Kitchens Witham: Design and Installation on a Clear Timetable

The oldest part of Witham is Chipping Hill, on the rise above the River Brain, where timber-framed cottages sit around the green near St Nicolas Church. Down on Newland Street, Georgian fronts line the old coaching road. Houses in both areas often have low ceilings, uneven walls and kitchens squeezed into the back of the building, which is where careful scribing and a framed, painted kitchen earn their place.

Witham grew quickly in the 1960s and 1970s, and those estates have compact kitchens that often sit apart from the dining area. Opening a wall to create a kitchen-diner, or reworking storage with pull-out larders and corner solutions, makes a big difference. The newer commuter developments around the edge of town tend to be open-plan already, though the original kitchen is often basic.

Those open-plan rooms bring their own design questions. A kitchen that is always on show needs storage that hides the everyday clutter, and lighting that can switch from bright task light over the worktop to something softer when the room becomes the living space. We plan task, ambient and feature lighting on separate circuits, and our own electricians wire and certify it. If there is space for an island, we plan its electrics, extraction and floor loads before a single cabinet is ordered, so a hob or sink in the island does not mean compromises later. For families who leave early for the station, a tall bank of appliances keeps the room calm and the worktops clear.