DESIGN | Showroom style


Showroom of the month


Kitchens Etc, Norfolk


Kitchens Etc may look like a quaint stone cottage from the outside, but its Tardis-like interior features a variety of eye-catching, bold displays in an expansive showroom


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banks, the Kitchens Etc showroom in Fakenham, Norfolk, was knee-deep in water for six weeks. The entire space was devastated, but a disaster was turned into an opportunity as the team set about the renovation. Natalie Peters, the managing director and designer at Kitchens Etc, describes the aftermath of the flood: “Turning a huge negative into a positive, we used this opportunity to change things up completely and fully showcase exactly where we are as a company now and our personality, individuality and passion for design.” Peters and her parents and founders of the business, Mick and Linda Murphy, designed the showroom together. Peters says: “It is designed to inspire people and wow them at every turn and is deliberately very different, to encourage people to step out of their comfort zone and be enthused to think differently.


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“It is a vibrant and exciting mix of modern and traditional, old and new, cutting-edge technology, mixed materials and styles, show-stopping pieces and designs.” The destination showroom is surrounded by country views and affluent, picturesque Norfolk villages. While it appears small on the outside, the showroom is deceptively large on the inside, with 10 displays showcasing a range of designs and styles. Each display presents a different style or


unusual cabinetmaking technique. However, everything blends together to create a harmonious space that customers can walk through without feeling overwhelmed.


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fter being struck by a freak flood in February 2021 when the nearby river burst its


The showroom flows from one display to the next with each kitchen in its own separate room. Customers are encouraged to wander through the space, which is designed to feel more like a home. The attention to detail is as much of a highlight as the


displays themselves.


Peters explains: “Every detail has been meticulously considered throughout and every inch of display space maximised.” The in-house stonemasons’ talent is seen in every part of the showroom with curved stone under-bar features and stunning splashbacks, all created by hand in the workshop. A partnership with local specialist Foras provides the flooring throughout. The two companies have worked together on many projects and the showroom now features its terrazzo, herringbone, marble-effect and statement lily pad porcelain floors. Customers have responded well to the


showroom and love being in the space. Peters concludes: “The response to our new design studio from customers and fellow professionals has been phenomenal. So many have followed our progress throughout the reinstatement after the flood and are thrilled to see us back with such a bang after all the adversity, visiting more than once and bringing others with them. “We have had lots of comments about how beautiful, inspiring and interesting it is. Our visitors spend lots of time perusing all the ideas and possibilities – the studio is a fantastic conversation starter. “What is great about our new studio, and what we are most proud of, is that it inspires customers to push their boundaries and opens their minds to new possibilities.”


· May 2022


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