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The Wilson family own a farm in Ilminster, Somerset. During the pandemic the Wilson’s considered buying an additional Barn nearby with the idea to convert it to become an accessible holiday home specifically for people with severe disabilities and complex medical needs.
When they came into some money; the family were considering what to do with it and considered a holiday home for themselves however they felt a strong urge to help families living with complex needs / disabilities given they have relatives and friends who care for children with complex needs. Their Sister has cared for boys with Duchennes – a form of muscular dystrophy and their Brother / Brother in law’s child has a brain tumor plus a friend from university had a baby born with complex needs.
Shortly after the pandemic the Wilson family acquired the Barn/land and applied for planning permission. It took 1 year for completion and the holiday home finally opened for bookings on the 1st July 2024.
The barn offers ample space with open plan kitchen / living area and garden, a large downstairs bathroom with bath / showering facilities including hoist equipment and a standard en-suite with showering facilities. The barn also has 4 bedrooms; 3 bedrooms on the ground floor (1 with ceiling track hoist and 2 profiling beds, a master bedroom, and a twin. Further master bedroom on the first floor (with king size bed + single bed) along with upstairs living room area.
The kitchen area is particularly beneficial as it offers families the opportunity to go on holiday and make full use of the kitchen area. How important is food and looking forward to a meal; especially for families with complex needs / limited mobility when it’s not as easy to get out and about or go very far. In this kitchen; everyone can take a turn at preparing a meal making it a truly multi-generational space for all the family.
In order to spec the inside kitchen area and other areas of the accessible barn the Wilson family took it upon themselves to carry out some research online. They came across a few accessible holiday home websites which appeared to have a very high spec of bathroom and kitchen equipment catering for disabled needs:
- Ablestay accessible holiday home in London
- Flat Spaces accessible holiday bungalow, New Forest on the South Coast.
The Wilson’s reached out to Ablestay and Flat Spaces via social media to find out more about these properties and Charles Van Berckel from Ablestay was quick to reply and offered the Wilson’s a tour of Ablestay. The Wilsons were particularly interested to find out where the kitchen was sourced from and Charles explained it was a range called Freedom by Symphony; designed in conjunction with expert designer Adam Thomas, who has 40 years of experience in accessible kitchen design.
The Wilson family made contact with Adam and Symphony and their ideas for the kitchen space were carefully considered and a design quickly followed taking into consideration fundamental design principles to achieve the most inspired space:
Main Kitchen features chosen by the Wilson family:
- Freedom Adjustable Height L-Shape Worktop
A superb feature allowing for wheelchair users, adults/carers, young adults and children (supervised), to adjust the height of the worktop, making food / drink preparation enjoyable for all the family to take part in.
- Freedom Accessible Reduced Depth Sink & Tap
Great for wheelchair users / small adults; allowing comfortable seated access beneath the sink thanks to the reduced depth base, whilst front mounted tap allows control of the water supply without reaching across the sink.
- NEFF Slide & Hide Oven & Freedom Oven Housings with Heatproof Shelves
First seen by the Wilson’s on Channel 4’s “Bake Off” program; the door slides underneath the oven allowing users, including wheelchair users; safe access for lifting baking trays / cooking pots in and out of the oven. The heatproof shelf directly beneath the oven within the oven housing also provides a safe resting place for hot food before transferring to the adjacent worktop.
- Freedom iMove Pull Down Baskets for Improved Access
Provides access to items from higher up, the pull down baskets mechanism is fitted inside the cupboard and can accessed via the extended handle allowing independence in the kitchen area for access to items higher up without having to ask others.
- Freedom Cabinet with Recycle Bin
A really good addition to the kitchen space; it has encouraged holiday makers to recycle their waste into the appropriate compartment making life easier for sorting the rubbish before it is collected by the council.
All enquires for the accessible holiday home are welcome and should email for more information, they are now taking bookings for 2025: info@thebigtinbarn.com
When choosing a new kitchen, as well as the style and design, it’s all about the colour. Selecting the perfect palette for this hub of the home will make the kitchen ease effortlessly into any décor and with a wide range of both trend-leading and enduringly timeless styles and colours to pick from, fitted kitchen specialist Symphony is proud to introduce two new eye-catching colours to its popular Paint to Order collection – Caramel and Willow.
Inspired by nature and connecting inside and outside spaces, the stunning new Caramel and Willow cabinetry colours are ideally suited to both classic and contemporary kitchens and are available on all nine Paint to Order Symphony kitchen ranges.
Caramel is hot on the heels of the recent surge of interest in yellow kitchens. Bringing warmth and lightness to a space with limited natural light, Caramel cabinetry is uplifting and inspiring, perfect for brightening up cooking, mealtimes and the dreaded cleaning up afterwards. This sunny shade is sure to rejuvenate tired cooking and dining spaces and it looks spectacular paired with contrasting colours such as an intense and moody Black, adding a glamorous and sophisticated finish to both modern and traditional interiors.
Symphony is also excited to launch another new Paint to Order colour – Willow. This rich, muted olive shade takes up the enduring trend for green cabinetry and gives it an earthy slant ideal for connecting indoor and outdoor spaces and perfect for kitchens that open up on to the garden as well as bringing the biophilic trend into city living.
These new Paint to Order colours are available on all nine of Symphony’s Paint to Order kitchen collections – New England, Austin, Wexford, Waterford, Princeton, Alta, New York, Ashbourne, Langdale and Linear Avant, with a style to suit all spaces.
Symphony can help with visualising a dream kitchen with its online Kitchen Designer tool. This free interactive design application allows users to see what their Symphony kitchen could look like, from the comfort of their own home. Select from a range of contemporary and classic designs and customise cabinetry with a choice of colours, handles and worksurfaces. Once complete, users can email themselves and their kitchen designer with their choices and begin the exciting journey of planning their ultimate Symphony kitchen.
For further information about Symphony, please visit www.symphony-group.co.uk
At Symphony Group, we are proud to support initiatives that make a real difference in people’s lives. Recently, we had the opportunity to work with the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) to contribute a key feature to their new head office at Grimaldi Building. The RNIB approached us to design and supply a bespoke worktop for a communal coffee area, and we were delighted to offer our support.
About the RNIB and Grimaldi Building
The RNIB is a leading UK charity offering support, advice, and information to over two million people living with sight loss. The organisation’s vital work ranges from practical support and specialist information to campaigning for the rights of blind and partially sighted individuals.
Grimaldi Building, the RNIB’s newly opened head office, is more than just a workspace for employees, it is a hub of innovation and support, designed to empower the visually impaired community. The building provides a welcoming and inclusive environment, where the RNIB can continue its mission to create a world where there are no barriers to people with sight loss.
The purpose of Grimaldi Building is to serve as a central space for collaboration, bringing together staff, volunteers, and visitors in an environment tailored to their needs. Every detail of the building has been carefully considered to enhance accessibility and comfort, ensuring that people with visual impairments can navigate the space independently and confidently.
A Bespoke Surface Designed with Accessibility in Mind
As part of Symphony’s contribution, we provided a bespoke waterfall edge worktop, designed to enhance accessibility in the new communal coffee area of Grimaldi Building. One of the standout features is the contrasting colour edge, with a white surface and a dark grey edge. This contrast allows individuals with visual impairments to easily identify the boundary of the work surface.
The worktop also features a raised lip, which offers a tactile guide for users, helping them feel the edge of the surface and preventing spills from flowing over. This thoughtful design helps make the communal area not only functional but also safer and more user-friendly.
Moreover, the choice of a plain white surface over a patterned or speckled worktop was intentional. For individuals with sight loss, patterns can be confusing, as they might be mistaken for objects placed on the surface. A clean, plain surface allows users to better locate and identify objects, promoting independence.
Symphony’s Commitment to Accessibility
At Symphony, we believe that accessible design should never come at the expense of style or functionality. Our Freedom Kitchens range is designed with inclusivity in mind, offering solutions that meet the needs of people with varying abilities.
Robert Newton, Head of Marketing at Symphony Group, commented on the project, “We are absolutely delighted to support the RNIB in creating an accessible and welcoming space at its new head office. This project is a great example of how we can design solutions that meet the specific needs of individuals, ensuring that everyone, regardless of ability, can enjoy functional and beautiful kitchen spaces.”
A Word from the RNIB
Tricia Smikle, Director of Office of CEO, from the RNIB also commented, “The contrasting edge and tactile features of the worktop provided by Symphony make it easier for people with sight loss to navigate and interact with the space. It’s a great example of how thoughtful design can make everyday tasks more manageable for those with visual impairments.”
Freedom by Symphony: A Kitchen Range Designed for Everyone
Our Freedom Kitchens range is designed with accessibility at its core, offering features such as adjustable worktop heights, easy-to-reach storage solutions, and contrast-rich designs that enhance usability for people with visual impairments.
In the past few years, the kitchen retail markets have focussed more and more on sustainability, showing retailers and consumers alike that there are greener, more eco-conscious alternatives available for renovation projects within the home.
Here at Symphony, we want to show that our actions speak louder than words and we’ve already implemented lots of changes in line with our sustainability target concerning packaging specification and minimising single use virgin plastic. Our cabinet legs for instance, are made from 100% recycled materials. These recycled materials are primarily from the motor vehicle industry such as old car and lorry dashboards and other interior parts that have been remanufactured to give them a new lease of life.
Our recently launched Ocean handles are another example. They are made using recycled plastic such as fishing nets from the maritime industry, so you’re not only getting sleek and stylish designs for your cabinets but you’re also choosing a truly sustainable solution that prevents the need for single plastic use. Take a look at our Turin kitchen in Alby Blue below to see how good they look.
But we know that’s not enough. All our timber-based materials are FSC® certified (license code: FSC-C008501) and we only use water-based paints on our Paint to Order ranges. We only use 100% recycled materials for our cardboard packaging too and 0% of our manufacturing waste is sent to landfill.
We’re constantly updating our product and packaging to be better. In 2023 we changed our worktop protection to a new recycled plastic material called ProlexRE®, which is made using 60% recycled content from post-consumer waste. We also use pulp corner protectors on individual doors and panels, saving around 4.5 million plastic corner protectors from being used each year, and our reusable transport blankets have been part of the Symphony model for over 40 years.
When you choose Symphony as your supplier, you can rest assured that all our team are experts in helping you to make a more sustainable choice. We can recommend energy efficient and water-saving appliances, taps and technology for your new kitchen. Our Cam & Dowel manufacturing process means individual panels can be removed so our products can be ‘Repaired, Not Replaced’, saving damaged cabinets from being sent to landfill.
Our Symphony teams are also making an impact on local wildlife and natural spaces too, with our Yorkshire Wildlife Trust (YWT) Wild Workdays. A charity dedicated to conserving, protecting and restoring wildlife and wild places in Yorkshire, the YWT has worked with us on a variety of practical projects including tree planting, meadow management and pond cleaning. We also help YWT with local council initiatives, such as ‘Litter Free Leeds’ where we help clean up our local community.
Changing to more sustainable solutions is part of everyday life now, and here at Symphony we are proud to be a committed member on this journey to making our planet healthier for everyone. Click here to read more about our sustainability initiatives and practices.
Sleek, chic and contemporary, matt kitchens are the latest trend to take the interiors world by storm. Moving away from their high-gloss counterparts, matt finishes are ideal for anyone looking for a low-maintenance, easy to live with kitchen style. With this in mind, Symphony is proud to announce the launch of a brand new handleless matt kitchen collection – Brooklyn. Available in three colours – Matt Indigo, Matt White and Matt Pearl Grey – the new Brooklyn kitchen offers consumers an affordable solution that creates a high-end look for less. Matt kitchens are elegant and understated with a colour consistency that retains its solidity and depth whatever the light, wherever it’s installed and at all times of the day.
Brooklyn features ‘J-pull style handles’, which are integrated into the top edge of the cabinet doors and drawers. These allow for a seamless and streamlined look, providing a comfortable grip for opening and closing while maintaining the sleek aesthetic of a handleless kitchen. In addition, it is possible to incorporate end panels that mimic the J-pull style profile, ideal for use on islands to extend the clean lines and ensure a cohesive design.
“Following insights from industry experts citing the demand for even more trend-led matt kitchen ranges, we are thrilled to announce the launch of Brooklyn.” says Simon Collyns, Marketing and Retail Sales Director of Symphony, “This handleless style is perfect for modern and contemporary spaces or adding a juxtaposition of style to a period home. The three colours we are launching – Matt Indigo, Matt White and Matt Pearl Grey look stunning as a mix and match design or as a single block of colour.”
Symphony can help with visualising a dream kitchen with its online Kitchen Designer tool. This free interactive design application allows users to see what their Symphony kitchen could look like, from the comfort of their own home. Select from a range of contemporary and classic designs and customise cabinetry with a choice of colours, handles and worksurfaces. Once complete, users can email themselves and their kitchen designer with their choices and begin the exciting journey of planning their ultimate Symphony kitchen.
With over 50 years’ experience in the industry, Symphony knows how important it is to operate in a responsible and sustainable way. Fully committed to consistently learning, innovating and implementing its actions to limit its impact on the environment, the Group has successfully met its hybrid fleet target a whole year early with 75% of its fleet now being hybrid vehicles.
Selection of Symphony Group’s Hybrid Car Fleet at its Head Office in Barnsley
In April 2021 Symphony’s fleet funding and management partner JCT600 VLS helped the company successfully launch its new PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicle) inclusive choice list. Working in partnership, it was identified that plug-in hybrids would future-proof Symphony’s fleet while also supporting its sustainable agenda with significant carbon savings.
“At JCT600 VLS, we have a really strong partnership with Symphony going back many years,” says Ben Creswick, Managing Director at JCT600 VLS, “and this close working relationship helped to deliver a high quality, seamless and well-received transition. Using Symphony’s existing fleet data, including a detailed review of the different user groups and their operational requirements for the vehicles, VLS presented what the future could look like.
“This included modelling different fuel types, whole life costs and operational logistics, alongside a step-by-step plan on how the transition could work. The results speak for themselves, with over 75% (250 PHEVs) now operating as part of the Symphony fleet. Symphony’s partnership approach and commitment to carbon reduction has been exemplary, and we are proud to have been a part of its leap towards a more sustainable future.”
L-R: George Burtoft, Sustainability Analyst at Symphony, John Dunsford, Group Finance Director at Symphony, Ben Creswick, Managing Director at JCT600 VLS, Kevin Sykes, HR and Fleet Administrator at Symphony, Lindsay Francis, Customer Service Director at JCT600 VLS, and Joel Walls, Key Account Manager at JCT600 VLS
George Burtoft, Sustainability Analyst at Symphony, explains further, “Our fleet funding and management partner JCT600 VLS has supported us on our green agenda to make significant carbon savings through a detailed vehicle requirement review. This included modelling different fuel types, whole-life costs and operational logistics alongside a step-by-step plan on how the transition could work. We are so proud to say that we have met our target of having over 75% hybrid vehicles in the business a year early.”
The UK’s largest privately-owned manufacturer of fitted kitchen, bedroom and bathroom furniture, Symphony is delighted to launch a brand-new design feature now available across a selection of ranges; Pocket Door Sets.
With open-plan living continuing to rise in popularity, this new addition of folding pocket doors offers a great space-saving and aesthetically pleasing solution that suits all types of layouts and lifestyles. Split into a number of zone options – Oven Zone, Utility Zone, Wet Zone, Pantry Zone, Bar Zone and Home Office, it is easy to see how flexible and desirable this functionality will be for many interiors.
Designed to be utilised in a variety of open-plan settings, including kitchens, utilities and home office spaces, the Symphony sets are simple yet highly functional.
Oven Zone
This solution is a must have for small apartment spaces. The oven sits behind a single door while the integrated larder fridge can be set into the cabinet, with a co- ordinating door to get a symmetrical look.
Utility Zone
When it comes to laundry the biggest items in the kitchen are the washing machine or tumble dryer. This solution provides a clever utility area for when laundry is finished; it can be hung to dry/ready for ironing behind the folding doors.
Wet Zone
If space is at a premium, this sink area is a great addition. It can work alongside Oven and Utility areas to create a full run of hidden kitchen zones.
Pantry Zone
A very useful combination is a stylish pantry. Using additional shelving and base cabinets with internal drawers, this combination can free up worktop space in the main kitchen.
Bar Zone
Ideal for those who love to socialise, this zone features additional shelves for storing glasses and other essential bar items, plus a sink and tap area to clean it all away when the party is over.
Home Office
Compatible with the Symphony Urbano Home Office furniture, the new pocket doors can add a design element which allows access to the workspace when required but hide away when not in use, which is ideal for those working from home and want to switch off at the end of a long day.
Symphony Pocket Door Set Handles – available in Aluminium or Black
“We are consistently tracking and forecasting interior trends to see where new features and accessories could be added to our ranges, and Pocket Door Sets is a prime example,” says Simon Collyns, Marketing and Retail Sales Director of Symphony, “With open plan living showing no signs of disappearing, this neat, space-saving solution means that customers can house everything from sinks, appliances and coffee stations, to bars, laundry and computers behind stylish cabinetry without navigating open doors while in use.”
Available now in five on-trend colours across Symphony’s Urban, Linear Form, Linear Icon and Turin ranges, the designs suit a modern, contemporary interior and come in two inset handle options, co-ordinating with Symphony’s grey linen cabinets. Shelves and support bars are also available to create the multiple zone options and can be tailored to each user’s requirements.
For further information about Symphony, please visit www.symphony-group.co.uk
Adam Thomas is an accessible kitchen consultant who has been collaborating with the Symphony Group for a number of years. With over 35 years of accessible kitchen design experience, Adam is the industry’s leading expert, with an unrivalled array of achievements such as a KBB 2020 lifetime achievement award.
We sat down to discuss accessible kitchens with Adam Thomas, and also discussed how he feels about his recent award. We also wanted Adam to answer some of the questions he gets regularly regarding accessible design.
Adam, how do you feel about your lifetime achievement award?
My ambition has always been to change the face of accessible kitchen design, enabling ‘access for all’ by designing flexible kitchens that are inclusive and also look stylish in the home. This award from KBB is a step towards furthering my ambition of making accessible kitchens for all, and I would like to thank Symphony for their and support which I feel led to this award.
How did you originally get into accessible kitchen design?
I was already working for a kitchen company when I was injured in a road traffic accident at the age of 17 and since then I have been spinally injured and a full-time wheelchair user. I hadn’t ever thought about accessible design prior to this, and there wasn’t much in the way of accessible kitchens on the market at the time. This is when I realised that an accessible kitchen design was being treated as a niche market, filled with clinical looking spaces, which I wanted to change. That’s when I started looking into an accessible kitchen offer and how accessible kitchens could be brought into the mainstream market.
What is the most important thing to consider when designing an accessible kitchen?
You have to work closely with the customer during an accessible kitchen design, even more so than a standard kitchen. It is important to watch how they use their existing kitchen if there are any areas or tasks they are struggling with and how space is working for them. I then like to sit at a table and talk this through with the client and propose all the solutions that are available within the Freedom product that can make their experience in the space easier and safer. Once this has been discussed we will start looking at aesthetics, and what their vision for the room looks like, alongside how the accessible features will work within the area.
You have collaborated with Symphony to create the Freedom brand, what do you think makes this collection of accessible kitchens stand out?
Freedom truly is an exceptional collection of products, and I am so proud to have collaborated to create this brand. The collection houses such a wide array of features, that I know from experience encourage independence in the home, making it accessible and safer for all. Furthermore, Symphony has made its best selling ranges available within the brand, meaning that style doesn’t have to be compromised to have an accessible home.
Where do you see accessible kitchen design heading in the future?
I think the kitchen industry is really taking notice of accessible design at the moment, and I think Symphony is leading the way with the Freedom product. Part of my work with Symphony is talking to their retailers, housebuilders and also those that are involved in home adaptations such as occupational therapists. I do this because I believe education is key. Until you talk to someone about accessible design and discuss the limitations a standard kitchen can have, I think it’s difficult to understand the importance of accessible design. I hope that with this educations housebuilders, architects and retail showrooms will all bring accessible kitchen design into their day to day running.
Adam Thomas is offering accessible kitchen training free of charge to occupational therapists, architects and other adaptation professionals hosted at Freedom by Symphony showrooms. If you are interested in the training sessions please contact Freedom@symphony-group.co.uk.
EXPLORE MORE OF THE FREEDOM RANGE
Follow Freedom on Social Media Today ! See our platforms featuring Adam Thomas HERE
On Thursday 29th February, we took part in a Wild Work Day with YWT and sent a team of volunteers into Barnsley. Our staff were planting trees at the Oaks Lane site as part of a project lead by Barnsley Council called ‘Branching Out Barnsley’.
‘Branching Out Barnsley’ involves planting native woodland on Barnsley Council owned sites which are currently known as ‘amenity grassland’ and have little value to wildlife or people. YWT want to create spaces which can be enjoyed by locals as well as providing wildlife habitat, capturing carbon, and mitigating the effects of climate change.
- Before
- After
We’d like to say thank you to Lucy from YWT and Amber from Barnsley Council for their help and guidance on the day, and a big thanks to the team of volunteers from Symphony!
We’re looking forward to supporting our local wildlife & wild places again at our next YWT workday.
To follow our progress with YWT, visit our website and social media pages.
The start of the new year is the perfect time to plan for a fresh new bathroom update. From existing suites that need extra storage to a whole new bathroom scheme or en-suite design, Symphony has the ultimate solution with the launch of its new Amalfi bathroom collection. This elegant new style has a classic Shaker look with a contemporary feel and is available in three on-trend and enduring colours – Charcoal, Hunter Green and Pebble. Perfect for creating a soothing sanctuary with a luxurious touch, Amalfi is part of Symphony’s Aquadi fitted bathroom range and is available to order from this month.
Amalfi in Charcoal
The Aquadi range of fitted bathroom furniture from Symphony is designed to make the most of every inch, providing a personal retreat with plenty of storage to cater for every need. A blend of classic and contemporary style, the Amalfi collection is a Shaker design that brings a sophisticated look to family bathrooms and en-suites with a choice of three timeless and trend-led colours to complement both modern and period homes. Charcoal is a dramatic dark finish, perfect for pairing with crisp white sanitaryware and brushed gold fittings, Hunter Green is intense with a timeless quality, which looks stunning teamed with warm wood flooring and gold or brass handles and taps, while the neutral tones of Pebble give Amalfi a calm and soothing feel, ideal as a backdrop for matt black shower fittings, taps and accessories. All three colours come in a smooth matt finish for a modern feel.
Amalfi Charcoal Under Sink Storage
“We are so excited to be starting 2024 by launching our new Amalfi bathroom furniture collection,” says Simon Collyns, Group Marketing Director at Symphony. “The three colourways – Charcoal, Hunter Green and Pebble – will complement all interior styles and are perfect for creating a sleek and sophisticated family bathroom or master suite and can also be matched with our new Nexus fitted bedroom furniture, which also comes in these three stunning colours for a fully co-ordinated home.”
Amalfi Hunter Green Under Sink Storage
The new Amalfi bathroom collection is crafted from super matt foil with a narrow frame for a Shaker look and feel. Both the Charcoal and Pebble colourways are made from material which is 70% recycled, making Amalfi an eco-conscious design for a sustainable home. Options include stunning tall floor-to-ceiling cabinets for additional storage space for towels and toiletries, vanity units and under-basin storage, WC cabinetry and wall cabinets, all of which can be complemented by a choice of handles and knobs in brass, matt black or dark brushed brass to enhance the luxurious look.
Amalfi Pebble Tall Cabinet
Whether updating an existing bedroom or guest room or planning a whole new look for a master suite or loft conversion, Symphony has the perfect blend of classic and contemporary style to suit all spaces. The new Nexus bedroom furniture collection is an elegant and refined Shaker style, which is available in three on-trend finishes – Hunter Green, Charcoal and Pebble. Each of these sophisticated colours has a timeless, enduring quality that will complement all styles of property, from enhancing a period home to adding character to a modern new-build. Part of Symphony’s Urbano Bedroom Furniture range, the new Nexus design brings a fresh new look to homes for 2024 and is available to order now.
Nexus in Hunter Green
The Urbano range of bedroom furniture from Symphony is designed to create a personal retreat, a bedroom that provides the perfect organised environment to start the day and a restful and relaxing space for unwinding during the evening. The new Nexus collection is crafted from super matt foil with a narrow frame for a Shaker look and feel and with a choice of three stunning colours, homeowners can enjoy their own soothing sanctuary with a personal touch, which can be enhanced with on-trend dark brass handles.
Nexus in Hunter Green
The new Nexus collection is a classic Shaker design with panelled wardrobe doors and a mirrored door option, ideal for saving space as it removes the need for a separate full-length mirror while also enhancing a sense of space in smaller rooms. Handle options include the Barrington dark brass pull handle or knob with backplate and the Cambridge matt brass knob or handle as well as plenty of other styles and finishes for a truly unique and bespoke look.
“We are thrilled to be launching our Nexus bedroom furniture collection,” says Simon Collyns, Group Marketing Director at Symphony. “The rich, dark tones of Hunter Green and Charcoal or the neutral hues of Pebble all come in an on-trend matt finish and can be complemented with our Aquadi Amalfi bathroom range for a beautifully co-ordinated en-suite.”
Nexus Drawer Cabinet in Hunter Green
The Nexus collection comprises fully fitted wardrobes to make the most of every inch alongside freestanding chests of drawers, dressing tables and bedside units for a fully co-ordinated bedroom scheme. Wardrobes can be customised with a variety of carefully designed storage solutions such as hanging rails, push to open drawers and compartment dividers while a home office can also be designed with matching furniture.
Nexus in Pebble
When you buy a kitchen, you want it to look as good as new for as long as possible. No matter the size, style or budget, a new kitchen is always an investment. That’s why here at Symphony, we want to help you care for your kitchen, from the worksurfaces and cabinets to the sink and appliances. It’s the one room of the home that gets constant use. From cooking family meals to sitting and snacking, socialising, entertaining, relaxing and even working, our kitchens need to cope with a multitude of tasks so cleaning them regularly and looking after their materials, finishes and colours is key to ensuring their longevity in performance as well as aesthetics.
General advice
Symphony cabinets are manufactured to comply with the British Standard BS 6222 and have been tested and passed FIRA Gold product certification, so you can be sure that you are getting a kitchen that is built to last. As a general rule, make sure the kitchen is always well ventilated when cooking, as any steam and condensation can result in damage to the doors and units. An extractor hood is a must and try to open the window a little too if it’s not too cold outside. If any spills or splashes occur when prepping food, cooking or dining (and they always do), then wipe away and dry straight away. Always wipe any water off cabinetry with a soft dry cloth, as cabinets aren’t made to be water resistant so could swell if left unwiped. Use non-abrasive cloths and check handle screws regularly to keep everything secure. Speaking of security, heavy items should always be placed on the bottom or lower shelves of cabinets and never be tempted to pop your kettle or a steamer underneath a wall unit or on worksurface joins, in order to minimise the harmful effects of condensation.
Cleaning the cabinetry
Make cleaning the cabinets part of a regular deep kitchen clean. Start by cleaning them with a slightly damp, non-abrasive cloth with a little dab of liquid soap then dry thoroughly. Never use strong chemical cleaners on doors, shelves or surfaces. Inside, try to take all the contents out on a regular basis and give the insides a good wipe down with a damp cloth before wiping dry. This is also a good time to check use-by dates and rotate items so that you’re using up food that needs eating and avoiding unnecessary food waste.
Looking after laminate
Laminate surfaces have come a long way in recent years and they are now an attractive and affordable alternative to natural stone and wood. Another benefit is that this cost-effective solution is also designed for easy maintenance and a long life, so clean up finger marks, tea and coffee spills with a quick wipe with a damp cloth. Use a chopping board for cutting ingredients and a worktop saver or trivet for hot pans. For stubborn stains, start with a damp cloth and mild detergent then switch to a mild household cleaner with a soft bristle brush. If this still doesn’t work, try baking soda or a non-scratch cleaner with a soft bristled brush. Don’t be tempted to use acidic or abrasive cleaners nor polish, especially on glossy finishes. Another tip is to never wear a PVC apron when cooking, as over time it can rub against the laminate and cause a change in the texture and colour of the surface!
Giving granite a deep clean
Granite worksurfaces bring natural stone beauty into your kitchen and look stunning for years to come with a little care and attention. If you choose granite with your Symphony kitchen, you’ll get an MN Easy-Clean solution, which removes grease, oil and general dirt from granite surfaces. Use in conjunction with MN Power-Clean for stubborn stains and refine the shine every now and then with Lithofin MN Polish Cream. A going over every month or so will add extra protection against scratches and water marks, especially on marble and limestone worktops.
Caring for quartz
You may have selected Silestone quartz for your worksurfaces and these are also low maintenance, as their low porosity prevents them from absorbing fluids. As a daily routine, wipe them every day with soap and warm water to help them retain their natural shine. Always rinse and dry after cleaning and any stubborn marks can be tackled with a cream cleaner and non-abrasive pad. Never use harsh chemicals or solvents or any product with a high alkaline/PH level. You should always ensure you have a trivet underneath any hot pans and a chopping board when using sharp knives.
Enjoying Earthstone worktops for longer
When your new Symphony kitchen includes Earthstone worktops, you’ll get a Scotchbrite pad, Countertop Magic Polish and microfibre cloth in your Care and Maintenance Kit. Once a week, wipe surfaces with warm soapy water then buff dry and apply a thin, even coat of Countertop Magic before wiping off immediately with a clean microfibre cloth. Once dry, repeat this process then buff again. If you spill anything like coffee, tea or juice, some mild discolouration can occur so clean with a mild detergent and water. If it’s not budging, try a mix of domestic bleach and warm water, wearing rubber gloves to protect your hands. Anything more stubborn will need a non-abrasive cream cleaner and nylon brush, rubbed gently over the stain. And for really difficult stains, try rubbing a Scotchbrite pad dipped in warm soapy water in a circular motion. Whichever method you are using, always rinse with warm water afterwards before buffing dry and applying two coats of Countertop Magic Polish across the entire worksurface.
Sinks need careful cleaning too
As well as cabinets and worksurfaces, the kitchen sink should also be cleaned daily. Use a mild cream detergent to prevent stains and be careful when placing heavy or sharp objects into the sink. Something we don’t tend to think of is leaving open containers of cleaning products under the sink. Try to make sure they are closed and well contained at all times, as this avoids condensation forming under the sink. Everyday tea stains can be treated with a cream cleaner on a soft cloth. The same goes for general grease and limescale. Brown spots and light scratches on stainless steel sinks can be removed with a stainless steel cleaner such as Bar Keeper’s Friend and, as with every element of your kitchen, after cleaning always dry the area thoroughly.
Appliance Care
When it comes to your appliances, every manufacturer should supply general cleaning advice within their manuals, so make sure you read these before cleaning.
If you’ve just moved into a new home, you’ll find a Welcome to your new home brochure from us in your new kitchen. You can also find more hints and tips here.
Standard Colours
Our range of on-trend colour finishes
Paint to Order Colours
Find the perfect colour scheme with our choice of on trend finishes
Anthracite
Black
Bottle Green
Caramel
Carmine Red
Cashmere
Chalk White
Clay
Dusky Pink
Fern Green
French Grey
Harbour
Hessian
Hunter Green
Indigo
Midnight Blue
Pearl Grey
Platinum
Providence Blue
Sage
Stone
Willow
Paint to Order Colours
Find the perfect colour scheme with our choice of on trend finishes
Chalk White
Harbour
Cashmere
Stone
Clay
Platinum
Pearl Grey
Providence Blue
Sage
Fern Green
Dusky Pink
Willow
Paint to Order Colours
Find the perfect colour scheme with our choice of on trend finishes
Chalk White
Harbour
Platinum
Pearl Grey
Stone
Sage*
Fern Green
French Grey*
Providence Blue
Cashmere
Dusky Pink
Ivy
*Please note these paint colours are not a match to the Laura Ashley paint colours of the same name.
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