Designs for family life

David L Douglas, based in Fife, is a leading manufacturer and installer of luxury kitchens and interiors. Put your home in the hands of the experts...

Good design is everything when it comes to creating the perfect interior and Fife-based company David L Douglas prides itself on being Scotland’s premier design-led manufacturer and installer of luxury kitchens and interiors. As a family business, David L Douglas is also immensely proud of the strong values that run throughout the company. Combining technology with traditional skills, it delivers clients a truly individual solution: the very best in fitted furniture with the greatest level of detail and finish that will stand the test of time; a trait not only of great design but also of being extremely well made by highly-skilled craftsmen. Experienced senior designer at David L Douglas Les Waite says: “When it comes to designing the perfect kitchen, it can be an overused term to say that the room is the ‘heart of the home’. In reality, it is the soul of the house. Not only is it a place for creating, it is a place for assembling and discussing the trials and tribulations of family life.”

Les adds: “There has been a steady decline in the prominence of formal dining rooms over the past decade, moving more towards a kitchen-dining lifestyle, where family and friends can converse while a meal is prepared. More often than not, there is a family room adjacent to or an extension off the kitchen, creating a casual place where the family spends most of its time.”

John Angus, kitchen and interior design specialist with David L Douglas, says: “When it comes to designing the perfect kitchen it is crucial to consider lifestyle first and foremost before making any decisions. The process needs careful consideration to ensure it not only meets personal style requirements but, more importantly, meets the lifestyle needs of the family.”

Here are some things to consider when designing a new kitchen…

A kitchen should feel like a relaxing, welcoming space so it’s important to select furniture and cabinetry that not only fits the family’s needs and style preferences but is functional. It is important to think about the overall colour palette of your new kitchen – consider what tones would make you feel welcomed and relaxed in this space. Also, consider other features of your room and house; things like natural stone walls, high ceilings or large glass windows.

Choosing a style or material for your cabinetry doesn’t need to be done on a mutually exclusive basis. Some of the best-designed kitchens have a mixture of materials. For example, blending solid wood aspects into a contemporary-styled layout can create a design classic and provide a solution that will last a lifetime.

It is also key to think about a style of worktop that will complement your cabinetry as well as meet your needs as a functioning kitchen. There are a plethora of materials and styles of worktops available nowadays – these can range from granite, Dekton, Silestone and Caesarstone to Corian and Microcrete.

Choosing the right appliances to go with your new kitchen will help you make the most out of it. It is important to select a quality brand that not only meets your budget but will provide long-lasting, reliable service in the kitchen. David L Douglas is a Miele Premium Partner with 11 Miele appliances on display in the showroom – possibly the largest display of Miele appliances in the central belt.

David L Douglas has also recently become an AGA Cookers Retail Partner. The iconic British brand’s famous heat storage range cookers are a favourite of food lovers and celebrities alike. The company has worked with AGA for the last 20 years, with many of its handcrafted kitchens having the range cookers installed in them.

This partnership means David L

Douglas is the official AGA specialist for Fife, Perth and Kinross, Dundee and Angus. The showroom in Cairneyhill, Fife, has five AGA cookers on display – including the newly launched 3 Series.

David Douglas, managing director, says: “As an AGA owner myself, we have been ambassadors for this iconic British brand for a long time now and are very excited about the future and this addition to our business.”

David L Douglas works across a spectrum of projects from private residences to commercial designs. When there is a need for the very best designed and highest specification of fitted furniture, clients implicitly trust David L Douglas to provide the solution.

For more details visit davidldouglas. com or telephone

01383 882222.