What's It Like To Work With Ashley Jay?
Every Ashley Jay kitchen begins the same way: with a conversation. Every kitchen we design is built around a specific home, a specific family, and a specific way of living. We keep our client list deliberately small so that every project receives the attention it deserves.
If you would like to talk with us to explore our options, you can call us on 01903 874198 or email [email protected]. Alternatively, book a video call with a designer using the button below.
1. Talk To A Designer
Getting to know each other
Before we get into anything else, we start with a conversation. It's usually a short call, somewhere around 20 to 30 minutes, and the purpose is simple: to get a real sense of what you're looking for, where you are in your project, and whether Ashley Jay Kitchens feels like the right fit for you.
We won't try to steer you in any particular direction, and there's certainly no sales pitch. We want to hear about your home, your timeline, the way you actually use your kitchen day to day, and the things that perhaps haven't worked so well in the past. Once we've had that conversation, if it feels like a good match on both sides, we'll take things forward into a full design consultation.
2. Comprehensive Design Consultation
Exploring Ideas, Potential & Possibilities
If it feels like the right fit, the next step is an in-person design consultation, and this is where things start to take shape.
This is a deeper conversation. We'll explore your vision in detail, work through your wish list, and talk honestly about what has and hasn't worked for you in the past. We'll look at how you use your kitchen day to day, consider the practical details that will shape the design, and if you have plans, measurements, images, or inspiration you've been gathering, we'll work through those together.
By the end, we'll have a clear brief to take into the design development stage, and you'll have a real sense of how we work. There's still no obligation at this stage, just a chance to see whether we're the right fit for your project.
3. Design Development
Turning your brief into a considered design
This is where we do the work. Using everything we've gathered from your consultation, we begin translating your brief into a considered design, exploring layouts, proportions, material combinations, and functional details that are specific to your home and the way you live.
We often develop more than one kitchen design. Not because we're undecided, but because we believe the best outcome comes from exploring properly, including options you might not have considered yourself. Nothing here is designed from a template - every decision is made with your project in mind.
4. Design Presentation
Seeing it come to life
When the design is ready, we present it to you, in detail, and at your own pace, giving you the time to think.
You'll see full visuals, material selections, and a clear rationale for every decision. We'll walk you through not just what we've designed, but why, and where we've made recommendations that differ from your original brief; we'll explain our thinking.
This is a conversation, not a presentation. We welcome questions, challenges, and changes, and we'll take whatever time you need. What matters to us is that you leave feeling completely clear about the design, not pressured to decide.
5. Project Refinement
Getting it exactly right
Most projects go through a refinement stage after the initial presentation, and that's entirely normal; it's something we build time for. Whether it's adjusting a layout, reconsidering a material, or exploring a different configuration, this is where the finer details get settled.
We won't rush this process. A kitchen that has been properly refined before it goes into production is one that installs cleanly and lives well. This is also the stage where final specifications are confirmed, and your installation date is scheduled.
6. Installation
Professionally delivered
Installation is managed by our own trusted team, working to the same standards as the design process itself. We don't hand your project over and disappear; we remain involved throughout.
Every Ashley Jay kitchen is signed off against our own internal standards before we consider a project complete. If something needs attention, we address it, without hesitation, and without additional cost to you. Your kitchen is finished when it's right, not simply when the last day on site is done.
Our People
Paul Jay
Project Support
Paul Jay built a distinguished career in fine carpentry, crafting bespoke kitchens and restoring historic properties like Amberley Castle. In 1991, he founded the Findon workshop, where his passion for traditional techniques thrived. Today, Paul remains deeply involved, upholding the family’s commitment to quality and innovation.
Ashley Jay
Founder & Director
Ashley’s passion for craftsmanship began with an apprenticeship in his father and uncle’s carpentry workshop and training in fine furniture. In 2002, he took over the business and founded Ashley Jay Kitchens, continuing the family legacy of creating exceptional kitchens.
Sarah Lowrie
Senior Designer & Project Manager
With 16 years of experience in high-end kitchens and bespoke furniture, Sarah has trained designers nationwide. Passionate about creating functional, beautiful spaces, she ensures that her designs are cohesive and visually stunning. A keen cook and mother of two, she is dedicated to designing kitchens that bring lasting joy to her clients' homes.
Not Quite Ready To Start Your Journey?
Our brochure is a good place to start. It showcases some of our finest work, the designs, the details, and the craftsmanship that make each Ashley Jay kitchen genuinely one of a kind. Take your time with it, share it with your partner, and come back to us when the moment feels right.