part in the Southgate Street Soiree are:
WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU
In May, I was contacted by the BBC as they wanted to interview an independent kitchen expert about the subject of guarantees for kitchens. The focus was on the 25 year guarantee that IKEA offers, as the programme had received certain complaints about the retailer.
I have worked in kitchen design as both a manufacturer and retailer for nearly 27 years, and I had never heard of a 25 year guarantee before. We guarantee our bespoke workmanship for 10 years and our contemporary kitchens by Intuo and EWE for five years, and any appliances, worktops, sinks, taps and accessories we sell are covered by their own manufacturers’ warranties. These can range from anywhere between one and five years depending on the manufacturer.
It was amazing to see the BBC Watchdog team at work, as they are all very professional and committed. I was interviewed by presenter, Nikki Fox who was delightful and she immediately put me at ease. My interview lasted around 40 minutes and we covered a great range of topics about kitchens, multiple retailers vs. independents and how you can tell the difference between ‘wear and tear’ and a fault, and I gave some good examples. We also talked about quality control and the promises that major retailers make to guarantee a sale. Sadly, when it made the final edit, my segment was cut down to a minute or so, but it was my first foray as an industry expert on TV, and hopefully not my last….
Darren Taylor, MD, Searle & Taylor with BBC Watchdog presenter, Nikki Fox
In the world of kitchens, there are some words that are sometimes misrepresented or overused, and one of them is the word ‘Hand-painted’ and another is ‘Bespoke’, but I will draw attention to the latter another time. There are a number of businesses that sell Hand-painted kitchens, but the kitchens aren’t actually painted by hand – but in a painting booth at the time of manufacture.
Buyer beware, because if you are told that your hand-painted kitchen is only available in a stock range of colours then it is likely to be machine-painted, and not hand-painted, but it will be finished by hand. The result may be slick, as machines are pretty good these days, but it isn’t what you are doubtless paying for.
At Searle & Taylor, we work with our clients to choose the perfect colours they require for their handmade and hand-painted kitchens, and we recommend a number of paint manufacturers from Farrow and Ball to a trade paint range from Finland that we love called Valtti. We also recommend paints from Sanderson, Paint and Paper Library and the Little Greene Company plus countless others. All premium paints provide great coverage, which is important for the long-term look of your kitchen. Meanwhile, we know that mainstream manufacturers like Dulux now offer a paint-matching service, and as long as we can test the paint in advance, we are happy to work with whichever paint manufacturer you want to choose for your hand-painted kitchen.
As part of our service, we offer three coats of paint on your furniture, and we will always ensure that the finishing is of the highest standard.
#farrowandball #valtti #littlegreenepaintcompany #sanderson #paintandpaperlibrary
#handpaintedkitchens
Searle & Taylor has been designing and creating beautiful traditional bespoke and contemporary kitchens for clients since 1991.
