6 classic British kitchen brands you should know about

Kitchens are the heart and soul of the home and are one of the busiest, most hardworking rooms. More than just spaces to prep food, today modern kitchens are multifunctional spaces used for socializing, entertaining and often working.

They’re places where we spend so much time, so it's important that every aspect is carefully considered and that the space is designed around your individual needs and lifestyle. Big or small they’re also a big investment – designing and buying a kitchen is likely to be one of the most costly purchases you’ll make when updating a home, so it’s important to choose wisely.

Here we've gathered an array of our favorite British kitchen companies we think you should know about (even if you aren't living on this side of the pond a lot still work over in the U.S.), all of which combine an appreciation of high-quality traditional joinery with innovative design and modern functionality. Whether you’re planning a new kitchen or are just looking for some inspiration for designing a timeless space, these British kitchen companies have lots of beautiful kitchens to inspire.

1. Plain English

Founded in 1992, Plain English specialize in high-quality bespoke kitchens that celebrate heritage and timeless elegance. With a strong appreciation for authentic English cabinetry design and the hard-working, under-the-stairs joinery of great English homes, Plain English kitchens look perfectly at home in grandly spacious historic houses, from country estates to townhouses, yet their versatile designs also fit wonderfully in contemporary builds and compact spaces.

'The inspirations are the unsurpassed elegance of Georgian architecture and furniture, the simple domesticity, and a very English fascination with nature, with the weather, and the seasons drifting across the landscape. Our aesthetic references the values of the past and gently evolves to embrace the modern ways we live now,’ explains Katie Fontana, creative director at Plain English.

‘Plain English hand crafts cabinetry for every room in the home, but what remains unaltered is the personal passion, commitment, and fine detailing at the heart of this company. It is important to us that the inside of the cupboards be as beautiful as the outside.’

Plain English has U.S showrooms in New York and Los Angeles too and they have started working on projects across the whole of North America.

2. deVOL

If you like handcrafted kitchens with charm and personality you’ll love deVOL. Founded in 1989 by two friends in Leicestershire, the team at deVOL prides itself on making practical, stylish kitchens made to last. The company offers a range of signature kitchen designs including its Real Shaker range, bespoke Classic English kitchen, the simple and rustic Sebastian Cox design and the retro Haberdasher's kitchen, all of which are handcrafted in their Leicestershire workshop just a few miles down the road from their main showroom and headquarters, Cotes Mill.

It also offers an Heirloom range of heritage-inspired freestanding kitchen furniture and accessories such as plate racks and butler’s pantries which can be combined with their fitted ranges – perfect for lovers of the vintage kitchen look. The finishing touches are catered for too, with handmade ceramic tiles, hardware, and homewares available, offering everything you need to create your perfect interior. The brand has gone from strength to strength over the last 10 years and now has showrooms in Leicestershire, London, Bath and New York (so a great British kitchen brand to consider if you are shopping in the States).

3. Roundhouse

Channeling a contemporary yet timeless aesthetic, Roundhouse is a British brand renowned for its innovative bespoke kitchen designs and original finishes. Founded in North London by two architects, Roundhouse kitchens combine pared-back style influenced by modern architecture with beautiful high-quality materials, resulting in functional spaces with understated luxury.

For the ultimate made-to-measure kitchen go for the Design Collection service which offers bespoke sizing, materials, and finish. Alternatively, The Studio Collection offers standard sizes and designs which can be customized along with a range of finishes, textures, and colors.

What sets Roundhouse apart is its specialist metal finishes used to make striking metal wrap effects. Choose from metallic patinated or burnished – alongside the option for real metal sheets.

‘We believe in designing spaces that truly reflect individual lifestyles. Combining timeless craftsmanship with innovative design, our kitchens are not just functional, but perfectly tailored to our clients’ needs. Every piece embodies our dedication to detail and commitment to enduring quality, elevating everyday living with style that stands the test of time,’ says Craig Matson, managing director at Roundhouse.

4. Sustainable Kitchens

Founded in 2008, the Bristol-based Sustainable Kitchens company creates beautiful kitchens designed to have minimal impact on the environment at every stage, from design, materials and manufacture through to fitting and waste management. ‘Our mission is to inspire a sustainable lifestyle to enable people to live more sustainably by providing ethical and honest products that last a lifetime,’ says founder, Sam Shaw.

A certified carbon-neutral business, recognized by the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change), the company is committed to reducing the consumption of energy, water and raw materials. All kitchens are handcrafted in its workshop in Bristol with styles ranging from classic Shaker designs to minimalist kitchen designs with flat panel natural oak veneers or colorful laminate doors - perfect for capturing the sleek Japandi or retro kitchen look.

Wherever possible Sustainable kitchens aim to use responsibly sourced timber from certified suppliers, including the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) along with recycled and locally-sourced materials. They also have a tree dedication scheme which ensures the planting and maintenance of trees with each kitchen supplied and its showroom and production facilities draw 100 percent of their electricity from renewable resources.

5. Martin Moore

Martin Moore is renowned for its classic, luxury kitchens with elegant, architectural designs that have graced grand Georgian townhouses to Victorian rectories. Based in Yorkshire, the company was founded in 1975 after Martin and Barbara Moore designed and made a bespoke kitchen for their own Victorian family home. Today the company offers eight cabinetry ranges from its classic English shaker-style cabinetry to its ‘New Deco’ cabinetry inspired by 1930s design, all of which are handcrafted at their Yorkshire workshop and hand painted in situ.

While they are known for their traditional and luxurious aesthetic, the company continues to evolve and has recently launched a Legacy Collection to mark its 50th anniversary which pairs beautiful oak doors with striking Olivo Verde granite worktops and bespoke bronze handles.

'From the very start we had a simple focus: to dedicate ourselves to producing only the finest luxury kitchens. It is this expertise alongside our excellent service and the relationships we foster that makes our company dramatically different, and enables us to offer a lifetime guarantee on all our furniture,' says Martin Moore's creative director, Richard Moore.

6. Neptune

Neptune has been crafting kitchens from its Wiltshire workshop for over 20 years and prides itself on its robust cabinetry made using traditional techniques and solid timber frames. Available are three core collections: the Suffolk, which has sleek lines inspired by traditional Shaker designs; the Henley, with its mix of natural oak and painted timber cabinets and the Chichester with Georgian-inspired joinery. Each design can be customized for a unique look with a choice of over 50 paint colors, extensive kitchen hardware ranges, and a selection of work surface options.

'Solid timber is the quintessential material for kitchen cabinetry and combines form with function. At Neptune, we believe in creating kitchens that are not only visually captivating but also built to stand the test of time, and solid oak delivers on this promise. Our Suffolk, Chichester and Henley kitchens are all crafted with sustainably sourced timber. It's natural warmth and rich grain patterns bring an organic feel to any kitchen, making each piece unique and personal,' says Fred Horlock, design director at Neptune.

British kitchen brands are all about quality and craftsmanship, and no matter what the style, whether it's a classic Shaker, or something more sleek and minimalist, the designs always feel classic. There's loads of inspiration to take from these companies (have a scroll through their Instagram pages for some beautiful projects), and good news if you are in the United States, and after this classic English vibe, both deVOL and Plain English have recently launched U.S showrooms.