Transforming Spaces with Style: James’s Nolte Kitchen Story

With his first step into the Nolte showroom in Exeter, formerly known as Bradbury’s, James Brinsden was certain that he had come to the perfect place for his project.

Home Inspiration Transforming Spaces with Style: James’s Nolte Kitchen Story

When James walked through our doors at Nolte Kitchens Exeter, he had a clear mission: to create the perfect kitchen for his new home in Sherborne. He’d already visited a number of showrooms, but despite the fact that ours was in the middle of a major renovation, something about Nolte stood out to him. Even with the noise and dust from construction, it was our product range and the professionalism of our team that captured his attention.

Our showroom manager, Mike Richards, was key to this. With his years of experience in kitchen design, Mike’s expertise quickly made an impression on James. As James recalls, “Mike’s ideas and flair were evident right from the start. The Nolte handleless system was miles ahead of everything else I’d seen. Mike also knew exactly how to create that ‘wow factor’ without going over budget.”

Beyond kitchens, we also specialise in tailor-made utility furniture, which came in handy for James. Mike maximised the space in his utility room, making sure it was as functional and well-designed as the kitchen itself.

James came to us with a detailed brief: to create a beautiful, family-friendly kitchen that incorporated smart storage, modern lighting, and the latest appliances. His new home, though close to Sherborne’s town centre, has a large enclosed garden that gives it a countryside feel, so we designed the kitchen to reflect that sense of openness.

One of the standout features is the expansive glass doors that open onto the garden. These fully retractable doors blur the line between indoors and out, allowing the garden to become part of the living space. Mike also made clever use of an existing recess in the kitchen, installing a tall bank of ovens and a slim, reduced-depth tall unit that serves as perfect storage for spices and jars.

The handle rails in the kitchen are embedded with adjustable lighting, which can shift from cool to warm tones, all controllable via a single remote. It’s a small touch that makes a big impact, especially in the evenings when it creates a warm, inviting atmosphere.

For the cabinetry, James chose our Artwood Rustic Wild Oak finish, which beautifully complements the internal doors throughout his home. This option gives him the natural look of wood, with the easy maintenance of laminate. To add contrast, we incorporated matte black doors from the Nolte Plus range, treated with an anti-fingerprint coating to keep them looking pristine with minimal effort.

James’s kitchen also features Neolith worktops—tough, scratch-resistant, and heat-resistant. These worktops are designed to handle the demands of a busy family, while an extra-thick black laminate tabletop provides a practical space for casual dining without compromising storage.

To top it all off, we installed an antique mirrored glass backsplash. It’s a striking design element that reflects the natural light and materials in the room, adding a touch of elegance to this modern, functional space.

The details

Kitchen Furniture: Nolte neoPure in Black with Artwood Rustic Wild Oak, black handle rail with integral lighting.
Worktop: 20mm Neolith Krater – Riverwashed.
Tabletop & Leg: 50mm Black Pro Laminate.
Appliances: Neff Cooking appliances and dishwasher with Leihbeer refigeration.
Sink and Tap: Blanco.
Utility Room Furniture: Nolte Eco Maderia Graphite with Milano Light Oak, black handles and 25mm Quartz Grey laminate worktops.
Sink & Tap: Blanco.

At Nolte Kitchens, we take pride in delivering both style and substance. James’s project was a perfect example of how we combine cutting-edge design with practical solutions to create a kitchen that is not only beautiful but perfectly suited to his family’s needs.

Ready to transform your own kitchen with the same level of elegance and expertise? Book an appointment at your local Nolte Kitchens showroom and let us show you how we can bring your vision to life.