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Beautiful young family making cookies at home. Father, mother. toddler boy and baby having fun.

Christmas at the manor house

Wednesday, December 11th, 2019 by Andy Vale

Christmas is coming, and with it the delicious smells of festive cuisine. Warm, comforting cinnamon, sharp spicy cranberries, inviting mulled wine, roasting goose. Whatever your Christmas traditions, here at Vale Designs, we understand that your … Continue reading Christmas at the manor house

Filed Under: Kitchen Love Stories

Vale Designs branding badge

The Vale Designs Approach

Tuesday, December 3rd, 2019 by Andy Vale

Here at Vale Designs, me and my team understand that the kitchen is at the heart of your home. We absolutely love seeing the smiles on our clients’ faces as they walk into their new kitchen for the first time. When we get positive feedback, we all … Continue reading The Vale Designs Approach

Filed Under: Life At The Workshop, Our Handmade Kitchens

handmade kitchen with Lacanche cooker

Find your style

Tuesday, November 14th, 2017 by Andy Vale

Autumn has most definitely started to make its presence felt and a new season is always a great time to look at our homes and herald the change with thoughts of new designs and plans. We can enjoy the new season with a sense of warming up, getting … Continue reading Find your style

Filed Under: Design Advice

Ogilvie Lodge Kitchen

Small is beautiful

Thursday, June 29th, 2017 by Andy Vale

Most kitchens in the UK are not the vast spaces so often featured in interiors magazines or on tv shows so if your kitchen is more on the compact side don't be deterred from being creative and maximising your own space no matter how small. Here we … Continue reading Small is beautiful

Filed Under: Design Advice

Wood workshop

Taking time to do something well

Monday, May 22nd, 2017 by Andy Vale

Time to reflect I was clearing out a cluttered drawer the other day and came across some letters written by my brothers to our parents while they were away at university. As I sat reading the carefully hand-written post, the letters made me reflect … Continue reading Taking time to do something well

Filed Under: Our Handmade Furniture, Suffolk

Daffodils

Get ready for Spring

Tuesday, March 28th, 2017 by Andy Vale

Spring is the time for renewal so its a great time to take stock, do a spot of spring cleaning and get ready for the change in season and the longer days that are just around the corner. Bring the outside in Seasonal blooms - vases of spring … Continue reading Get ready for Spring

Filed Under: Design Advice

Bright blue kitchen with white stone worktips

Colour in the kitchen

Monday, February 20th, 2017 by Andy Vale

In the dark, grey months of January and February our spirits can be low so why not inject some colour in the kitchen which will not only enhance the room but lift your mood at the same time. Our kitchens can too easily be ignored when it comes to … Continue reading Colour in the kitchen

Filed Under: Design Advice

Kitchen decorated for Christmas

Get your kitchen ready for Christmas

Tuesday, December 6th, 2016 by Andy Vale

Heart of the home We think the real gift of Christmas is our loved-ones coming home. With grown up children returning from university and extended family visiting from far and wide, it's lovely to create a warm and welcoming, heart of the home, … Continue reading Get your kitchen ready for Christmas

Filed Under: Design Advice

gloved hands hold a hot drink

Give your kitchen some hygge

Friday, November 18th, 2016 by Andy Vale

If you like keeping an eye on style trends, it's impossible to have missed the huge interest in the Danish concept known as Hygge. It is everywhere at the moment: in books, blogs, in articles all over the Sunday supplements and style … Continue reading Give your kitchen some hygge

Filed Under: Design Advice

Oak larder cupboard

How to have a pantry in your kitchen

Thursday, November 3rd, 2016 by Andy Vale

Take inspiration from old country-house kitchens with wonderful larders and butler's pantries and hunker down for the coming season with beautifully displayed goods and provisions. Bring a functional feel to a modern country kitchen and celebrate the … Continue reading How to have a pantry in your kitchen

Filed Under: Design Advice, Our Handmade Kitchens

Our new showroom is open

Saturday, October 15th, 2016 by Andy Vale

We have been working hard creating a new showroom at the workshop so we can show you the high quality of our work. This showroom features hand painted cupboards, a solid oak open shelf with under-lighting, glazed wall cupboard, magic corner, our … Continue reading Our new showroom is open

Filed Under: Life At The Workshop, Our Handmade Kitchens

Hand painting furniture

Why hand painting furniture is better than spray painting

Thursday, September 29th, 2016 by Andy Vale

At Vale Designs we use the best materials and craftsmanship for all our handmade kitchens and furniture. Where many kitchen companies spray paint their furniture, we have always preferred to hand paint because we believe it gives a softer and higher … Continue reading Why hand painting furniture is better than spray painting

Filed Under: Our Handmade Furniture, Our Handmade Kitchens

Aldeburgh

A taste of Suffolk

Tuesday, September 6th, 2016 by Andy Vale

Celebrate the changing season by heading outdoors and visiting one of the numerous food festivals that are popping up all over the country, showcasing the very best in British produce and producers. Here in Suffolk, we're extremely lucky to have … Continue reading A taste of Suffolk

Filed Under: Suffolk

Neff Warming Drawer

The Great British Bake Off Essential Warming Drawer

Thursday, August 18th, 2016 by Andy Vale

As August trundles on and Autumn creeps ever nearer, there is one huge consolation on the horizon in the form of the much-anticipated annual spectacle that is The Great British Bake Off. The immensely successful show has firmly established itself in … Continue reading The Great British Bake Off Essential Warming Drawer

Filed Under: Appliances, Design Advice

Franke Omni 4-in 1 tap

Style on Tap – Choosing your kitchen taps

Thursday, June 9th, 2016 by Andy Vale

No longer an afterthought, our choice of taps can dramatically enhance the overall design of our kitchens and today they come with a range of functions to suit contemporary living. It's a good idea to spend some time researching the finish, size and … Continue reading Style on Tap – Choosing your kitchen taps

Filed Under: Appliances, Design Advice

The Elms Kitchen

How to choose flooring for your kitchen

Tuesday, April 12th, 2016 by Andy Vale

The floors we choose are an essential component in any design scheme and no longer confined to an afterthought.  The floor material, colour and finish can unite all the disparate elements of the kitchen to create a unique look and enhance the quality … Continue reading How to choose flooring for your kitchen

Filed Under: Design Advice

Stainless Steel Worktops

A Guide to choosing your worktops

Saturday, February 20th, 2016 by Andy Vale

When it comes to choosing your worktops there is a bewildering range of options to choose from - worktops can help you achieve your overall look and bring together the different components of your overall design so it's important to get it right. … Continue reading A Guide to choosing your worktops

Filed Under: Design Advice

Andy and Angie Vale

Designing your kitchen

Thursday, January 21st, 2016 by Andy Vale

We all want more and more from our kitchens and designing a new one is probably the largest project any of us will undertake so it’s important to get it right. There are some basic designs principles which you can apply to your own home so follow our … Continue reading Designing your kitchen

Filed Under: Design Advice

The Kitchen Gadget Christmas Gift Guide

Tuesday, December 1st, 2015 by Andy Vale

Main Gifts From quirky stocking fillers to high-tech, glossy gadgets we’ve got present ideas for all the loved ones on your list. With gifts and gadgets to suit all budgets, here are some of our favourites: KitchenAid Artisan4.8L Stand Mixer £399 - … Continue reading The Kitchen Gadget Christmas Gift Guide

Filed Under: Appliances, Design Advice

Range Cooker

How to choose the perfect oven

Friday, November 13th, 2015 by Andy Vale

Choosing the appliances for a new kitchen can be difficult and no decision is more important than the oven. As more and more of us cook and bake at home, getting the oven that suits you is vital but the choice can be daunting. There is a huge range … Continue reading How to choose the perfect oven

Filed Under: Appliances, Design Advice

The Old Dairy Kitchen

Transform your home with a Shaker Style Kitchen

Friday, October 9th, 2015 by Andy Vale

What is Shaker Style? Originated from the modest interiors of the religious communities of rural America in states like Massachusetts, the Shakers have given us a style that is one of the most enduring and well-loved of all interior styles. The … Continue reading Transform your home with a Shaker Style Kitchen

Filed Under: Design Advice

Happy 80th Birthday to Alec, our painter

Monday, July 13th, 2015 by Andy Vale

Yesterday was Alec's 80th Birthday so we celebrated with a birthday cake in the workshop on Friday. Alec hand paints all our furniture and is now training up his grandson, Daniel, to take over from him should he ever wish to retire! … Continue reading Happy 80th Birthday to Alec, our painter

Filed Under: Life At The Workshop

The swallows return

Monday, May 11th, 2015 by Andy Vale

While working away in the design shed, Andy noticed a solitary swallow sitting on a telegraph wire. As he watched he noticed that the little bird kept flying away and returning to sit on the wire as if he was waiting for something. Sure enough, a few … Continue reading The swallows return

Filed Under: Life At The Workshop

Snowdrops

A busy start to the year

Wednesday, April 8th, 2015 by Andy Vale

I can't believe that we are in April already as it has been one of the busiest starts to the year that we can remember at Vale Designs. With so many big chains selling kitchens these days, it's fantastic to know that there are still people who want … Continue reading A busy start to the year

Filed Under: Life At The Workshop

Opening Sign

Christmas Opening Tmes

Tuesday, December 23rd, 2014 by Andy Vale

We close on Tuesday 23rd for Christmas and open again on Monday 5th January. We would like to wish you all a Very Happy Christmas and New Year. … Continue reading Christmas Opening Tmes

Filed Under: Life At The Workshop

The Grange- Before

Before & after at The Grange

Tuesday, December 23rd, 2014 by Andy Vale

Here are some before and after photos of a kitchen we have recently completed in Suffolk. … Continue reading Before & after at The Grange

Filed Under: Our Handmade Kitchens

Suffolk Magazine Article

Suffolk Magazine Feature

Friday, August 29th, 2014 by Andy Vale

Our kitchen at Mead Cottage is featured in the September edition of the Suffolk Magazine. The feature is a case study of the project and shows how we met the client's original brief. … Continue reading Suffolk Magazine Feature

Filed Under: Magazine Articles

Beach Shells

Nautical Theme Kitchens

Wednesday, July 9th, 2014 by Andy Vale

Our Workshop is only a few miles away from the sea and we have created kitchens for several houses along the sea front at Southwold, Thorpeness and Aldeburgh. I have put together some examples to help give you some ideas. White or blue painted … Continue reading Nautical Theme Kitchens

Filed Under: Our Handmade Kitchens

Spring Kitchen Ideas

Spring Ideas for your New Kitchen

Thursday, March 6th, 2014 by Andy Vale

I have put together some bright and light Spring ideas to give you inspiration for your new kitchen  from our archives. All these kitchens have been handmade by us and if you would like more information then please contact us. … Continue reading Spring Ideas for your New Kitchen

Filed Under: Our Handmade Kitchens

Suffolk House Kitchen

Diary of a Handmade Kitchen – The Final Part

Friday, February 14th, 2014 by Andy Vale

Here is the completed kitchen at Suffolk house. For more photos view our slideshow page: Suffolk House … Continue reading Diary of a Handmade Kitchen – The Final Part

Filed Under: Our Handmade Kitchens

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Tel: 01728 830581
Email: valedesignskitchens@gmail.com
Vale Designs Handmade Kitchens & Furniture
The Workshop, Forge Cottages, Thorpe Road
Aldringham, Suffolk, IP16 4QX
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