Studio
Process
A good kitchen project is not rushed into a quote. It begins with understanding the room, the way the home is used, the level of detail required and the decisions that need to be made in the right order.
The showroom conversation
Where the project starts to become clear.
A phone call or an email is a fine way to begin. The first proper conversation, though, usually happens in the showroom — by appointment, with the cabinetry, finishes and appliances in front of you. There is time to see materials properly, compare finishes, talk through appliances and understand how piqu approaches a project. Consultations are by appointment, so Adrian can give the project proper time and attention.
The visit is for both sides. The studio decides whether the project is a fit for the way it works, and you decide whether piqu is the right studio for the project. Nothing is committed at this stage.
Understanding the brief
What the room, the home and the day are actually asking for.
If the project moves forward, the next conversation is about the brief. The room — its proportions, its architecture, its light, its connection to the rest of the home. The way the family lives in it — who cooks, who passes through, where the day starts and ends, what entertaining looks like. The appliances, the materials, the level of detail and the priorities behind each. The approximate timescale, and the approximate investment.
Adrian listens, challenges where it is useful, and helps shape priorities so the brief reflects what the project actually needs rather than a wish-list assembled from elsewhere.
Design direction
Layout first; everything else follows.
The first design decisions are about layout. Where the cooking sits, where the cooling sits, where the social edge of the room is, where the storage has to land. Cabinetry, appliances, worktops, lighting, storage interiors and practical details are then considered together rather than in sequence — each one affects the others, so the design conversation moves between them.
The design responds to how the room will actually be used, not to a brochure layout.
Specification
The cabinetry, the appliances and the materials.
Once the design direction is clear, the specification gets drawn together. Leicht cabinetry is the lead. Gaggenau appliances are specified where they suit the cooking, with Bora downdraft and Siemens where appropriate. Worktops are chosen for the way the kitchen will be used, not as a finish swatch on its own. Connected furniture is included where the project asks for it.
The specification grows out of the design, not the other way round. Appliance decisions in particular need to happen early — they shape layout, services, ventilation and cabinetry rather than slotting in at the end.
Specification and Investment Proposal
A written proposal, clear about what is included.
Once the design and specification are understood, the studio puts together a written Specification and Investment Proposal. The proposal sets out the cabinetry, appliances, worktops, sinks, taps, lighting, installation and any furniture pieces included; it makes clear why decisions have been made; and it shows where the value sits across the project. Trade-offs and choices are visible, so the budget reflects what the project needs.
The proposal is presented in person where possible, with the design and finish samples in front of you. Changes during the design stage are part of the process; the proposal moves with them, transparently.
Ordering and preparation
A schedule, not just an order date.
Once the proposal is agreed and the project is committed, ordering, lead times, technical details and site preparation are coordinated. German cabinetry has predictable lead times but they need planning; the studio places orders against a working schedule that builds in the right buffers and the right sequence.
Some projects sit inside wider works — extensions, refurbishments, basements, apartment fit-outs. Where there is a builder, an architect, an interior designer or another trade involved, the studio coordinates with them so the kitchen lands cleanly into the wider project.
Installation and completion
Where the project earns its quality.
The studio's installers fit the cabinetry, worktops and appliances. Adrian is on site through the installation and signs off the final finish. Snags are handled directly, not passed to a third party. The aim throughout is a kitchen that works properly in daily life, not just one that photographs well.
After completion the studio remains the point of contact. Appliances are covered by the manufacturer warranties; cabinetry and installation are backed by piqu.
Related
Kitchens · Planning your kitchen investment · Leicht at piqu · Gaggenau · Projects · Contact
Talk to us
Start with a showroom conversation.
The best way to understand the process is to start with a showroom conversation. Visits are by appointment so the project gets time and attention.