Olive & Barr Kitchen book

Olive & Barr

Exceptional Shaker kitchens, handcrafted in England

Lavender Hill, London | Malvern Hills, Worcestershire

Welcome 3

Our kitchens....................................................................................................................... 4 Country House Cumbria 6 Shoreham-by-Sea .................................................................................................... 10 Chiswick 14 Stanstead Abbotts 18 Henley 22 High Barnet ................................................................................................................ 26 Dennington Park ...................................................................................................... 30 Dulwich 34

The details 38 Cabinetry 40 The finishing touches 42 Colours ......................................................................................................................... 44 Bootrooms and beyond 46 The design process 48 Interior design service 50 Pricing guide ............................................................................................................... 52

The approach 54 Our ethos ................................................................................................................... 56 The history of Shaker kitchens 58 Craftsmanship 60 Sustainability 62

Frequently asked questions ............................................................................... 64 Our showrooms 65

Welcome

A note from Olive & Barr founder Al Bruce

You don’t need an obsession with kitchen design to understand why this room has always been at the heart of daily life.

And yet the modern kitchen has found a way to become so much more. The family’s main living space, a child’s favourite play area, the place every party guest gravitates to and, these days, even a spot to work from home.

Shaker kitchens embody this juxtaposition of traditional and modern life. They remain a perennial favourite for lovers of classic lines, yet are versatile to allow for functional, creative and cutting-edge design.

At Olive & Barr, we don’t just do Shaker kitchens. We celebrate British craftsmanship by hand-making our cabinetry right here in our West Country workshop. We champion sustainability throughout our process and work with some of the most exciting kitchen design brands in the world. And we do all this with the understanding that value for money is as important as high quality.

As you embark on your journey to achieving your perfect kitchen, we hope the following pages will inspire and delight you as much as our clients and their kitchen dreams continue to inspire us.

With lashings of countryside charm, countless unique details and the beauty of open plan living, this is a kitchen that celebrates both personality and practicality. From a dusty corner of a derelict country house to the ultimate kitchen for every occasion, this is a renovation as impressive as they come.

Never mind tastes and smells – this kitchen is a feast for the eyes: the endless kitchen island, ceiling-high splashback, mix of open shelving and bespoke cabinetry, parquet flooring, cool calming colours, and unique details everywhere you look.

But this isn’t form over function: this is a kitchen that can do it all, whether prepping dinner for two, cooking a roast for 20, or hosting a party for 50. Yet what makes this kitchen really special isn’t what it can do, it’s how it makes you feel. And that, combined with spectacular views of the English countryside just outside, makes this kitchen truly one of a kind.

A one-of-a-kind kitchen with style and substance Country House Cumbria

Country House Cumbria

Cabinetry: Mylands Messel No.39

Worktops and upstands: Marble

Handles: Antique brass

Shoreham-by-Sea

Looks, personality – this kitchen has it all

Where do we begin with this bright, airy and completely unique Shaker kitchen? The space is so full of personality, charm and eyecatching touches everywhere you look. From the wall of Crittall windows to the parquet flooring, the bold yet soothing colour palette to the fully functional island, this kitchen is the perfect place to enjoy your morning coffee, soak up the evening sunset and fill every hour in between.

Featuring handmade Shaker cabinets, a bespoke larder, quartz countertops, farmhouse sink and brass hardware, this space has all the makings of a traditional kitchen – and yet it’s anything but. Energising and relaxing, personal and practical, this kitchen dares to be different, and feels just right.

Shoreham-by-Sea

Wall cabinetry: Farrow & Ball Railings

Island: Farrow & Ball Pink Ground

Worktops and upstands: Desert Silver Quartz

Handles: Antique brass

Chiswick

Modern aesthetic with a timeless finish

This is more than just a kitchen. This is a piece of art, a space that excites and inspires everywhere you look, all while blurring the lines between personality and practicality, fun and function.

Packed full of creative storage solutions and state-of-the-art appliances that pop up in the most unexpected places, finished off by thick polished concrete worktops from Lazenby that draw the eye, this is truly a kitchen that dreams are made of.

Bold and beautiful, traditional and contemporary, daring yet understated – and, of course, a proud testament to the client’s vision, personality and style.

Chiswick

Cabinetry: Little Greene Basalt Worktops: Polished concrete by Lazenby Handles: Smoked bronze

A bijou space bursting with character

Every kitchen can spark a different emotion and this one evokes nothing but joy. An exciting mix of colours and contrasting textures, original features and contemporary twists, this small yet mighty kitchen is packed full of fun and function everywhere you look.

Celebrating a combination of bespoke cabinetry and open shelving, this space is all about the little pleasures in life. Beautiful trinkets and brass hinges, original range cooker and state-of-the-art induction hob, quartz worktops, parquet flooring and an all-purpose larder for both storing and serving. We worked hard to bring the client’s vision to life, to deliver a freestanding feel to this cosy corner. Small yet special, unique yet familiar – this is a space that feels like home.

Stanstead Abbotts

Stanstead Abbotts

Cabinetry: Little Greene Mid Azure

Worktops and upstands: Venatino Quartz

Handles: Polished brass

Full of warmth, this is a kitchen with a twist

At first glance, the combination of wooden floors, dark cabinets and marble worktops give this space all the foundations of a traditional English kitchen. But look a little closer and you’ll discover a space that knows how to have fun.

From the framed cubbyholes to the quirky brass handles, the doublehinged larder doors to the state-of-the-art appliances, this kitchen is more than meets the eye. It’s a space where traditional aesthetics are brought to life by contemporary twists, personality blends with practicality, and age-old craftsmanship works in harmony with modern functionality. This really is a special place indeed.

Henley

Henley

Cabinetry: Farrow & Ball Railings

Worktops and upstands: Marble

Handles: Antique brass

High Barnet

Texture, tones and impeccable taste

Soothing yet chic, personal yet practical, fun yet functional, this kitchen is a rarity: a combination of clean lines, vibrant tones and so much character. That’s the secret of this space. Whether it’s the green-grey cabinetry or the velvet and gold bar stools, the Nilestone worktops or the hardwood floors, this kitchen is a paradise of textures.

Workmanship takes centre stage here, with natural light flooding in through beautiful bay windows to highlight a wealth of detail. Rustic panelling, open shelving and Shaker cabinets combine with brass hardware and gently veined quartz. Thoughtful attention to detail at every turn, with an effortlessly stylish finish.

High Barnet

Worktops and upstands: Nilestone Bianco Glacier

Handles: Antique brass

Cabinetry: Farrow & Ball Castle Grey

Dennington Park

The perfect union of stone, glass and cabinetry

Full of contrasting tones, textures and styles, this kitchen makes its own rules. Mixing deep, rich cabinetry with local stone features and crisp, white walls, there is stunning combination everywhere you look – right down to the details. The stylish marble worktops, and deep farmhouse sink, the silver handles and bronze sockets, exposed wood beams and polished stone flooring, modern appliances and age-old features. It’s a medley of special moments and it blends perfectly.

Surrounding the large black Aga, the fully bespoke mantle is designed to look beautiful from every angle. Opening the two-door cupboard to the right of the fridge leads you through to the utility and drinks storage area. The client’s natural stone wall meant that the installers had to scribe the edge of the cabinet, matching the profile of the stone to a tee. Finished in Nightcap with natural marble worktops, this kitchen’s classic look will never date.

Dennington Park

Cabinetry: Nightcap

Worktops: Marble

Handles: Polished chrome

Dramatic features paired with Shaker simplicity Dulwich

This is a kitchen to take your breath away. With such striking ceilings as these, the temptation might be to go big and bold with the cabinetry. But our clients knew that, rather than have their chosen units compete for attention, the simple beauty of a handmade Shaker kitchen was the only way to go.

That’s not to say that there aren’t flashes of drama in this space. Glints of gleaming gold in the pendants, tap, handles and bar stools draw the eye, while the softly glowing antique brass wall sconces add a steadying tone. But it’s not just about the aesthetics. This kitchen is meant to be lived in, with practical wooden floors and plenty of room for play. Adorned by beautiful natural light pouring in through grand doors out to the garden, this truly is a perfect family space.

Dulwich

Cabinetry: Nightcap

Worktops and upstands: Calacatta Gold

Handles: Polished brass

The details

From cabinetry and colours, to all the finishing touches

Cabinetry

Inside and out – every last detail is considered

We know how clever design and thoughtful touches can make your day-to-day life that little bit easier. With soft-close doors, a luxurious range of colour-ways, and all cabinetry handcrafted in our West Country workshop, Olive & Barr kitchens look and feel lavish, but with a price tag that is surprisingly competitive.

We may keep our prices fair, but we never scrimp on quality or craftsmanship. Our solid oak drawer boxes are dovetailed for added durability, and all doors are crafted in beautiful tulip wood, which are then hand painted to the highest quality finish. Attention to detail is key; at Olive & Barr, we take pride in the design, finish and longevity of all our beautiful handmade Shaker kitchens.

The finishing touches

Add the perfect handles, taps and worktops

Whether it’s aged brass and marbled quartz, or stainless steel and polished concrete, the finishing touches of a kitchen can make all the difference.

At Olive & Barr, we work with a collection of trusted suppliers to bring you the best in kitchen design and function, from handles and hardware, to boiling water taps and pot fillers, not to mention a dazzling array of worktops to meet all tastes and budgets.

It doesn’t stop there. We can also source your kitchen appliances, and our in-house logistics expert will project manage all lead times to ensure every last item is ordered at just the right moment. We know how important the little – and the big – things are when it comes to creating your perfect kitchen.

Colours

Go subtle, bold or chic with our matching service

At Olive & Barr, we know our clients go to a great deal of consideration when choosing the right cabinet colour, which is why we offer a premium matching service for all of our kitchens. Each cabinet receives two coats of colour-matched primer in our workshop, with final coats applied onsite to ensure a perfect finish.

Our chosen paint supplier, Tikkurila, is a Nordic brand whose products meet the highest quality standards. Tikkurila’s water-based, low-VOC paint dries quickly and breathes easy. Durable and hard-wearing, it has a matt finish with 10% sheen, making it easy to wipe clean. All that, and matched to any colour you can imagine – it’s no wonder our clients especially love this aspect of an Olive & Barr kitchen. Though the tricky part is, of course, deciding exactly which shade to go for...

Bootrooms and beyond

Practical, functional and altogether beautiful

Our handmade, hand-painted cabinetry doesn’t have to stay confined to the kitchen. Why not transform a cluttered coat corner into a well-organised bootroom? A neglected laundry into a smart utility? Or a dusty cupboard into a gleaming pantry?

Not only can you extend your bespoke kitchen cabinetry into a new space, but you can enjoy the added functionality that Olive & Barr offers. Whether a clever cabinet to hide your washing machine, or pull-out laundry bins and in-built storage seats, the options – and opportunities – are endless.

The design process

Eight key steps from inspiration and ideas to installation and aftercare

VISIT OUR SHOWROOM

Meet our designers, explore our cabinetry, and find inspiration for your new Olive & Barr kitchen.

VIRTUAL DESIGN SERVICE

With the plans, preferences and measurements you provide, we will create an initial kitchen design. Alternatively...

ON-SITE CONSULTATION†

We can visit your home to discuss your kitchen design, consider your aesthetic and practical needs, and take exact measurements.

FINALISING THE DESIGN

We will present our ideas and then work with you to perfect your kitchen design. Once that’s been finalised, you can confirm your order.

SURVEY AND DETAIL

We will undertake a pre-installation survey and finalise the detailed specifications, and then your kitchen will go into production.

CREATING YOUR KITCHEN

Our cabinetry is built by highly skilled craftsman in the West Country, with rigorous checks before being carefully wrapped and delivered.

INSTALLATION

Our first-class installation team will fit your cabinets and do the final coats of paint. We can also manage your worktop installation.

AFTERCARE

As you enjoy your new kitchen, you can be assured by the 15-year guarantee, subject to being fitted by our approved kitchen installers.

† £300 fee for on-site consultation, reimbursed when you order your Olive & Barr kitchen.

Interior design service

Elevate your space with our interiors consultancy

Olive & Barr is delighted to launch our new interior design service, exclusively for our kitchen clients.

After working with our experienced kitchen design team on the physical layout of your kitchen, our interiors consultant will visit your home, go through your kitchen design plans with you and help you create the space of your dreams.

Whether that’s statement lighting, bold backsplashes, stylish accessories or creative colour schemes, our consultant will devise a comprehensive design plan for your kitchen space to ensure an impeccable finish that reflects your personality and style.

The interior design service is complimentary for Olive & Barr clients whose total kitchen spend exceeds £50,000, and is available for all other kitchen customers for a fee of £300+VAT (plus travel expenses for locations more than 100 miles outside London).

Pricing guide

SMALL KITCHEN

An example of a small finished kitchen, including the initial design, the pricing and the final finished product.

Cabinets: £7,589 Worktops: £3,322 Installation and painting: £1,692 All prices excluding VAT

MEDIUM KITCHEN

An example of a medium finished kitchen, including the initial design, the pricing and the final finished product.

Cabinets: £12,260 Worktops: £3,670 Installation and painting: £3,420 All prices excluding VAT

LARGE KITCHEN

An example of a large finished kitchen, including the initial design, the pricing and the final finished product.

Cabinets: £19,290 Worktops: £3,430 Installation and painting: £4,370 All prices excluding VAT

Our handmade, hand-finished kitchens offer incredible value for money

Our approach

The

values, ethos and beliefs that inform everything we do

Our ethos

Values that underpin each Olive & Barr kitchen

At first glance, you might be forgiven for thinking Olive & Barr is just another Shaker kitchen company. But take a closer look and you’ll discover what sets us apart.

Olive & Barr doesn’t just do Shaker kitchens. We celebrate the beauty of British craftsmanship by handmaking each of our kitchens here in the UK. We ensure each kitchen achieves a perfect finish, thanks to our dedicated and experienced installation team. We champion sustainability throughout our process, using FSC-approved sources and using offcuts to heat our West Country workshop. And we collaborate with some of the most exciting brands in the world of kitchen design, who embrace the same values, ethics and beliefs as we do.

Last but not least, we deliver true value for money for our clients by ensuring our pricing is competitive and flexible to suit different budgets. We believe a passion for high quality and impeccable kitchen design shouldn’t come at an eye-watering price.

That’s what we do. That’s Olive & Barr.

The history of Shaker kitchens

The origins of this timeless style

Every piece of design has a story attached to it, and the Shaker kitchen is no different. The Shakers were a faith-based group from Manchester, founded in the mid-18th century, who emigrated to America and settled in New England.

It was here that they became known for producing artisan furniture of high quality and unrivalled craftsmanship. Of course, that’s just one aspect of what the Shakers stood for. Another characteristic was honesty, reflected in their design, which did away with unnecessary details and motifs, and instead focused on three pillars of design: simplicity, durability and functionality.

For us, this has always been the main philosophy behind every Shaker kitchen we have ever created – each one carefully designed with the client’s needs and lifestyle in mind.

Craftsmanship

How we create our beautiful handmade cabinets

At Olive & Barr, we build our kitchens to last. Using a careful balance of traditional craftsmanship, modern technology and intuitive design, our handmade Shaker kitchens exude an unparalleled class with durability and functionality at their core.

We employ local artisans in our workshop in the West Country. Each member of the team is highly skilled in their craft and is dedicated to the company ethos of excellence. Rigorous quality assurance is carried out by our founder and director Al Bruce on each cabinet before it leaves the workshop. Quality craftsmanship and attention to detail is at the core of everything we do.

In order to keep costs down, we invest in cutting-edge technology to save us time on traditional techniques like dovetailing. Small changes like this guarantee the best products at the best prices. And, of course, our drawer boxes are dovetailed using solid oak, as we know this is the best. Why should you settle for less?

Sustainability

We take pride in being an ethical kitchen maker

Sustainability is at the heart of Olive & Barr. We use carefully sourced timbers from local suppliers that are traceable, accountable and accredited by the FSC, the organisation dedicated to promoting responsible management of the world’s forests.

Of course, our sustainability practices go a long way beyond just the materials we use. That’s why our workshops and craftsmen are based right here in the UK, in our West Country workshop, ensuring our carbon footprint is as small as possible.

We also consider the little details. Wherever possible, we re-use and recycle all packaging after each installation is complete. And we use any timber offcuts to heat our workshop, reducing the impact of any waste.

As with everything we do, we work hard to ensure our brand is one we can be proud of, and one our clients are proud to work with.

FAQs

Where are your kitchens manufactured?

All our kitchen cabinets are made in our workshop in England. Our craftsmen are some of the best in the business, with many years’ experience making the highest quality kitchens available.

What are your cabinets made from?

Our doors and frames are made from tulip wood, also know as poplar. Our drawer boxes are constructed from solid oak with dovetail joints. The carcasses are finished with real oak over a high-quality engineered board with a lacquered finish for durability. We are confident we use the most suitable quality materials available. Wherever possible, our materials are accredited by the FSC.

How long are your lead times?

Generally, 12 weeks, although it is worth checking with us. We have increased production capacity recently and may be able to get you a kitchen sooner.

How long does it take to install the kitchen?

The whole process including cabinetry, worktops and painting generally takes around three weeks.

Do you hand-paint the kitchen on site?

We do. Final painting is done after the worktops have been installed.

Can we choose any colour we want?

Yes. We colour match any colour of your choice.

Can you supply bespoke cabinets outside of your standard range?

We do. There’s in the region of 600 cabinets of varying sizes in our standard range and we are more than used to designing and supplying bespoke cabinets to suite particular wants and needs.

Where do we start with regards to getting a design and quote from you?

Send us a floor plan of the space with as much information as possible. Wish lists and mood boards are useful, as are your thoughts on layouts.

Prior to starting your design, we may schedule a call or Zoom meeting to go through things with you. Alternatively, you can book an appointment in one of our showrooms or, if you choose, we can come to you for an onsite design consultation.

Our showrooms

Malvern Hills, Worcester

Located in an area of outstanding natural beauty, the Malvern Hills, our latest showroom has two full kitchen displays that show off how beautifully designed and well crafted our kitchens are.

196 Worcester Road Malvern WR14 1AG

Lavender Hill, London

We also have a stylish new kitchen showroom nestled in the hustle and bustle of Clapham, South London, featuring two kitchens and a range of beautiful cabinetry to explore.

131 Lavender Hill London SW11 5QJ

Contact us 01684 574 779 info@oliveandbarr.com

www.oliveandbarr.com