Nolte Kitchens UK at Grand Designs Live 2024: The inspiration behind our stand
Every year, Grand Designs Live, held at the NEC Birmingham and ExCeL London, offers endless inspiration for those planning home renovations or self-build projects.
We proudly exhibited at this year's Birmingham event. It was a fantastic opportunity for us to connect with fellow interior enthusiasts and showcase our latest kitchen designs and innovative living solutions.
We caught up with our talented showroom designer, Imogen Pearce, to hear all about her inspiration for this years displays.
Our Inspiration
“For our stand at Grand Designs Live, we set out to create an interactive space that would allow visitors to truly immerse themselves in our designs. Our goal was to present living solutions that customers could envision integrating into their own homes or future projects. While kitchens are at the heart of what we do, the versatility of Nolte’s product range extends far beyond that. We wanted to demonstrate how our designs could transform not only the kitchen but also boot rooms, desk spaces, and other areas of the home.”
“This year, we noticed a growing trend towards warmer tones, moving away from the dominance of white and grey kitchens. With that in mind, we exhibited door ranges that harmonised beautifully with one another, while still making an impact.”
Stand Highlights
Display 1: Our show-stopping neo collection
“Our standout display was from our nolteneo collection, a striking contrast between natural and manmade finishes. The tall units featured Portland Cement in the Agate finish, paired with the latest Bora appliances, including their innovative new refrigeration system.”
“One of the highlights of the stand was our live cooking demonstrations, where visitors could see the MPURE vented induction hob and XBO oven in action. We prepared steam-baked cakes, risottos, and griddle-cooked steaks — all with step-by-step instructions. The Bora system, known for eliminating cooking odours and grease, generated a lot of excitement, as people stopped by to experience the innovation first-hand.”
“The kitchen island from our neoLodge range featured Oak Diamond veneered fluted doors, providing depth and texture. And the Laminam worktops, spanning an impressive 4.6 metres in Calacatta Medico, were another showstopper. We chose a built-up design with a 150mm thickness to create a feature piece on the island, with book-matched grain patterns continuing across the large surface and waterfall leg. Clean, modern lines were emphasised throughout, using only push-to-open doors and integrated drawer lighting for a seamless finish.
We also included a living solution, creating a bookshelf area within the kitchen display —demonstrating how our designs can incorporate both style and practicality in even the smallest spaces.”
Display 2: A functional utility room
“The utility room featured our popular Feel kitchen front in Lava, with its soft matte lacquered finish. This was beautifully paired with Walnut Cuba panelling to create a warm and sophisticated look.
We focused on functionality with our laundry basket unit, designed to simplify daily chores. Raising the washer and dryer provide an ergonomic solution, making it easier to load and unload clothes. Additionally, the hanging rail for delicate laundry allowed customers to consider energy-efficient alternatives to tumble drying.
Storage was key in this design, with corner larder solutions ideal for bulky items, broom storage for cleaning essentials, and more — proving that the utility room doesn’t have to be an afterthought.”
Display 3: An anti-fingerprint collection with Plus
“The Plus Black display, with its anti-fingerprint coating, is perfect for high-traffic areas like the kitchen. Paired with Frame Lack in Caramel, this handle less shaker option added warmth and elegance. The bronze handle less rails and integrated LED lighting created a halo effect around the island, adding a touch of luxury.”
“One of the most talked-about features was the walkthrough passage, cleverly concealing the utility and boot rooms behind it. Customers were impressed by how this design transformed spaces into multifunctional areas, allowing for seamless transitions between rooms.
The island and wall cladding were finished in Laminam Noir Desir, a dark porcelain with gold veining that complemented the warm tones of the Caramel doors and the ambient lighting throughout the display.”
Display 4: The hidden boot room
“In our boot room display, we decided to highlight our coat cupboards and shoe storage solutions. Designed with busy households in mind, the open shelving provides easy access for everyday shoes, while the shoe unit keeps bulkier items like boots and wellies neatly tucked away. This design showcases how our furniture solutions cater to both style and practicality, offering ample storage for seasonal changes.”
Bringing our designs to life
Our live cooking demonstrations created a real buzz on the stand, particularly when we showcased the efficiency of the MPure by Bora cooktop extractor system. Visitors, often skeptical about how well such systems capture smells and grease, were impressed by its performance which we demonstrated in real time.
Another highlight was the utility room, with many visitors intrigued by the idea of raising their washer and dryer for easier access. Seeing our living solutions in person sparked ideas for future home renovations, inspiring customers to think beyond just the kitchen.
Transform your home with Nolte Kitchens UK
Grand Designs Live was an incredible platform for Nolte Kitchens UK to connect with design enthusiasts and showcase the versatility of our products. From innovative kitchen solutions to living spaces that extend beyond traditional boundaries, we aim to inspire customers to think creatively about how they can transform their homes.
If you missed us at the event, visit one of our showrooms or connect with our kitchen contracts team to explore our designs further. We look forward to helping you bring your dream kitchen to life.
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