Majjie's Blog

The KBB Show at the NEC is a trade show which only happens every two years. I always look forward to going - but this year it promises to be more exciting than usual. Two proposed trade shows last summer were both cancelled due to the recession (well - trying to organise two was ridiculous anyway) and manufacturers - keen to improve their competitiveness in the new economic climate - are apparently planning lots of new kitchen product launches at the KBB show in a couple of weeks.

No - don't go away! It has to be said that my answer to that question would be "not often enough". I sweep up the crumbs and I dab at any noxious spots with the floor cloth ... but it's quite rare that I get the squeegee and bucket out, and give it a good clean. Of course, I must point out that I have very forgiving grey tiles and no kids or animals coming in with dirty feet. Those of you with young families and pets probably have to clean a lot more often.

It's my week for being trepidatious (although I'm not sure that's a word). I've just been reading a blog by kitchen design guru Johnny Grey. I normally hang on his every word. His book "The Art of Kitchen Design" was a revelation to me when I started out as a designer ... giving me an indication of what kitchen design should be all about ... and I heard him give a talk about his "kitchen central" concept, a few years ago, which was equally inspiring.

I write about Magnet kitchens with some trepidation. About this time last year, I wrote something about B&Q's Cooke & Lewis kitchen range ... and the blog still gets comments ... most of them from people complaining about the service they've received from B&Q. Will writing about Magnet attract similar attention, I wonder?

The design services we provide have changed slightly over the four years that Advanced Kitchen Design has been up and running (the vast majority are now produced by CAD, rather than hand drawn - and a lot more are done entirely on-line) ... but up until now our prices haven't changed at all.

We try to keep the prices as low as possible, so that an independent kitchen design is feasible for any kitchen buyer ... even those wanting to use the cheapest units, such as IKEA or Wickes (where arguably there is the most need for a good design).

I'm afraid Majjie has been neglecting her blogging duties recently ... but that's only because we've had so many kitchen designs to do. Did you all make a New Year's resolution to do something about your kitchen?

Anyway, since nothing has been added here for a while, I thought I'd do a quick round up of gossip and news.

Samsung American fridge-freezers

Belling has, in the past, always been a good, mid-market appliance brand. Not brilliant quality, not particularly well designed, but not expensive either. All that has changed, though ... since the re-launch of the Belling appliance range in October

Well, after promising, for ages, that it was about to happen, Majjie's Shop has finally opened it's virtual doors. There aren't a huge number of products in my shop, as yet ... because they are all hand picked ... there's no mass import of products from any one supplier. I will be adding further suppliers and picking out more stuff that I think would look good, or be useful, in your kitchens ... as I get the time.

I like the look of this drainage rack. It's from London-based design partnership Black&Blum and was inspired by modern architectural design. The spikes are there to hold your wine glasses and champagne flutes ... for which standard drainers are not well suited ... but these are the items that you're most likely to wash by hand, in these days of the dishwasher.

I said I'd tell you about the smaller kitchen suppliers, whose displays impressed me ... at the Grand Designs Live show at the NEC. So here's the first one.

Imagine 3d The Aldridge Bros ... is a small family run joinery business, based in Macclesfield. It's run by brothers Richard and Gareth Aldridge and they do all the traditional, high class joinery you need for your house, like windows, doors, stairs and conservatories.