Sustainability with Herringbone Kitchens
Here at Herringbone Kitchens we are incredibly proud of what we create! When we fist started the bubsiness we knew that sustainability would be a huge part of our ethos, and have continueud to be dedicated to implementing sustainable practices into our business.
We believe the ingredient to long lasting kitchens is using considered materials that have been well cared for. Every material used in your kitchen cabinet is from companies with strong sustainability records. In that way, we know that our kitchens are not just valued by our customers but are good for the earth and future generations.
Our timbers are sourced from well managed, responsible forests where the cycle of clearing and replanting has been continuous for many generations. We only use temperate hard and soft woods and avoid endangered tropical timbers where logging practices are generally less well controlled and regulated. We use indigenous British species wherever possible and we plant a tree for every kitchen made.
We made a conscious decision to only use water based low VOC paint, which is very rare in this industry. While it was not the easy option, we felt true to our ethos. We have worked tirelessly to come up with a method that makes using water-based paint both practical for the kitchen and eco-friendly.
Every month, for each kitchen we make, we dedicate a tree to the National Forest, a regeneration project across 200 square miles in the Midlands. Once you have agreed to go forth with your design, you will receive a certificate for you tree, which we have planted in your name. We might be small, but we have a dedicated team member who is our Eco Champion and helps bring new ideas on how we can continue to improve our sustainability record.
These are all small things we can do to reduce our impact on the environment. We do everything we can to not only ensure that you get the kitchen you’ve been dreaming of, but also to ensure we do our best by this place we call home.
Guide to Dark Kitchens: Concerns & What to Consider
One common concern we hear from our clients is regarding dark cabinetry colours. Set the scene: You’ve spent weeks gazing at the paint swatches in adoration, you keep going back to that one colour (or, more than likely, two) Bond Street, Borough Market, or maybe even Sinner. The main concern: “Will it make my kitchen feel really dark and small?”
It’s understandable that you might find a dark colour daunting. While a dark kitchen won’t work for everyone, it’s less scary than you might think. If you are worried about the space looking too dark, here are a few considerations to make:
Choose a light worktop, wall and floor colour-
When choosing a darker hue for your cabinetry, if you want to keep the space feeling airy and bright, choose a lighter colour for the worktops, walls and floor. A lighter worktop and walls will reflect light in the space and create a beautiful contrast with your cabinetry. Your cabinetry design will really stand out with this contrast, so make sure you are in love with the design.
Choose a light or contrasting tile-
Another way to create balance in your kitchen is by introducing a contrasting tile for your splashback. You could run the tiles all around your walls between the upper and lower cabinetry to carry out the balance. We have some of our favourite decorative tiles available to purchase from the Herringbone Pantry.
Think about light-
Consider the windows in your kitchen and which direction they facing. If you are having an extension, this should be a consideration that is made early in the planning stages and gives you the freedom to make it work with your kitchen design. Depending on the amount of natural light flowing into your kitchen, your dark cabintery will vary in darkness and tone. Paint a sample board with your colour and see how the light will change the colour at different times of the day and in different parts of the room. Don’t be disheartened if you don’t have lots of big windows, there are other ways to introduce light into the space with pendant lighting, under unit lighting and spotlights.
Play with handles-
The style and finish of your cabinetry handles will impact the aesthetic of your kitchen. Aside from making a difference in the overall style of the cabinetry, juxtaposing dark cabinets with a brass, nickel or chrome handle will create contrast and reflect more light into the room.
Embrace the dark-
If darker tones is right up your street, why not go all out and embrace the moody & cosy feeling that comes with darker colours. Paint your walls with the same or a contrasting dark colour. For an even grander effect, take the colour all the way up your ceiling.
Do you love it?-
The most important thing to consider is ultimately, are you in love with the colour? Do not worry what your aunts, neighbours or colleagues have to say about it, if the colour best reflects your family personality than it will always work for you. Does it create the mood that you want bring to the space? You will spend a lot of time in your kitchen, so think about what colour will make you feel happiest.
As always, we are here if you are unsure and need some more guidance! Drop us an email or ring us to have a chat about your project.
The Design Process: How it Works & Getting Started
We get a lot of messages from you asking how to start planning your new kitchen and how our design process works. So here is a guide from start to finish so you know what to expect.
1. Firstly, if you have a budget in mind but are unsure of how much your new kitchen might cost, you can send us an email with your floor plans, architect drawings or dimensions of the kitchen and we will provide a rough estimate.
2. The next step is to book an appointment for a Design Consultation with one of our kitchen designers. Your first appointment will be at our studio in Canterbury or over the phone during the weekdays. We do require you to visit us at least once during the design process as it helps us ensure you know what you are buying and get a feel for our product.
At your initial design consultation we will go through what you hope to have in your kitchen, we will show you all of your options including cabinetry, worktop and materials and can go through together any preliminary ideas on your design. This meeting is quite in-depth and normally takes 2 hours.
During your design consultation, you and your designer will go through your desires and requirements of your new kitchen, covering all areas. We provide a two hour slot to make sure there is time to discuss everything you want during the appointment. We will discuss the number and types of units, worktops, what sort of appliances & taps you would like or if you’re keeping your own/sourcing them yourself, the design and layout of the space, as well as cabinet colours, handles and tiles if you’re having any. Your designer will show you around our studio and explain the different ranges of cabinetry we provide. We can show you samples of work surfaces, tiles, etc to help you make your decisions.
Following this, if you choose to have a design from Herringbone, we will require a payment of £500 which is deducted from the cost of your kitchen. A full design normally takes our designers two weeks to complete. Your design can be presented in our studio or over Zoom, whichever you prefer. Your designer will then produce your kitchen design and quote. It is at this point that we will make any changes and decide whether or not you would like to go ahead with the project.
3. The next step is your pre-fit survey. Adrian our workshop manager will visit you to survey the room and ensure that everything is where it should be and take measurements of the space so we can start making your kitchen in our workshop!
4. After that, depending on our lead time, there’s a wait (think of it more like a countdown similar to Christmas or your birthday!). We will be in communication with you throughout the whole process, and will be here to answer any questions you may have.
5. Kitchen installation - our fitters will deliver your kitchen and start installing it. This can take anywhere from 3-5 weeks to complete, depending on your design.
6. The last step is moving in! Your kitchen is ready for you to start unpacking your things into and styling it. This is where all the waiting and emails will prove worth it.
Once everything is completed and the kitchen is all yours to enjoy, we are just an email or phone call away should you need anything. And if you’re in the area, please do pop in for a cuppa! We love hearing from you even after the project is finished and knowing you’re as in love with the final product as you hoped.
Mixing Metals: Handles, Taps & Appliances
We get a lot of questions about mixing metal finshes in your kitchen. Most commonly about mixing brass handles and accents with stainless steel appliances and chrome taps.
It’s very common to mix and match finishes in a kitchen. In reality, it’s not something you’ll notice too much if your cabinetry handles are in satin brass and your tap is chrome or whatever different finishes you choose.
Don’t be afraid to mix cool and warm tones. Appliances are always going to have stainless steel handles, so don’t compromise your design ‘wants’ because you’re afraid of them clashing. Keeping it to two finishes is a safe way to keep the space consistent. For example, if you wanted nickel or brass handles, you could install a chrome tap that will compliment the appliances. Or, match your handles to the tap and keep solely the appliances for the second tone. If your handles and tap aren’t identical twins, it won’t be a problem. Contrast is actually the key here, despite it being the scary bit. Incorporate it as part of the design.
Finally, if you’re still unsure about your metals clashing you can always ask us for help. We’ll have a look at your choices and give you some guidance!
Design Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
When designing your dream kitchen, you’ll have a lot of fun, choosing colours and tiles, that double door pantry you’ve wanted for ages, seeing the perspectives and it all coming to life!
But there are a few important things to think about when considering the actual design and flow of your kitchen. We have compiled a list of some commonly made kitchen design mistakes and how to avoid them.
Too many units and no variation
