Lacanche Range Cookers are unmatched in performance, and timeless in design. When you are choosing Lacanche, you are choosing a genuine range cooker.
There are 31 finishes to choose from and a range of oven and hob configurations, with integrated features such as plancha, chargrill or even induction next to gas burners. Lacanche finishes their cookers with a deep lustre enamel which like the rest of the range will last for decades.
A Lacanche Ranger Cooker also comes with excellent customer support, with a three year warranty that can be extended to five years.
Simon's are an official dealer for Lacanche, so get in touch today to discuss your requirements.
]]>Here are some things worth considering when planning a kitchen for entertaining.
Open plan kitchens lend themselves to being great entertaining spaces, because they allow room and movement for more people. Plus, if you’re busy preparing food, you don’t need to be behind a closed door, missing out on the fun.
Choosing durable materials for floors and worktops is necessary to keep things looking great if you have plenty of visitors.
A kitchen island can be a real every day bonus in your kitchen, but when entertaining it can become a central focus, a gathering point with stools, a cocktail bar, or a place to layout a sumptuous buffet.
Seating, particularly in open plan designs, doesn’t always need to be a traditional dining table and chairs. Integrated seating and tables can make efficient use of space, while providing more comfort.
Double Ovens and Range cookers such as the Lacanche models can allow you to cook more easily for larger groups of people, while a Quooker tap can remove the pain point of making multiple hot drinks.
While on the subjects of drinks, keeping even a few bottles of wine chilled can be a problem when you have a fully stocked fridge, so a dedicated drinks fridge can really help with all those extra wine bottles, beers and soft drinks needed for thirsty guests.
Extraction should be carefully considered and if an overhead extractor is going to be too intrusive there are other options available such as down draft surface extractors.
If you’re entertaining you’ll want to keep things neat and tidy, so you need decent storage options. A Larder can provide not just practical food storage, but an area to contain smaller appliances, such as coffee machines, toasters or even microwaves.
Having distinct areas within a kitchen can be a bonus at any time, providing a study area or just a relaxed seating area for impromptu breaks. A partition can be naturally formed by the shape of the room, an island or open shelving.
Lighting can also help zone an area with bright practical lighting for food preparation and more relaxed mood lighting for dining and seating areas. Consider also wall colour and flooring.
Whatever your requirements may be, contact Simon's today to help design and build your perfect kitchen for entertaining.
]]>See more Bespoke Roman Blinds, Curtains & Cushions and contact me
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Promotion only available until 31 January 2024.
*Other tap models and finishes available for an additional charge.
We’ve written about Quooker taps before and how they can be a revolutionary addition to any kitchen. They can give you instant 100°C boiling water, filtered chilled and sparkling water, and regular hot and cold all from the same tap.
Simons are one of the main Quooker dealers in the East of England and are certified to order and install any of their products.
Plus, you can visit us to see a live demo and try out a Quooker tap for yourself in the Simon’s Showroom.
From 26th December 2023 until 5th April 2024, your customers can enjoy anything from £250 cashback right up to a massive £1,100 for eligible purchases of NEFF appliances.
Not only that, if your customers purchase a NEFF Venting Hob or Glassdraft Hood they can claim an extra £600 cashback, giving them the chance to earn £1,700.
Simple circular round knobs and T-Bar handles are very popular and versatile, but there are variations available which can give your kitchen that extra individual finishing touch.
We can supply high quality metalwork fittings that are beautifully hand made and hand finished with unique finishes in bold designs. Simon’s are also able to offer custom handles in alternative metal finishes and bespoke sizes to suit all types and sizes of doors and drawers.
We’re confident we can supply your perfect handle, you just need to consider a few things. Of course we're always available to help and make suggestions.
The first thing to consider, is that the style of your kitchen handles should complement the style of your kitchen. Sleek minimalist designs are often the go to for modern kitchens, whereas something more intricate, or rustic may suit a more traditional kitchen. Of course there is a huge array of designs, allowing you to find the perfect handle.
The size and weight of a door or drawer will often dictate which type of handle is required, but some designs can blur the distinction. Often a kitchen will require both, so a handle design that has harmonious options is the ideal.
A small handle can keep things looking minimal without going handleless, while a larger handle can make a bold eye catching statement. Often the shape of your handles should reflect the shapes found in your kitchen, particularly other hardware fixtures and fittings, like taps and lights.
With metalwork handles, it’s important to opt for stainless steal or brass for durability. Brass handles come in Natural, Antique and Bronze finishes, while for stainless steel they are Matt, Semi-Gloss and Full Gloss. Matching the colour and finish to other fixtures and fittings will bring a harmonious feel to your kitchen.
Simon's can also supply these ornate horn handles.
There are generally accepted handle positions for ergonomic reasons, but there is always room for variation. Handles should also feel comfortable to grip and use and provide years or service, while still looking great.
You can always discuss your kitchen handle requirements with us, to help you find the perfect handles.
Whether you want fully mobile modules with gas bottle storage, or a fully integrated range ready to be easily installed into your outdoor kitchen furniture, Open'Cook brings the quality and performance of Lacanche range cookers to the outside. Plus, there is a wide range of cooking options.
The lava rock grill can add a unique smoky flavour to meats and vegetables, whilst the large, enamelled gas fired plancha is versatile enough to cook fish, meats, vegetables and can also be used to hold food before serving. The powerful gas burners are perfect for stir-fries and sauces. The fully mobile electric convection (fan) oven is convenient for baking and roasting. With the ability to hold five GN1/1 trays, this oven can accommodate a variety of dishes at once, making it a great option for larger alfresco gatherings or events.
Just like a Lacanche range, every Open’Cook is handmade to exacting standards and is engineered to give years of use and culinary pleasure. With its powerful performance, robust design, and built-in safety features, Open’Cook is the perfect choice for your outdoor kitchen.
Get in touch with Simon's now, or read more about Open'Cook, and make you next alfresco entertaining a real culinary event!
]]>We are currently seeking an experienced Cabinet Maker and also a General Labourer / Assistant.
You can find out more about both jobs and how to apply on our Vacancies page.
]]>What you choose will play a huge part in determining the character of your kitchen. The kitchen is a such a personal room in your home; it’s where you chat with your friends, where people gather to prepare dinner, at parties, or just to spend time together.
These days the kitchen is no longer an afterthought in the home. It is now an important space that can integrate with the living-dining room and share the same design.
In this so-called “reconversion” process, the island plays a major role, as it serves as a connecting element between the two environments as well as a meeting place in the home.
Use light and darker colours to bring definition to the different areas like in this New England 8 kitchen. For example, a contrasting island may become a study space whilst parents are preparing dinner at the worktop as in this Classic Curves kitchen.
Signal a clear point of difference from the rest of your cabinetry by finding the focal point of your kitchen. This could be a smaller row of cabinets, a floor to the ceiling corner cupboard, or an island. Remember, the two-tone look should feel fluid and so the placement of your focal point will help to determine the rest of the design.
Once you’ve settled on your two-tone kitchen cabinets, take time to dress them accordingly with beautiful hardware that elevates the overall appearance. If you choose different handles for drawers to cabinets, select the same finish to ensure that element ties the design together.
A cooker hood is not only a must in every kitchen, it is also a striking feature when fitted above or into a kitchen island design. Designed to cater for every kitchen, NEFF hoods are powerful, efficient and quiet. Cooker hoods come in a range of designs from seamless models that will blend effortlessly into your island kitchen design, to bold and striking hoods that will be a focal point when fixed above a kitchen island.
With ceiling installation cooker hoods, the hobs can be accessed from all sides. Many of these hoods feature Home Connect Smart Technology that allows your customer to control the ventilation from the hob or by using voice assistant, as well as a conventional remote. The ideal space saving solution, ceiling hoods keep the kitchen free of steam and odours without taking up valuable space.
When creating a dream kitchen, the last thing you need is a hood that spoils the view or blocks the space. Devised for kitchen islands worktop ventilation options coordinate beautifully with induction hobs - choose between Downdraft extraction with its motorised wow-factor, or Two-in-One Hob and Hood ventilation for powerful removal of steam at source.
At Simon’s you can have any colour and any make of paint and we can advise as to what would work best for you. Along with the classic creams and whites, colours on trend now are deeper shades of blues, greens as well as the perennial greys which can be complemented by copper, brass, black and chrome handles, knobs, sinks and taps.
Browse the Gallery of kitchens Simon’s has designed and built to help create your mental picture, but also search magazines and other sites for ideas.
Over the next few months I'll be highlighting a few of the models in their range and exploring just what the fuss is about this premium brand.
The Gas Pro is the cooking traditionalists dream whilst also keeping the household minimalist satisfied too. The burners and control knobs are mounted directly into the worktop (not compatible with wooden tops) in any arrangement that you please allowing you to make space for particularly large pots and pans and personal cooking methods. Other benefits include:
So in the spirit of teak furniture, a jumbo corduroy sofa and orange and brown floral curtains I bring you the Snowball in all of its eggy, fizzy glory!
They have have recently introduced MIX, an innovative collection of brass handles that can be combined in various finishes. From pull handles and cabinet knobs with our without backplates, they are suited to modern interior cabinetry and industrial freestanding furniture alike.
Simons are not limited to bespoke kitchens, we also design and create all types of furniture from wardrobes, to tables and bathrooms. Come in and view our large display of brass handles from Armac Martin and start planning your wish list!
A well-chosen worktop will be with you for years and, apart from the obvious food prepping, it serves a multitude of other purposes especially if you have an island too; from dumping the handbag, shopping and keys on, newspaper reading, homework, flower arranging, entertaining on…. et al. So, a good place to start is to consider some of the following.
Some of these questions may seem obscure but when you consider that the kitchen worktop is one of the highest traffic surfaces in the entire house, they really are worth taking into account. Let's take a closer look at advantages and disadvantages of each material.
Granite is an igneous rock, formed from lava over millions of years. Pieces are mined straight from the quarry, cut into slabs and then polished before being installed into your home. Customers often select their individual slabs at the quarry. Although granite is usually speckled, it can also feature veins and swirls.
Advantages
Marble is a form of limestone, or metamorphic rock that has crystallised under pressure or heat. The distinctive veining found in marble is formed by minerals within water that once coursed through the rock; hence why marbles are characterised by their location.
Advantages
Quartz is a composite of over 90% natural stone and resin. This combination makes for a highly durable surface that can replicate natural stone convincingly.
Advantages
Corian is a manufactured surface composed of 2/3 natural minerals and 1/3 acrylic resin. Its has been around for over 50 years and its' distinctive feature is its versatility making it ideal for integral drainers and seamless designs.
If you're thinking of visiting the pumpkin patch at Foxes Farm this year, why not pick one up for making a delicious and heart-warming soup too?
I went a couple of years ago, it was a misty morning and the sight of hundreds of orange, green and yellow globes with their huge trailing leaves left me awestruck. We had a great morning but alas only came away with one deemed good for carving. In retrospect I wish I had researched the tastiest types to eat. So, forearmed this year, I shall return, but before I go I thought it would be nice to share with you the top results of Sarah Ravens Which are the Best Pumpkins test conducted last year.
Beautiful dark, blue-green, verdigris skin. Very similar to 'Queensland Blue' which - this year - was a slightly better producer. The orange flesh is dense - excellent for roasting. Good waxy texture and taste. An excellent storer - I still have one from last year. Seeds horrid. I will certainly grow 'Crown Prince' or 'Queensland Blue' again.
Looks and ornamental longevity 10/10
Eating 9/10
Varies wildly in size and an excellent producer, with pretty pale pink-orange skin. Delicious too, golden-orange inside with moist, soft flesh. Used in Italy to make chutneys and jams. Seeds OK. Our favourite squash of all in the taste trial we'll certainly grow them again.
Looks and longevity 8/10
Eating 9/10
Mini pumpkin with bright orange flesh and pleated shape. The flesh is deep orange with a lovely chestnutty flavour and soft, waxy texture. Lovely tiny seeds, which can be eaten whole. A good producer which makes an ideal climbing plant for any garden. I grow these over willow teepees and they look great.
Looks and longevity 10/10
Eating 8/10
Similar to 'Crown Prince', but a bit smaller, with beautiful dark, blue-green, verdigris skin. Good producer, with dense orange flesh, excellent for roasting or soups. Good waxy texture and taste. Seeds OK. Another excellent storer - I still have one of these on my dresser from last year. I will definitely grow this again.
Looks and longevity 10/10
Eating 9/10
Also called 'Uchikiri' and red onion squash, this medium producer has deep orange skin and similar coloured flesh with a lovely sweet flavour and waxy texture. The skin is soft enough to eat. Seeds tough and not tasty. This still remains in my top two or three.
Looks and longevity 9/10
Eating 10/10
Huge and beautiful, with deep red-orange skin, but not a good producer. Lovely, very waxy flesh with a gentle, sweet taste. Ideal for soups. Tough skin. Seeds are OK but not exciting. I would grow it again if I had lots of space.
Looks and longevity 10/10
Eating 9/10
Creamy green skin and creamy coloured flesh, turning to lime green around the seeds. It was light-cropping this year but tasted delicious, with a nutty chestnut taste, flesh that was not too dense (but not watery either) and a skin that bakes hard, so ideal for roasting slices or - if you remove the skin - for tempura. The seeds are large and tasty. I will grow this again to see if it produces more fruit in a better, hotter, sunnier year.
Looks and longevity 8/10
Eating 8/10
If you are not yet familiar with Quooker hot taps we have an in-depth article about them here but for a whistle stop tour of the Fusion collection, read on.
Quooker Hot Taps provide boiling hot water and/or filtered chilled and carbonated water in an instant, all from one tap. This amazing piece of kit saves you energy, plastic and time spent boiling water on the hob for pasta or steamed vegetables.
The Quooker Fusion is a contemporary design and comes in 5 different finishes, including black, gold and patinated brass. It provides boiling, hot and cold water all from one tap. It can also be combined with a Cube tank (which fits under the sink) to dispense chilled filtered and carbonated water too.
The Quooker Fusion Classic does all of the above but with a more traditional styling. Finishes include nickel and patinated brass which we now have on display in our Crouch Street showroom. Soap dispensers in matching styles and finishes are also available, adding a streamlined visual to your worktop area.