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WHY WE RECOMMEND POCKET DOORS

What is a pocket door?  Unlike a standard cabinetry door that opens and closes on hinges, a pocket door features an additional runner system at the base and the top of the door so that it can open outwards and then slide into a side recess (the pocket) leaving the interior on show and making […]

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INSPIRATIONAL NEW LAUNCHES IN
CHELSEA AND WIGMORE STREET

Every so often I take myself out of my comfort zone in beautiful Winchester to seek inspiration and attend new launches taking place in London. September and October are packed with interior design festivals and I try to attend at least one of them to see what’s new and different. This time my day out […]

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NEW COAL BLACK OVENS FROM DE DIETRICH
AT SEARLE & TAYLOR

As an independent kitchen design studio, we are always on the lookout for products from partner brands that we believe will meet and exceed the expectations of our clients, and will look fantastic in our kitchens.  I have always been impressed by the functionality of the appliances by French brand, De Dietrich. It has recently […]

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WHY WE DESIGN AND SELL COMPLETE KITCHENS

At Searle & Taylor, we design and sell complete kitchens. This means that we design kitchens that feature appliances, worktops, sinks and taps and accessories, like handles and glass splashbacks. The prices for these products are all included in our quotations. We sell complete kitchens for your convenience and peace of mind. By doing so […]

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WINNERS OF THE SERVICE EXCELLENCE AWARD 2022 AT THE WINCHESTER BUSINESS EXCELLENCE AWARDS

Darren Taylor, managing director, and Gavin Alexander, design manager with the Winchester Service Excellence Award 2022 At a gala event, held at Winchester University on Thursday 9th June, we were delighted to win the Service Excellence Award 2022 at the Winchester Business Excellence Awards. The annual event is organised by partners, Winchester Business Improvement District, […]

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WHY WE RECOMMEND BAR STOOLS FROM GABRIELLA JAMES, CHAIRMAKERS

For over 20 years, the statement kitchen island has been a major feature in most of the kitchens we have designed and there is very little chance that this trend will ever disappear. Most kitchen islands are designed to be multifunctional, the hub of the kitchen and an area for relaxed socialising.

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WE SPECIALISE IN CURVED AND CIRCULAR FURNITURE

At Searle & Taylor, one of our specialisms is handmade curved and circular furniture and we
are one of very few kitchen companies in Hampshire that offer this bespoke service. When
you visit our showroom, you will see a perfectly circular kitchen island on display at the
entrance and we also have other curved pieces inside.

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HANDLES AND HINGES AT CHELSEA HARBOUR DESIGN WEEK

Darren next to a stunning handle display at Turnstyle Designs Every year, I take a day out to attend Chelsea Design Week at the Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour. It is a cornucopia of high-end interior design inspiration with beautiful showrooms dedicated to every aspect of the home including furniture, wallpaper, fabric, swags and tails, lighting, […]

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WHY WE RECOMMEND EVERHOT RANGE COOKERS

A couple of years ago, I designed a Signature Bespoke kitchen for a client in Winchester who was a pleasure to work for. When we were discussing the appliances for her kitchen, she had done a lot of research and was set on having an Everhot 110i cooker installed in Dove Grey to perfectly match the paint colours for her kitchen and dining room.

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WHY WE RECOMMEND THE QUOOKER CUBE

Do you have a favourite fizzy water? I do. It comes out of a tap. In fact, it comes out of the same tap that I get my hot, cold and 100° boiling water. This is what you can have if you have a Quooker Cube in your kitchen and why it’s called ‘the tap that does it all’. 

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WHY WE RECOMMEND MIELE INTEGRATED DISHWASHERS

We are currently offering a complimentary Miele G5260 SCVi Active Plus Dishwasher with a retail value of £999 as a gift with purchase when you order a new kitchen over £25,000 for a limited time only during our SALE. Here are the reasons why we recommend Miele integrated dishwashers:

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WE MAKE HOME OFFICES TOO

Recent statistics from the ONS highlight that in October 2020 nearly a quarter of the UK workforce was permanently working from home, a figure up by 21% on the previous year. Since the start of the health emergency many of those who have to regularly WFH are now seeking to have a permanent home office, either comprising part of a new kitchen design or in a separate study area. [...]

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OUR 30th ANNIVERSARY IN 2021

In 2021, we will be celebrating our 30th anniversary. Having always been based in Hampshire, Searle & Taylor is now the longest-established kitchen independent company in Winchester. With 30-years of trading we have the experience to design and deliver the very best fitted kitchen furniture in Hampshire. We completely understand our clients and their aspirations, […]

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LUXURY KITCHEN SURFACE TRENDS

Choosing the work surface for your new kitchen is one of the most important considerations, both in terms of its look and its functionality. At Searle & Taylor we have an array of different surface options to suit you, including quartz, granite and some of the most beautiful and unusual natural stones. We have teamed […]

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MY FIRST LOCKDOWN SALE

I made excellent use of my time alone in the showroom during lockdown, because the phones weren’t ringing as they normally do with enquiries for new kitchens. Knowing that these would eventually return one day, I spent time working on kitchens already sold and making sure everything was ready when we were back to normality […]

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My visit to Focus 2020 at the Design Centre Chelsea Harbour

Last year, I was seeking lighting and accessories for my new first floor showroom so I paid a visit to the impressive Design Centre at Chelsea Harbour in London and it turned out to be a very successful mission. This year, I decided to return to visit Focus 2020, the annual trade show for interior […]

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WHY WE RECOMMEND NOVY

Because Searle & Taylor is an independent kitchen design company, we only partner with and recommend kitchen appliance brands that we regard as the best within their price range. A couple of years ago when Novy, the luxury Belgian induction and extraction brand became available in the UK for the first time, we were one […]

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LIFE IN LOCKDOWN

I have actually been busier than ever since getting over the initial shock of having to close my showroom due to the Covid19 health emergency. We closed the doors on Monday 23rd March after the announcement that evening by our PM, Boris and since then I have abided by the Government’s sensible approach of staying […]

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WHY WE RECOMMEND NEFF DISHWASHERS

As part of our January SALE promotion, we are offering a free 60cm integrated dishwasher from Neff when you purchase four or more appliances from any of the appliance brands we partner with for your complete kitchen. Searle & Taylor is a Neff Master Partner and we sell the full range of Neff appliances and […]

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Why we recommend Liebherr Cooling and Wine Cooling

Because Searle & Taylor is an independent kitchen design business, we are not tied to one or two specific appliance companies where we have to promote their entire ranges every time we sell a kitchen. This allows us the opportunity to research the best premium appliances for your circumstances and to recommend options that will […]

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KITCHEN TRENDS: POCKET DOORS

In 2015, UK Permitted Development rights were relaxed, allowing many homeowners to extend their properties without requiring full planning permission. This situation was due to end in May this year but the law has been given a long-term continuation. Because of this, the open plan kitchen and living space has become a very fashionable option […]

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WHY WE RECOMMEND GAGGENAU APPLIANCES

In what will be a series of blogs, we are focusing on the premium brands that we partner with to give you more of an understanding as to why we are proud to suggest them for your kitchen. The first is for Gaggenau appliances, which we display in our Winchester showroom. The history: Founded in […]

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MADE IN CHELSEA

My visit to the Chelsea Harbour Design Centre was an opportunity to seek out some lighting and accessories for my Winchester showroom and get some design inspiration too. On a rainy and, dare I say, quite cold morning in June, I made my first ever visit to the Chelsea Harbour Design Centre. I had heard […]

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THE TOP FIVE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT BESPOKE KITCHENS

Searle & Taylor was editorially featured in the recent Bespoke Britain supplement in consumer interiors publication, Essential Kitchen Bathroom and Bedroom Magazine. This supplement was dedicated to highlighting the best and most important bespoke kitchen companies across the whole of the UK. 1. What is a bespoke kitchen?A bespoke kitchen is one that is custom-designed […]

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OUR WINCHESTER SHOWROOM IS EXPANDING IN MAY

What to expect at our expanded Winchester showroom from nine stunning room sets During May, our Searle & Taylor Winchester showroom will be expanding and will be situated over two floors showcasing the very best in traditional and contemporary kitchen design. All the kitchens on display are based on my personal values of the very […]

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Why we think the Quooker Flex is a gamechanger for your kitchen…

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 […]

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INTRODUCING THE NEW GAGGENAU VARIO 400 COOLING SERIES AT OUR WINCHESTER SHOWROOM

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 […]

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PERFECTLY CHILLED BUBBLES FOR CHRISTMAS

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 […]

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Keeping Ahead Of The Curve

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 […]

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A Breath of Fresh Air

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 […]

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My TV Experience As a Kitchen Expert on BBC Watchdog

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 […]

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When Hand-painted actually means ‘painted by hand’

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 […]

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Accent Colours

The Pantone® Colour of the Year tends to inspire trends in fashion and interior design and of course, colours in the kitchen; working its way through to clients’ homes a season or so following its launch. But, maybe not quite this year, because for 2018 year the Pantone® Colour of the Year is ultra violet; […]

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Design Influences for Designers

As a client, you want to be confident that your kitchen designer is up to date with the latest trends and can translate those ideas into your own beautiful new kitchen. At Searle & Taylor we regularly visit trade shows and design exhibitions, we avidly read our sophisticated trade press publications (I actually write for […]

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