Sketch Interiors announced as finalist in National Kitchen and Bathroom Awards

Sketch Interiors has been nominated as a finalist in the prestigious kbbreview Awards 2012. The national awards are organised by kbbreview, the UK’s leading magazine for the kitchen and bathroom industry. The Stirling based business has reached the finals of the Kitchen Designer of the Year category, projects costing over £50,000.

Helen Taylor, for Sketch Interiors, says: “In my second year as a freelance designer, and having worked in the industry for over 10-years, I feel it is a real honour to be shortlisted for such a prestigious award. 

“I am a little lost for words, I felt humbled and quite proud when I was told I made the finalists stage. It is a huge credit to everyone at Sketch & Stoneham as well as the architects - Yeoman & McAllister; without their support the detail in the design could never have become a reality”.

Tim Wallace, editor of kbbreview says: “The kbbreview Awards set out to recognise and reward excellence in the kitchen and bathroom industry. All the finalists have a passion for this industry and to be shortlisted is such an admirable achievement, and Helen should be very proud.

“It is amazing that the industry continues to produce such great talent in the current economic climate. This year's entries have been superb and the standard incredibly high! We would like to wish Sketch Interiors the best of luck and congratulate them on being chosen as a finalist.”

For more information about Sketch Interiors and Helen Taylor Designs telephone 01786-470974 or visit them at Sketch Interiors, Unit 12, 10 Munro road, Springkerse Industrial Estate, Stirling FK7 7UU.

Solent Kitchen Design has been nominated as a finalist in the prestigious kbbreview Awards 2012. The national awards are organised by kbbreview, the UK’s leading magazine for the kitchen and bathroom industry. The Southampton based business has reached the finals of the Customer Service Award for Kitchens.

David Praine, Managing Director for Solent Kitchen Design, says: “To be nominated as a finalist for the kbbreview Awards gives me a great deal of satisfaction and pride, and it is great to know that the work you are doing is appreciated by others in this industry.

“We already receive a lot of recommendation work and hopefully being nominated as a finalist will enhance our profile and give us another edge for people to come and talk to us.”

Tim Wallace, editor of kbbreview says: “The kbbreview Awards set out to recognise and reward excellence in the kitchen and bathroom industry. All the finalists have a passion for this industry and to be shortlisted is such an admirable achievement, and David should be very proud.

“It is amazing that the industry continues to produce such great talent in the current economic climate. This year's entries have been superb and the standard incredibly high! We would like to wish Solent Kitchen Design the best of luck and congratulate them on being chosen as a finalist.”

For more information about Solent Kitchen Design Telephone 023 8022 6000 or visit the website at
www.solent-kitchen-design.co.uk

For the fourth year in a row we will exhibit at Grand Designs (5-13 May 2012) on our biggest ever stand! (Stand K140)  Our exciting exhibit at London’s Excel Centre will be formed of a number of dramatic displays featuring new and innovative designs, which the Grand Designs visitor has come to expect from Stoneham.

At Grand Designs we will be aiming to inspire ideas with on-trend exotic veneers, rich solid timbers, contrasting colours and imaginative use of LED lighting, both external and internal.

The most advanced state of the art appliances will be included along with beautiful functionality such as the Servo-Drive automatic opening of pull-outs and lifts and personalised Intivo drawer sides.

Our extensive repertoire of curved doors and components – all manufactured in our own factory – will differentiate the displays as will details like glass tambours and fascinating island concepts.

We look forward to welcoming you to the Stoneham stand at Grand Designs this year.

Grand Designs 5-13 May 2012 at ExCeL Centre, London. Stoneham are in the Grand Kitchen section, stand K140.

Stoneham Kitchens Plc
020 8300 8181

As a fifth generation family-owned company that holds the Royal Warrant to HM The Queen, Stoneham Plc is one of Britain’s finest makers of quality kitchens and cabinet furniture.

The traditions of craftsmanship and unique skills run as deep today as they did all those generations ago. Although Stoneham have a reputation for producing some of the most contemporary designs alongside traditional perfection, one material is deeply integral to all their work – timber, the unparalleled beauty of natural woods.

Stoneham’s designers range far and wide in their efforts to procure the finest of timbers for thier requirements. Their specifications and demands are stringent to say the least as the timber components of their designs, whether natural or even painted, form the foundation around which other materials coalesce for styles with total individuality.

An illustration of this search for perfection is the relationship that Stoneham has established with one of their most trusted suppliers of timber from around the world – James Latham.

John May, Director at James Latham takes up the story:   “James Latham enjoy a special relationship with Stoneham which goes back over three generations and their reputation for producing the finest hand built designer kitchens means that the quality of the materials they use and demand is paramount.  

“Taking Stoneham’s meticulous and exacting brief to our best suppliers in North America, including one in Indianapolis, a region which is renowned  for producing the best Walnut in the World, we have put a number of systems and processes in place which ensure that we are delivering the highest quality, premium material every time.  And because the quality of this wood is so superior, we have developed a unique grade for our White Oak and Walnut which we have called ‘super-prime’. This wood is better than prime, it has no sap, no knots, no wane, no split and no side bend after kilning.

“Regarding service and availability, I believe one of the key factors is stock levels. James Latham store an extensive range of timber at our depots throughout the UK and can provide next day delivery, giving Stoneham the flexibility, reliability and reassurance they require.”

These are just some of the lengths that Stoneham reach out for and require for the perfection of their designs.

As a foundation member of the highly effective KBBConnect® online quoting and ordering facility, Stoneham Kitchens are able to offer their retailer network undoubted benefits to help them simplify their quotation and ordering operations – especially with intelligent access to the entire Stoneham product catalogue. Stoneham kitchen buyers derive direct advantages in terms of fast and accurate estimation and quotations as well as pin-point design specification. This is because Stoneham dealers can easily but accurately price a project by accessing the entire Stoneham catalogue on-line including detail minutia and individual prices.

Managing Director Adrian Stoneham says that the system brings additional advantages of being able to be used anywhere and offers an excellent visual platform for detail – even colour when it comes to doors and handles etc.

The Company recognises that there are many elements to a kitchen project and that the retailer needs to be able to present to his or her customer a comprehensive quotation. Adrian Stoneham: “We always try to go that extra mile for our retailers and certainly embrace KBBConnects’ philosophy of bringing the industry together. By supporting this system our customers have a ‘one stop shop’ that enables them to include in their quotation, accurate pricing from their appliance, sinks, taps, lighting and worktop suppliers as well.”

Stoneham placed a lot of emphasis on providing structure to their online product catalogue to make it easier for their retailers to use for their direct advantage and the benefit of their customers. Now with help from KBBConnect®, Stoneham believe that they have achieved one of the most intuitive solutions in the industry.

Kitchens International had a highly successful three days at the Homes & Interiors Scotland Show at the SECC in Glasgow at the end of October. Kitchens International had the largest stand in the show with two beautiful kitchens including a state-of-the-art Stoneham kitchen, where chefs from the Nick Nairn Cookschool held constant demonstrations to show how these kitchens can be used in the home. Many thousands of people visited the stand and chatted to our designers.

Kitchens International are a successful Stoneham retailer, and one of the leading quality kitchen retailers and designers in Scotland. They have 5 showrooms from Edinburgh to Aberdeen to Glasgow.

Stoneham Kitchens Plc

020 8300 8181
www.stoneham-kitchens.co.uk

Kitchens International, Glasgow
T: 0141 404 7744
www.kitchensinternational.co.uk

As the demand for bespoke kitchen services increases, Stoneham have bolstered the size of their design department in this area with 3 specialised appointments.

Samantha Judges joins the Stoneham team as a Kitchen Designer while Arvind Dhorajiwala and Emma Jeffery have both been recruited as Design Technicians.

At the design stage of individual cabinets these are 3D visualised on CAD, submitted for customer approval and importantly pre-programmed with all machinery operations, coded and a component inventory included for reduced production time.

Stoneham continue to lead in offering highly personalised bespoke kitchen designs especially with the facilities they have invested in over recent years which include a high-tech finishing plant, in-house curved door and component production and constant investment in modern, flexible machinery.

For the first time Kitchens International are exhibiting at the SH&I show (28-30 October, at the SECC in Glasgow)

KI’s award winning team of designers are passionate about creating kitchens that are as individual as the customer it serves. With exceptional attention to detail from the first design meeting to installation and after sales, Kitchens International pride themselves on offering kitchen designs that are a cut above the rest. Their designers will be at the Show to discuss ideas and show what type of kitchens they create. They will have on display some new 2012 kitchen designs from Stoneham. Stoneham specialise in eye-catching statement pieces, such as bespoke curved island units, dramatic lighting and exotic veneers.

The appliances will be Sub Zero, Wolf and V-Zug. KI's brand ambassador celebrity chef Nick Nairn will also be on hand for some of the Show to endorse the brand and with his own personal kitchen and the cook school kitchens all from KI he will be discussing how he uses them.

Kitchens International are a successful Stoneham retailer, and one of the leading quality kitchen retailers and designers in Scotland. They have 5 showrooms from Edinburgh to Aberdeen to Glasgow.

Find out about the show: www.homes-exhibition.com

Kitchens International, Glasgow

T: 0141 404 7744

www.kitchensinternational.co.uk

Reflections of Nottingham is a top kitchen studio that is enjoying a successful reaction to the recently installed five new Stoneham displays.

The chosen displays highlight the versatility and variety in Stoneham’s designs offering customers such extended choice that each kitchen is virtually bespoke. “Customers are definitely inspired by the breadth of ideas that the Stoneham designs show” says Reflections’ David James, “we are able to attract a wide cross section of buyers from the middle to top end of the market where most of the activity is at present.”

The Stoneham displays demonstrate the Kent company’s ability to embrace a range of styles within designs from traditional to contemporary so the kitchen fits each customer’s ideal for their individual home.

Stoneham explain that by incorporating modern materials and artfully mixing them with traditional timbers it gives the designs the ability to transcend fleeting fashions and add both longevity and value to the investment.

“The use of curved elements, island units, glass and mirror-fronted wall cabinets all bring added fascination to the kitchen experience” says chief Stoneham designer Eddie Chu.

The five new displays complement two existing Stoneham displays already installed, and form part of over 15 kitchen displays within the showroom.

Penshurst painted units give a gentle, pastel hue to the kitchen while not entirely disguising the wonder of the timber beneath the surface. Teamed with walnut units, there is a strong contrasting element to the kitchen and the exciting island ideas and curved panel additions makes this display even more appealing.

Tate is a far more contemporary Oak design with wide, statement frames and deep recess centre panels. This kitchen in particular lends itself to taking on bold experiments.

Strata Oak is a highly adaptable contemporary design that allows customers to see the immediate potential of mixing and matching with various modern materials including glass work-surfaces to create the ultimate individual kitchen.

Stoneham describes Fusion as the perfect base for uniting colour, texture and surfaces to form a new and unique finish. Reflections are able to involve their customers deeply in the many permutations to create a personalised kitchen design.

Avola is a fascinating design featuring a highly textured linear (horizontal) grain design that sits well with stark modern materials like steel, aluminium and glass. The Avola TT has a full length brushed aluminium underhand grip handle mounted on the top edge of the drawers.

Reflections of Nottingham seem to have hit a winning combination with this new range of five Stoneham designs in their superb showroom.

Exclusively Kitchens of Bath is one of Stoneham Kitchen’s premier retailers in the South West of England.
Recently, Managing Director Jeremy Kingston and his team have installed a breath taking display that exemplifies
Stoneham’s capacity for providing highly original and bespoke designs from their distinctive arrays of quality
product designs.

New Stoneham displays at Sylvarna

One of Stoneham’s flagship distributors in the south of England, Sylvarna, has augmented their very impressive Chichester showrooms with three new displays.

The new displays have been selected from Stoneham designs that effectively give visitors the broadest scope of ideas on offer from Stoneham – they are Penshurst, Strata and Elan. The new displays exhibit the artistic use of curved elements, different finishes and the subtle blending of traditional and modern materials that give longevity to the contemporary look of each design.

Penshurst is a factory painted (latte) kitchen emanating from Stoneham’s state-of-the-art finishing plant and offset with an elegant Corian work surface topping soft curved units. 

Strata demonstrates Stoneham craftsmanship with panache – a mixed Walnut and painted kitchen, the island unit is fronted by a spectacular “starburst” veneer front panel bordered with fine Macassar and Ebony veneer strips. The island unit ends its curved line with identical barrel storage ends. 

The feature  element of the Elan display is the tall wall unit fronted with wooden framed tinted mirror glass and flanking the full height appliances.

As with all Stoneham kitchens, much of the attraction of the Sylvana displays is in the detail like high-function internal storage systems, high-tech motion fittings and strategic use of LED lighting.

Stoneham Kitchens Plc

020 8300 8181

www.stoneham-kitchens.co.uk

Sylvarna Kitchen Design

01243 780 633

www.sylvarna.co.uk

On Sat 24^th September 9am - 6pm, Solent Kitchen Design are celebrating their 40 year anniversary and recent award for Best Kitchen, Bedroom Bathroom retailer in Southampton with a cookery and interior design event.

Whether you are ready for a change, gathering ideas, aspiring for the future or just want to browse our award winning showroom with a glass of wine and samples from the delicious fare cooked on the day then please join us.

• Professional cookery demonstrations using the latest induction and intelligent oven technology from De Dietrich.

• Local interior designer will be at hand to give colour scheme and general interior design advice.

• Spend time with our own designers for inspirational ideas for a fitted kitchen, bedroom, bathroom or study project (booked appointments available).

• Take advantage of the event day special offers.

Do bring your ideas and plans along with you.

Solent Kitchen Design – 110 Macnaghten Road, Bitterne, SO18 1GH. 

www.solent-kitchen-design.co.uk

English kitchen makers Stoneham have extended their transport fleet with the addition of 5 new 7.5 ton vehicles designed to both meet and exceed the imminent new Low Emission Zone (LEZ) standards for London which have been set at a Euro 5 rating from January 2012. MD Adrian Stoneham explains that, in fact, the new Stoneham trucks will comply with Euro 6 ratings: “We needed to expand our fleet as the company continues to grow and it was essential that this was done within the overall environmentally responsible framework that we have implemented.”

The new Stoneham vehicles have an eye-catching livery showing both product
and branding while drawing attention to the new Stoneham website. Naturally they
will also carry the crest indicating Stoneham as holders of The Royal Warrant to
HM The Queen.

Solent Kitchen Design wins Mystery Shopper award in KBB Review magazine

The June issue saw the magazine’s mystery shopper checking out kitchen, bedroom and bathroom retailing in Southampton. After visiting a number of showrooms in the area, it was Solent Kitchen Design, an appointed Stoneham distributor, who took the title.

Owner David Praine was praised for an “exceptionally charming and confident service.”

Established in 1970, this family-run company offers a complete design, supply and installation service for kitchens, bedrooms, bathrooms and home studies.

The showroom currently has four Stoneham displays - Natura oiled oak, Fusion in Blue Ashes, Strata in Cherry and Penshurst Character oak. A new Stoneham display is about to be installed, combining an in-frame range with the high gloss Evolve. Their best seller is the Fusion collection and they’ve even sold a pink version!

Visit Solent Kitchen Design at
110 Macnaghten Road, Bitterne, Southampton SO18 1GH Tel: 023 8022 6000
www.solent-kitchen-design.co.uk

The Stoneham stand at Grand Designs 2011 was designed to stimulate visitors and allow them to realise what is feasible with truly bespoke kitchen furniture. It succeeded on both counts. “Breathtaking” was one woman’s comment on the Friday of the show.

Four displays combined different combinations of material, shapes and concepts. Across all four the strong trend for curves and innovative island styles was reflected by Stoneham’s expert ability through in-house manufacturing. While many manufactures are able to offer a small range of standard curved units, Stoneham’s capability ensures a genuinely bespoke design service in this area.

For additional images of the kitchen ranges shown click here.

Grahame Morrison, editor of KBB News, said that in his opinion, “the Stoneham stand was, for the third year running, the best stand at Grand Designs, London.”

Strategic use of LED lighting proved a major attraction for visitors. Stoneham embrace LED as a lighting source for its energy efficiency and long life. The lighting was used both as feature focal point attraction such as through the glass worktop to illuminate the edge, or as back-lighting to up-stands and for cabinet interiors.

Artful combinations of exotic timbers with modern materials gave a special fascination to all of the displays. In particular the Olive Ash veneered panels on the appliance-containing wall units were subtly reflected on the conical supports for the round-end island units.

Units displayed a full array of innovative storage and access solutions – a gull-winged portal to an internal bar with Lime Ice Corian interior shelving and flanked by Gaggenau wine coolers, tall units which included auto-opening and closing Aventos lift doors and base units featured auto opening Servo Drive on handle-free wide drawers. 

Perhaps the inspiration that Stoneham delivered at Grand Designs is summed up by a visitor happy to be quoted: “I’m currently looking for a kitchen and have been to see many of the stands at this show, but most look as though they have come out of the same factory – they are rectangular boxes and just look boring. This is the first stand where I am genuinely excited about what I’ve seen. There is a great use of curves and shape in truly innovative ways. It’s like a breath of fresh air.”

One of the West Country’s best established kitchen retailers, Bradbury’s, based in Exeter have become an appointed Stoneham distributor and enjoyed almost immediate success with an important order.

Bradbury’s has been selling kitchens for over 12 years and have an expansive showroom with over 20 room sets.

The association with Stoneham allows Bradbury’s to offer a completely bespoke kitchen service with designs that cover a full spectrum of tastes from traditional to contemporary. As holders of The Royal Warrant to HM The Queen, Stoneham’s pedigree is beyond question and their designs offer an exciting combination of rich and traditional timers along with modern materials, curved frontals and superb, highly functional interiors.

To mark the new partnership, Bradbury’s are hosting a Classical Evening in association with Devon Life magazine on May 5, from 18:00 to 20:00 email info@bradburysltd.co.uk for further information.

The picture by Colin Poole Photography shows a stunning Elan design in combination with factory painted Fusion units. 

Other Stoneham displays at Bradbury’s are a striking Strata American Black Walnut design and the painted Penshurst kitchen.

Shelley Hargreaves, Designer at Exclusively Kitchens of Bath has been short-listed for Young Designer of the Year at May’s annual KBB Design Awards. She said Stoneham’s special styles and finishes were the key to the successful kitchen and bathroom sale.

Exclusively Kitchens is one of the West Country’s leading kitchen and bathroom studios and its chief designer Shelley Hargreaves has been nominated for the KBB Young Designer of the Year award for a kitchen and bathroom comprising
Stoneham furniture. The kitchen involved Stoneham’s Evolve design with solid acrylic doors in Aubergine. “Stoneham’s ability to offer this bespoke service was just what we needed, this eye-catching aubergine was exactly the colour the customer wanted” explains Shelley. She goes on to say: “The other factor that really sold the kitchen was Stoneham’s ability to offer a variety of curved elements like the concave corner units and curved doors.” Stoneham has a special unit within their factory where curved components and elements are manufactured to order.

www.exclusivelyofbath.co.uk

Download Press Release here.

The Scottish celebrity chef Nick Nairn has opened a new, state-of-the-art kitchen showroom for Kitchens International on Great Western Road in Glasgow. The expansion of the award-winning kitchen designers and retailer, Kitchens International, into Scotland’s largest city shows there is demand for high quality, innovative kitchens in the west of Scotland.

Nick Nairn and his team showed how Kitchens International’s kitchens can be used effectively and demonstrated some mouth-watering dishes and gave guests cooking tips and techniques.

The fabulous Stoneham display showcases many of their signature pieces, such as the Ebony Macassar centre panels at the front of the island, and the barrel ends in contrasting Lead colour, factory painted at Stoneham’s dedicated finishing plant. The tall American Black Walnut cabinets with tinted mirror fronts draw the two colours together. Howard Stoneham, Stoneham’ says “By bringing together traditional timbers with modern materials our designers are able to create a harmony that gives the designs a longevity while keeping them firmly in the contemporary genre.”

STONEHAM Plc is a fifth generation family-owned firm spanning nearly 150 years of quality furniture making.

While the modern workshops near Sidcup in Kent are equipped with state-of-the-art CNC machinery and a dedicated paint plant, Stoneham has always retained the vital essence of craftsmanship in their DNA.

The company has not only reacted to fast changing trends form Continental furniture fashion but more than often been the trend setters. Stoneham furniture benefits from a high degree of technical functionality.

The Stoneham literature and website are excellent sources of information and photography. The company is distinguished by holding The Royal Warrant to HM The Queen. Stoneham Kitchens start at £20,000.

Stoneham Plc

020 8300 8181

www.stoneham-kitchens.co.uk

Kitchens International, 220 Great Western Road, Glasgow, G4 9EJ   Tel: 0141 404 7744

Click here for more images

Welcome to our new website and discover Stoneham’s passion for furniture. Here, you will find, a range of kitchens custom-designed to enhance, enrich and enliven your home. Kitchens that combine reliability with innovation, function with style, classic design with contemporary living. We now feature a comprehensive list of our approved kitchen centres so use the postcode search to find the centre nearest to you. Please feel free to contact us with any questions you may have.

For the third year in a row we will exhibit at Grand Designs on our biggest ever stand!  Our exciting exhibit at London’s Excel Centre will be formed of four displays and we’ve secured a location in the hall immediately adjacent to the “Kitchen Feature Area”.

At Grand Designs we will be aiming to inspire ideas with on-trend exotic veneers, rich solid timbers and imaginative use of lighting. Added to this will be the inclusion of modern materials and worktops made from glass, Corian, granite and timber.

The most advanced Gaggenau appliances will be included along with state-of-the-art fittings and systems – Servo-Drive automatic opening of pull-outs and lifts, Intivo drawer sides and the unique Pegasus pull-down system for overhead areas.

Extensive use of curved doors and components – all manufactured in our own factory - will differentiate the displays, as will details like glass tambours and fascinating island concepts.

We look forward to welcoming you to the Stoneham stand at Grand Designs this year (Stand K118). 30th April – 8th May 2011.

Saturday 30th April: 11am - 6pm
Sunday 1st May - Saturday 7th May: 10am - 6pm
Sunday 8th May: 10am-5pm

ExCeL – One Western Gateway, Royal Victoria Dock, London E16 1XL

Stoneham continue to make strategic investments in production technology – this time it’s a state-of-the-art Weinig-Raimann Econorip throughfeed straightener and multi-rip saw.

“The new Econorip machine now installed in our main factory gives a significant boost to our production flexibility – especially as we come under pressure to produce a greater number of components to meet the growing demand for bespoke products” explains Production Director Mike Stoneham.  “Apart from exceptional accuracy, the main benefit of the Econorip saw is the ability to set the gaps between the blades extremely fast using the Weinig Quickfix system that dispenses with traditional spacers and uses hydraulic keyways to lock the blades. This has effectively cut set-up times from around 15 minutes to about 2 minutes and this, in turn, means that we can easily afford to rip and straighten timber components in much smaller batches dedicated to specific orders.”

Stoneham is the master of using a variety of rich hardwoods in their designs and the new machine will be a key part of production for the future.

In January 2011 we hosted Upper Sixth Design & Technology students from Sevenoaks School (HMC) for a tour of the factory, the finishing plant and showroom.

The students from one of Britain's best ranked independent schools include topics like Production Innovation and Ergonomics in their curriculum.

The students were able to talk to member of our management team, technicians and craftsmen.

The visit was part of Stoneham's engagement with the local community and the School's department head said: "Stoneham Kitchens is one of the few companies where our students can witness the entire design cycle on site. We were able to see first hand the process involved in putting a bespoke kitchen into a home."

At Stoneham we are now able to offer our customers a totally bespoke painted finish to their new kitchen. Our customers can match their kitchen colour to their fabrics, floor, artwork or any other area of inspiration.

A major investment in high-tech finishing plant at our Kent factory has enabled us at Stoneham to offer our in-frame designs in 8 standard contemporary colours or allow the kitchen buyer to choose any colour to create an exact match or offset other colours in the room.

How does it work? We have advanced spectrometric matching equipment which allows us to achieve the perfect colour to match any customer sample – a piece of fabric or ceramic, a standard BS or RAL paint colour, a flooring sample … anything.

The process is then simple. At Stoneham we produce 3 exact A4 colour swatches – one for the retailer, and two for the customer, one of which is signed off and returned to Stoneham to work from. Thereafter the mixing and matching process begins using enduring and colour-fast twin-pack polyurethane paints.

With Stoneham our kitchen buyer becomes the artist and holds the palette.

The noticeable rise in popularity for curves and softer lines in kitchens has led Stoneham to make a significant investment in in-house production facilities for doors, frames and associated components.

MD Adrian Stoneham says: "The advent of curves in the kitchen – on both wall units, breakfast bar ends and island units has seen many kitchen companies relying on doors and components being manufactured for them, often from abroad. The only way in which we could guarantee total flexibility of design as well as consistency of quality and supply was by manufacturing all these components in our own factory."

Stoneham has set up a separate division within the Kent factory where jigs are made, using spindle moulders and other equipment, doors and components layered up to be pressed on a Bag-press system and then clamped for curing and forming.

Adrian Stoneham explains that this gives them the freedom and scope to manufacture any angles or radius for frames, doors, plinths etc – both convex and concave.

A significant advantage for Stoneham designs of the future!

Stoneham have announced stunning new ranges, innovative storage solutions and stylish feature accessories in their 2010/11 collection available from appointed kitchen centre outlets nationwide.

As part of Stoneham’s policy of continued investment in production technology a new Bütfering wide belt sander with state-of-the-art controls and settings will soon be installed. The advanced sander is designed for operations ranging from calibrating solid timber to the delicate finishing of valuable veneers.

The new Bütfering wide belt sander to be installed at Stoneham’s Kent factory is the latest Model SWT535RCH 3-head model.

Stoneham Production Director Mike Stoneham explains the reasons for the decision to invest: “We deal in excellence. Most of our work is one off bespoke furniture. We needed a machine that was compact and could cater for all our demands to the highest quality. The new sander can calibrate timbers, or fine sand veneered panels, with very quick set-up times via an easy to use touch screen control panel. The second and third sanding heads are a combination of contact rollers and electro-magnetic segmented pads, which allows the machine to have the flexibility we require. The sander has wireless measuring callipers, which automatically set the correct height of the sanding heads. With an expanding business and increase in demand, we were very impressed with a machine that would allow us to progress.”

In terms of modern kitchen design, we at Stoneham believe we are a leading proponent of the use of lighting for a variety of functions. Lighting can change the whole feel of a kitchen – enhancing task areas and bring vitality and life to special visual features.

MD Adrian Stoneham says that lighting should be designed into the kitchen planning at the outset and can offer both extraordinary aesthetic and functional effects.

 “We expect to see both the sales and the development in lighting progress strongly” says Adrian Stoneham. “In terms of technical advancement the use of LED has made big strides for task and focus/feature lighting in particular. Whether inside overhead cabinets, underneath them to light the worktops, inset into splash backs or as down lighting to feature plinths and other features – LED offers amazing design opportunities.”

Stoneham says that LED lumens give them the confidence to install them into their designs because of their excellent long life reliability and low energy consumption.