Kutchenhaus is proud to have a network of talented kitchen designers who live and breathe the industry. Many of these people have worked in the kitchen business for several years, honing their craft and putting their stamp on beautiful spaces in homes across the UK.

Natasha Sabharwal of Kutchenhaus Croydon, Allen Gibson from Kutchenhaus Rainham and Jules Arnott of Kutchenhaus Brighton, are designers who have made the move from other brands in recent years and are now relishing their new roles within Kutchenhaus showrooms. We spoke to them to get their take on life in the business.

Extensive experience

Natasha has nine years of experience designing kitchen spaces, having worked at Wren Kitchens for a number of years and then Sheraton Interiors, before subsequently joining Kutchenhaus Croydon in 2023.

Similarly, Allen is an esteemed designer with 16 years of experience, previously working for brands such as B&Q, Howdens and Wickes, and landing at Kutchenhaus Rainham in 2024.

Jules has worked in property for 20 years, with experience in real estate in South Africa, before returning to the UK where he spent 10 years at Wren Kitchens as a kitchen designer before joining Kutchenhaus.

“I’ve always loved interiors,” said Natasha. “From a young age, it has been a passion of mine and designing kitchens specifically felt like the best thing to do as I also very much liked cooking. The kitchen is such an important room of the home and, when you get it right, everything else can fall into place.”

Allen was introduced to the industry by his father-in-law, who showed him what kitchen design entailed, teaching him from the laptop he had. From there, he took on an advisor role for a kitchen and bathrooms business, booking appointments first, but eventually falling in love with the creative side of the business.

Allen commented: “I’ve always had a flair for design and the ability to connect with people. Becoming a kitchen designer felt natural and I’ve built my career around these skills which have served me well.”

After early years working in different industries, including in music and TV production, Jules moved into property and found a real passion, undertaking refits, renovations and kitchens as part of this career path. Always interested in the design side of things, kitchens was a natural fit for him when he returned to the UK.

Joining Kutchenhaus

When making the switch from their previous companies to Kutchenhaus, there have been some key characteristics which the trio have noted and enjoyed.

Natasha comments: “The whole operation is more customer focused. Being part of a showroom is not just about volume and numbers; it’s creativity and credibility. Having that flexibility and trust has been a big bonus for me and it allows me to put my stamp on things and run with ideas which impress customers. I feel I take more pride and feel more valued. Plus, there is much more investment into you as a designer, from training, to going to Germany and meeting up with other designers. Here, you navigate the whole journey and can build relationships with colleagues and the customer.”

Allen echoes this, commenting: “Because of the thought process and level of detail that goes into each kitchen design, tackling the intricacies is a real plus point for me. It means you become personally involved in each project and can add your flair to it.

“Customers get the personal service level they deserve and that’s a rewarding aspect of the job. There is no better feeling than a customer firstly loving a design and then being delighted with the finished outcome once the kitchen is installed.

“I’ve found Kutchenhaus gives you the ability to do what you should be doing and also gives you the time to do it.”

Jules adds: “The best part for me has been the freedom to be able to utilise my design skills to a fuller extent and the ability to add flair. It’s been very rewarding to solve problems for customers by thinking outside the box and adding something that they’d maybe not considered.

“This, coupled with the help we receive from the support team, means you can feel confident in the work you’re doing and have the knowledge that there are people on hand to assist whenever you need.”

Highlights so far

Discussing highlights since joining, Natasha said: “I feel like I’m allowed to fly, and go with my ideas, which has been a real highlight. It’s allowed me to make the next step in my career, taking ownership of different projects, meeting different customers, and it’s great to see my designs posted on the brand’s national social media channels. Plus, there’s always the opportunity to open your own showroom once you’re ready!”

Allen adds: “From the first day driving in, I had a good feeling. I drove to work feeling this is the right place for me and I was right. I’ve enjoyed learning the design software and especially visiting Germany and seeing behind the scenes what goes into making the brand work. That was a real “wow” moment for me, which can be translated to customer, and only furthered my passion to create beautiful kitchen spaces.”

Jules believes it is the personal, one-on-one experiences that bring greater meaning to the role.

“There is time to sit and get to know clients, really understand the challenges and needs for their kitchen. This way we have the best chance of producing a truly stunning outcome which they’re delighted with. I’ve been lucky to work on some very interesting projects, including designing kitchens for a new development on the cliffs near Brighton and working on multi-million-pound properties.”

Kutchenhaus creates affordable kitchens that are skilfully engineered and beautifully designed. Talented designers and those who would like to run their own business can discover what it means to join the Kutchenhaus family. For more information on the brand and its journey, please visit: https://franchise.kutchenhaus.com/.