Journal Articles

Custom-sized sage green Shaker cabinets with an oak worktop in a Bristol kitchen

Latest · Bespoke · 5 min read

Made-to-measure kitchen cupboards for awkward spaces

Alcoves, chimney breasts, sloping ceilings and uneven walls defeat standard cabinet sizes. How made-to-measure cupboards are planned, made and fitted.

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Refresh kitchen projects

Professionally sprayed kitchen in a Victorian villa in Malmesbury.

Refresh kitchen · 6 October 2026

Hand-painted or sprayed kitchen cabinets: which finish lasts longer?

Both finishes can last for years. The real difference is in the work each needs - and which one suits your doors, your room and your week.

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Nick Archibold fitting hand-finished made to measure kitchen doors to existing carcase units in a Corsham home.

Refresh kitchen · 5 October 2026

Made-to-Measure Kitchen Doors: When Standard Sizes Won't Fit

Made to measure kitchen doors solve awkward carcase widths, odd heights, and misaligned hinges. Learn how custom sizing works before ordering new fronts.

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A newly fitted lightly-veined white quartz worktop with its new ceramic undermount sink, in natural light from the window above.

Refresh kitchen · 29 September 2026

Kitchen worktop replacement cost: what to expect in Wiltshire

Replacing kitchen worktops typically costs £5,000 to £8,000 fitted for an average kitchen. Guide prices by material, and what adds to the cost.

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A refreshed kitchen in Corsham with solid wood Shaker-style doors painted in sage green, with white quartz worktops and the original yellow wall tiles kept.

Refresh kitchen · 21 September 2026

Shaker Kitchen Doors: Styles, Finishes and What Suits an Older Home

Shaker kitchen doors suit period homes with their timeless design. Frame widths vary, paint colours are customisable, and they offer enduring quality.

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"The finished Bradford-on-Avon kitchen with cabinetry sprayed in Farrow & Ball Lichen, glass pendant lights over the island and a solid oak breakfast bar"

Refresh kitchen · 7 September 2026

Kitchen Respray or New Doors: Which Should You Choose?

Deciding between a kitchen respray and new doors involves considering cost, durability, and disruption. Each option suits different needs and budgets.

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A newly refreshed kitchen showing custom-sized replacement cabinet doors in a modern style.

Refresh kitchen · 5 September 2026

Is It Worth Replacing Your Kitchen Doors?

Can new doors give your kitchen the update it needs? How to assess existing carcasses, compare replacement with spraying and plan the cost.

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Refreshed oak shaker kitchen in Wiltshire with white worktops, blue metro tiles and a range cooker

Refresh kitchen · 4 September 2026

How much does a kitchen refurbishment cost in Wiltshire?

A complete kitchen refresh typically costs £15,000 to £20,000 in Wiltshire. See what shapes the budget, what to check in a quote and what to allow for.

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Finished Brinkworth kitchen with green J-pull doors, white worktops and illuminated plinths

Refresh kitchen · 24 August 2026

Should I refresh or replace my kitchen?

Compare the layout, cabinet condition, cost and disruption before choosing a refresh or a new kitchen, with a real Brinkworth example.

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Finished kitchen sprayed in Fired Earth Weald Green, with matching bespoke cabinetry in a Malmesbury Victorian villa

Refresh kitchen · 28 February 2025

Kitchen refresh ideas for older homes

Kitchen refresh ideas for older homes, with a Malmesbury Victorian villa showing how matching cabinetry and a new finish can respect the room's character.

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Kitchen mid-project in Great Somerford, with a new stone worktop fitted and a tiled splashback being set out

Refresh kitchen · 18 February 2025

Avoiding Common Mistakes When Updating Your Kitchen

Avoid kitchen-update mistakes by settling the design before work begins and keeping a 10-15% contingency fund for hidden problems and worthwhile improvements.

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Finished Devizes kitchen with new solid oak doors and quartz worktops

Refresh kitchen · 18 February 2025

How long does a kitchen refresh take, and how disruptive is it?

A kitchen refresh takes a few days on site for doors and a few weeks with worktops, and the kitchen keeps working throughout. A Devizes project shows how.

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Finished Highworth kitchen with Farrow & Ball Vert de Terre cabinets, lightly-veined quartz worktops, a ceramic undermount sink and the retained tiled splashback

Refresh kitchen · 18 February 2025

Why Your Kitchen Feels Outdated (and What to Do About It)

Why your kitchen feels outdated: dated doors, dark worktops, poor lighting and cluttered surfaces, and how a Highworth refresh changed what needed changing.

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Custom kitchen projects

A modern kitchen fitted with Shaker handleless doors and drawer fronts and an integrated rail system.

Custom kitchen · 26 October 2026

Handleless Kitchen Doors: Are They Right for Your Kitchen?

Handleless kitchen doors offer clean lines, but grip and carcase needs differ. Learn how rail, J-pull, and push-to-open compare before choosing.

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A newly installed custom kitchen with high quality cabinets and a solid oak peninsula in a Wiltshire home.

Custom kitchen · 12 October 2026

How Much Does a New Kitchen Cost in 2026?

A kitchen refresh typically costs £15,000 to £20,000, a custom kitchen £20,000 to £30,000, and a bespoke kitchen £30,000 to £50,000 and above.

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Nick Archibold working at the bench in his Corsham cabinetmaking workshop

Custom kitchen · 6 October 2026

Kitchen designer, cabinetmaker or fitter: who should you hire?

Designer, cabinetmaker or fitter? The roles overlap more than most people think. What each brings, what to check, and the questions worth asking.

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Custom kitchen in Corsham with Regiment Green shaker cabinetry, quartz and oak surfaces and a solid oak open shelving unit

Custom kitchen · 8 June 2026

Custom or bespoke kitchen: what's the difference?

Custom uses UK-manufactured cabinetry; bespoke starts with raw materials in my workshop. Two Wiltshire kitchens show why that difference matters.

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Bespoke timber kitchen island with a pale worktop in Batheaston, made in Nick’s Corsham workshop

Custom kitchen · 21 March 2025

Entertaining-Ready Kitchens: How to Make Hosting Easier

Hosting is easier with room for guests, a separate serving surface and a safe cooking area. A small bespoke island in Batheaston shows how this can work.

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Fully extending swing-out corner cupboard storage in a custom kitchen in Corsham, Wiltshire

Custom kitchen · 18 February 2025

Blending Style and Functionality in a Family Kitchen

A family kitchen needs comfortable storage, easy-clean surfaces and clear routes. A Corsham custom kitchen shows how fully extending shelves improve access.

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Bespoke kitchen projects

A solid timber bespoke kitchen carcase with dovetail drawer boxes under construction on a workbench.

Bespoke kitchen · 20 October 2026

Bespoke Kitchen Cabinets: What to Look for in the Build

Learn what to look for in bespoke kitchen cabinets, from rigid carcase joinery and full back panels to serviceable runners and traditional hinges.

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Nick Archibold sanding a cabinet panel at the bench in his Corsham workshop

Bespoke kitchen · 6 October 2026

Inside a Corsham cabinetmaker's workshop

A look inside my Corsham workshop, where industrial machinery and practical skills give homeowners more choices for their kitchens.

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A bespoke kitchen island by Nick Archibold with integrated seating and custom storage in a Wiltshire home.

Bespoke kitchen · 14 September 2026

Kitchen Islands With Seating: Sizes, Heights and Walkways

A kitchen island with seating needs a minimum 90cm wide walkway, a 30cm overhang for comfort, and a 90cm worktop height for standard stools.

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A bespoke kitchen island spray-painted dark blue with a solid timber top and solid brass hinges and handles, made to fit this Wiltshire kitchen.

Bespoke kitchen · 3 September 2026

How much does a kitchen island cost? A bespoke maker's prices

A bespoke kitchen island usually costs £2,500 to £4,000 fitted, more with a stone top, sink or hob. What moves the price, with a real example from Box.

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Bespoke oak kitchen island with framed timber panels and a white quartz worktop, made in Nick Archibold's Wiltshire workshop

Bespoke kitchen · 2 September 2026

Fitted or freestanding kitchen island: which suits your room?

The practical differences between a fitted and a freestanding kitchen island, including services, seating, older floors and what each one costs to change later.

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A large solid oak dresser with panelled doors and deep drawers, built in Nick Archibold's Wiltshire workshop to sit alongside an existing kitchen.

Bespoke kitchen · 1 September 2026

Kitchen dresser or Welsh dresser: which one suits your kitchen?

Compare Welsh and kitchen dressers, from display and storage to matching existing cabinetry, with guidance on workshop-made furniture.

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Solid oak kitchen furniture with open shelves holding pots and pans, made for a Victorian detached villa in Melksham

Bespoke kitchen · 13 July 2026

When Is a Bespoke Kitchen Really Worth It?

A bespoke kitchen is worth it when you want freedom over design and proportions, not just finishes, as this solid oak kitchen in a Melksham villa shows.

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