Cloisters Ltd, with showrooms based in the home counties’ heartlands of Herts, Beds and Bucks, are one of those quietly impressive design companies who let their heritage, cabinetry quality and contented customers do the talking. A fourth-generation furniture-making business, they have operated a workshop for 75 years and pride themselves on offering customers traditional cabinet-making combined with modern conveniences at an accessible price point. 

Alex Nunn, lead designer and project manager, chatted to us about current trends, and why QETTLE gets his vote when it comes to specifying a boiling water tap. 

‘We’ve been making furniture since 1949,’ says Alex, ‘so when it comes to must-have products, we’ve obviously seen a lot come and go. But boiling water taps are definitely one of the strongest new products to have emerged over the last decade, and for an increasing number of our customers, a boiling water tap is at the top of their wish-list.’ But in addition to having their finger on the pulse of kitchen trends, Alex and the Cloisters’ team also understand how important it is to be able to sustain the design-quality-affordability formula. 

Comments Alex, ‘Great design and quality shouldn’t be exclusively for the higher end; it’s a principle we apply to all areas of our business, and it was one of the features that appealed to us about QETTLE. In some cases, a QETTLE is 50% less expensive than its competitors – especially if you compare things like coloured finishes and accessories – customers get to have the kitchen of their dreams without going over budget.’ 

On the subject of colour finishes, what does Alex consider to be the finish de jour?
‘Brass, brass and more brass,’ he laughs. ‘So many clients love the glow-up effect that brass delivers – it really adds warmth to a scheme and the bright brass that QETTLE’s Signature Modern and Signature Classic boiling water taps comes in, has proved extremely popular.’ 

Alex adds that other kitchen trends worth taking note of include real woods, and interestingly, combinations of real wood and painted cabinetry. ‘More than ever, clients are opting for real wood finished doors – some throughout the whole kitchen – whilst others are combining wood grained doors with painted elements. The look echoes a mid-century look, and is so effective. And, as with the introduction of metals, I think people really love the tactility of wood.’ 

When it comes to his own kitchen, Alex has a startling admission… it needs an upgrade, and as yet, he hasn’t fitted a boiling water tap! Is it, we wonder, a classic case of the designer fulfilling everyone’s else’s kitchen dreams, whilst never quite getting around to their own?  
Alex smiles, ‘I’m quite sad I don’t have a boiling water tap as yet – like many of Cloisters’ clients, it’s right there, at the top of my list of must-haves for when I get round to doing my own kitchen. Seeing how great they are in our showrooms, and how pleased our customers are, means I won’t be hesitating. And there’s only one brand I truly want, too – a QETTLE!’ 

 Ready when you are, Alex!  

ESSENTIALS