One of the most common questions I get asked is whether people need a kitchen designer before they can order. The short answer is no. The longer answer is that the kitchen industry has spent years convincing people they need to pay someone hundreds or even thousands of pounds to tell them where to put their sink.

I'm Steve from SJB Trade Kitchens. I've been in this industry for over 20 years, and I've seen plenty of customers who've been quoted silly money for a “design service” that amounts to someone putting their measurements into a computer programme. You can do this yourself, and we'll help you through the process.

To get a quote and place an order with us, we need three things from you:

1. Room measurements: The dimensions of your room — wall lengths, ceiling height, window and door positions, and the location of any obstacles like boilers or pipes. We've got a detailed measuring guide that walks you through this step by step.

2. An idea of what you want: Which style of door do you like? What colour? Do you want an island? Where do you want the oven? You don't need to have every detail nailed down — just a general idea so we can start putting a plan together.

3. Your appliance dimensions: If you're keeping existing appliances or have already chosen new ones, we need the exact measurements so the units are built to fit.

Once we've got your measurements and an idea of what you're after, we'll put together a layout and a fully itemised quote. You'll see exactly what every unit costs — no hidden extras, no bundled pricing, no “package deals” that make it impossible to compare.

We'll go back and forth with you until the layout is right. If something doesn't work or you change your mind about a detail, we adjust it. This is a collaborative process, not a one-off consultation that costs you a fee.

When you're happy with the design and the price, we build your kitchen to order. Every cabinet is rigid-built using 18mm Egger or Kronospan board with 18mm backs — not hardboard. Blum soft-close hinges and runners come as standard. And because everything is made to order, we can do custom heights, depths, and widths to suit your room.

A good designer can add value if you've got a very complex space or you genuinely don't know where to start. But for most kitchens — and I mean the vast majority — the layout is fairly straightforward once you've got the measurements right.

The problem with many high street kitchen showrooms is that the “free design” isn't really free. It's built into the price of the kitchen, and it locks you into buying from that supplier. You sit down, they do a nice 3D render on the screen, and suddenly you feel obligated to buy from them even if the price is higher than it should be.

With SJB, there's no obligation. We'll help you plan your kitchen, give you a transparent quote, and you decide. No pressure, no sales tactics.

If you've got your measurements ready, send them over and we'll get to work on your quote. If you're not sure where to start, give us a call on 0161 509 4221 or pop into our showroom at Unit N, Central Trading Estate, Coulton Close, Oldham, OL1 4EB. We supply kitchens nationwide with delivery from as little as 10 working days.

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We offer a range of styles to suit any home — from solid wood Painted Shaker doors to sleek Handleless designs. All built on rigid 18mm carcasses with Blum soft-close as standard.