Everyone loves it – it’s an amazing space!

We decided to extend our home because it always felt back-to-front. Our original kitchen was at the front of the house, but we’ve got a lovely garden at the rear and wanted the kitchen to look out over it. So we planned a single-storey extension to replace an old 80s conservatory, stretching across the full back of the house at roughly 8×5 metres providing a proper 40 square metres of extra living space for a family of two adults, three kids, and a dog.

We found Beau Bijou Design after speaking to a few kitchen design companies, most of which were pushing their own afiliated brands. When we spoke with Richard about the process and his approach, it gave us confidence we’d end up with the right outcome rather than being steered into a one-size-fits-all solution.

Our biggest concern was simply that you don’t know what you don’t know. I can look at a finished kitchen and think, “that’s great”, but there are so many details you’d never consider until it’s too late. Working with Richard meant those things were surfaced early as choices and options we could explore, rather than nasty surprises if we’d done it ourselves. On top of that, the whole experience was straightforward — he was nice to talk to, reassuring, and clearly skilled at what he does.

The build came before the kitchen installation, so the initial designs weren’t set in stone until we had four walls and a floor to work from. In reality, the foundations meant we lost about 40cm of width, which affected cabinets, the island, lighting but it wasn’t a problem. Richard turned changes around quickly and kept the overall feel of what we’d set our hearts on.

Communication was clear and faultless. We did everything remotely via email and phone, and he was always available and quick to respond, even to the smallest detail or a late-night worry. What stood out most was how personal the service felt. Our previous kitchen was designed by Wren and, looking back, there were plenty of design flaws (and the install was a catastrophe), so this time we were more invested and asked far more questions. Richard’s in-depth knowledge meant we were guided through what was possible, from finishes to appliances, and we felt properly looked after. The turnaround time was excellent, and we took the recommendations we were given, including an AEG hob and extractor built into the worktop so there’s no bulky overhead fan to ruin the clean lines.

Installation and after-sales support were spot on. Richard was on hand for our installer, any issues were dealt with quickly (faults with the kitchen rather than the design), and he helped schedule things like the worktops. Now it’s finished, everyone loves it: us, the kids, friends, it’s an amazing space, especially with the extension and 5m bifold doors, and photos don’t do it justice. We can entertain with pride, and it’s genuinely the envy of others who ask where it came from and who designed it.

I’d recommend Beau Bijou without doubt! Don’t worry, let them do their thing and you won’t be disappointed. Natural Stone Surfaces were brilliant too, and we even ended up with high-end details, like the pattern wrapping around the corner of our waterfall island. And the Quooker tap is a game-changer; if it broke, I’d buy another immediately.