New Pictures Just Posted!
Thursday, February 14th, 2013
We currently have a large number of kitchens to photograph, which will be appearing in our Accessible Portfolio as we receive the images from our photographer.
These include a Natural Oak shaker style kitchen with fixed-height Vanilla Corian worktops and Neff appliances, shown above. This kitchen was designed for a wheelchair user when she moved house, and decided against taking her existing Design Matters kitchen with her! Fitted into a beautiful barn conversion, the kitchen includes a custom larder unit – a feature of her last Design Matters kitchen that the client decided she could not live without. Corian wall cladding is also a feature of this kitchen, for seamless easy cleaning.
Our next project is a beautiful Painted Oak kitchen in Sage, with Clam Shell Corian worktops and a large L-shaped rise and fall unit incorporating hob and sink area. The design includes a run of tall units incorporating integrated refrigeration and a range of other appliances including a Neff SlideAway oven and Siemens induction hob. Aubergine coloured glass splashbacks contrast beautifully with the painted door finish.
Watch this space for more projects coming soon, or like our Facebook page to receive regular updates and news from Design Matters.
Professional Training at the DLF – 27 Nov 2012
Tuesday, November 13th, 2012
If you are a professional Occupational Therapist or Case Manager, and would like a day’s training in a small group setting, why not join the next training day at the Disabled Living Foundation on 27 November 2012.
Adam Thomas will present his comprehensive one-day seminar entitled ‘The Basic Principles of Accessible Kitchen Design’, assisted by our Office Manager, Natalie Presbury. Adam is the country’s leading accessible kitchen designer, and an acknowledged expert in his field having worked recently as head consultant on accessible kitchens for the Olympic Village. Read his full biography on our web site.
The day covers an in-depth analysis of the essential elements to be considered, along with explanation of current best practice and presentation of some of the latest products for accessible kitchens. Delegates will also visit the fully featured Access Matters display kitchen in the DLF Equipment Centre to illustrate some of the points raised during the day. All course materials are supplied and, in the afternoon an in-depth case study will be presented, followed by a hands-on design exercise.
This one day training course is also suitable for Grant Officers, Environmental Health Officers and anyone else who is responsible for providing kitchen adaptations in a professional capacity.
For more details and to sign up, go to the Disabled Living Foundation web site. If you have any queries about the suitability of the course for you, call us on the office number: 01628 531584, or email us.
Our training day can also be tailored to meet the needs of local authorities and group OT/Case Management practices. A dedicated day is a very cost-effective way of providing CPD for your entire team. Contact us for more details on the office number above.
Design Matters Appears on Channel 4
Friday, September 21st, 2012
Sarah Beeny’s new series Double The House for Half The Money features the Design Matters showroom in episode 2. Sarah is advising Lindsey, a client in Lincolnshire who was born with achondroplasia and would like a more accessible, modern kitchen/dining space.
The programme shows Lindsey using a footstool to access her standard kitchen, as she talks through the features she would like to try and include in her new kitchen. Sarah introduces her to rise and fall mechanisms, pull down baskets and clever storage ideas when she visits the Design Matters showroom to look at the very best in accessible kitchen design.
The Corian rise and fall areas in our showroom display get the Beeny stamp of approval and Lindsey takes some ideas away to create her dream kitchen, unveiled at the end of the programme.
The kitchen segment begins at about 28:10 but the whole programme is interesting, featuring another renovation and extension project for a family in Buckinghamshire.
We enjoyed hosting the Channel 4 team in the showroom and participating behind the scenes, with Adam giving tips on the design features Lindsey should consider.
She is clearly delighted with the completed kitchen and dining area, which is a great space for entertaining family and friends.
Watch the programme using these links on Channel 4OD or on YouTube.
Countdown to Naidex South 17 & 18 October, London ExCeL
Monday, September 10th, 2012Come and meet the team!
- Check out our latest samples
- See images of our latest kitchen projects
- Meet Adam Thomas and the team
- Pick up an Access Matters brochure
There will be limited opportunities to make a private appointment to see Adam during the show. Please call us on the office number to book your time slot or send an email to Natalie using this link.
If you have an upcoming kitchen project and would like to chat it through, please bring along some outline measurements and we’ll be happy to spend some time talking through your options, without obligation on your part. Most of our work comes through referral, and we work hard to leave each customer entirely satisfied with the service we offer.
Register for Naidex South now, for speedy entry to the event on the day of your choice.
Did you know?
Our service is unique in the United Kingdom. No other independent kitchen studio employs an award-winning disabled designer with nearly 30 years experience of kitchen design. Every design Adam develops is a one-off, tailored to the needs of a specific client. Our own brand of kitchen furniture called Access Matters was designed and developed by Adam, and is manufactured exclusively for us in England. If Adam specifies a cabinet with unusual dimensions, we will make it. It’s as simple as that.
Bespoke, stylish kitchens for older and disabled people.
Now a reality from Design Matters.
New Acrylic High Gloss White Kitchens
Monday, August 20th, 2012Q: What is glossy, white and absolutely gorgeous?
A: Acrylic High Gloss kitchens by Access Matters
We’ve just added two new kitchen shoots to the portfolio pages of our web sites, and we have run out of superlatives. They are both unique, one-off designs with real flair and yet they are both kitchens designed by Adam Thomas in Acrylic High Gloss White. Here’s a sneak peek:
Visit our Portfolio pages now for more pictures and call us to discuss your next project.
Stunning new Cream Acrylic Gloss Kitchen
Thursday, August 2nd, 2012
We’ve just posted some super pictures of a recent project in Cream Acrylic Gloss with contrasting panels in Woodline Mocca and a stunning red glass splashback. Visit our Accessible Portfolio now for more pictures.
The Team Returns from Naidex 2012
Wednesday, May 9th, 2012
Our Naidex National was as busy as ever with hundreds of visitors to the Independent Living Show Home, and some great feedback on our kitchen which was designed and manufactured specially for the show. The kitchen had to be fitted in three days, and then dismantled in just a few hours as the event came to an end. It’s a huge challenge for our installation team, but they made it!
The kitchen will be making another appearance at Naidex South in October, so if you missed us in Birmingham there’s another chance to meet the team and see the kitchen at ExCel London 17-18 October. There will be opportunities to have an appointment with Adam Thomas at Naidex South, so contact us if you’re interested. We’ll also be looking for a new home for the kitchen after Naidex South, as shown above, at a substantially reduced ex-display price. Please give us a call if you, or someone you know might be interested.
We have plenty of people to get back to after Naidex National, in the meantime if you want to keep track of Adam Thomas and what we’re doing as a company, please visit our new facebook page designed to keep you posted if you’re interested in accessible kitchens. ’Like’ us, and our latest news will automatically be fed through to your own facebook news feed. You can also follow @designmatters3 on Twitter.
As always, if you have any suggestions or questions we are only a call or email away. Contact us on 01628 531584 or email us using this link.
If you are a professional (occupational therapist, case manager, grant officer, architect or environmental health officer) involved in accessible kitchen design you can sign up to our training e-newsletter full of tips, hints and insight using this link to our Training page.
Keep Track of Adam Thomas on Facebook
Wednesday, April 25th, 2012
Adam Thomas at Design Matters is now on Facebook. We’ve loaded up all our recent projects on this page so that you can get automatic updates when we post News or new Projects.
To visit the new page click through this link to Adam Thomas at Design Matters and enjoy regular updates without lifting a finger.
Countdown to Naidex 2012
Tuesday, April 17th, 2012Well the kitchen design is finalised, and we’re counting down the days until we can get into the NEC and construct the stunning accessible kitchen at the heart of the Naidex Independent Living Show Home. It will be a very long weekend for our installation experts, but worthwhile when we see thousands of visitors streaming through the Show Home.
And there’s more to come:
- We’re launching a special offer for all visitors to our kitchen in the Naidex Independent Living Show Home. Watch this space for more details.
- We’re working on a Facebook page for our accessible kitchen service, which will help our followers keep tabs on recent projects and find out what Adam’s doing. We’ll post a News item here when it’s live so that you can ‘like’ us and keep up with Adam’s busy schedule.
19 days to go and counting …
Design Matters Kitchen for Naidex 2012 Independent Living Show Home
Wednesday, April 4th, 2012
We are delighted to confirm that Design Matters is supplying a fully featured accessible kitchen for the Naidex 2012 Independent Living Show Home at the NEC, Birmingham from 1-3 May.
The house itself is being designed by iHUS, and will comprise a comprehensive range of rooms and accessible features that can be browsed and experienced by all visitors to Naidex 2012.
Adam Thomas is currently putting the finishing touches to the design and colour scheme for the Design Matters Accessible Kitchen that we will have manufactured specially for Naidex. Do pass the word around to family, friends and colleagues and come and see us at the Show Home.
If you are planning a kitchen adaptation and would like to meet Adam during the show, a limited number of appointments will be available. Please contact the office to make an appointment, and for more information.
We hope to be able to share more details of this spectacular new kitchen very soon. In the meantime, register for Naidex 2012 now, using this link to the Naidex web site.