HOW WE WORK
Plain English Design is a team of designers and cupboardmakers who build bespoke kitchens, pantries, sculleries, and other joinery for clients, architects, interior designers, and contractors. Our designs draw on traditional joinery methods, handcrafted for modern life.
THE PROCESS
A Plain English project begins with an initial design consultation, where we explore the practical requirements for the space and talk through possibilities. Our process is more of a conversation, rather than a regular sale; nothing is finalized until final plans are approved and a sales order is signed, so there’s room to explore ideas freely from the start.
Following this initial meeting, we send a preliminary sketch, an indication of cost, and a selection of inspirational images from our design archive. Most Plain English kitchens average around $100,000, though this varies with the scale and specification of the project. This gives you material to review before we move on to a full set of plans and elevations for your room.
From there, in-person or virtual design meetings, along with site visits, allow our designers to respond creatively to new ideas as the project develops. Drawings are refined in collaboration with you and your team, and because the design phase is built around conversation, adjustments along the way are simply part of getting it right. We then supply final plans with specifications for all internal and external detailing, appliance selection, paint colours, and ironmongery.
After sign-off, the design is sent to our workshops for manufacture. Our joinery is made by craftspeople who take pride in building our cupboards from start to finish, ready for delivery and installation.
We offer an expert installation service or are happy to connect you with local contractors from our extensive network that have completed our projects in the past. Whether it is working with our dedicated installation partner or your appointed contractor, our designers offer extensive assistance and guidance to the team on site to create the desired outcome for the project.
From initial consultation to installation, a typical project takes around six to eight months, depending on the scale and complexity of the space.
THE CRAFT
At Plain English, our craft shows up in the details. It’s there in how a drawer is joined, right down to where the timber comes from.
JOINERY
Every Plain English cupboard is handcrafted. Drawers are joined by hand-cut dovetails and built with four sides rather than five, for a stronger, longer-lasting join. To ensure the best strength and stability, front panels and door frames are made from solid timber, while door panels and the cupboard carcass use an engineered wood panel, a combination we’ve found holds up better over time than solid timber alone.
MATERIALS & FINISHES
Timber is available in oak, maple, and other species, with interiors offered in lacquer for a smooth, easy-to-clean finish. Many clients also add details that make a difference day to day: cutlery and utensil dividers, two-tier drawers, felt lining, spice racks, and knife blocks among them.
SOURCING
We take care in how we source our materials. Timber has low embodied energy, stores carbon, and is renewable when responsibly harvested and replanted, and we work only with suppliers who share that approach. Any offcuts that can’t be used in a cupboard are burned in our furnace to heat our workshops, rather than sent to landfill.
AFTER INSTALLATION
After installation, if you need a touch-up or have a question further down the line, our team is always here to help.
WORKING WITH ARCHITECTS, DESIGNERS & CONTRACTORS
If you’re an architect, interior designer, or contractor working on a project for a client, our design team is happy to review a floor plan and put together preliminary pricing. We work closely with trade partners on the details of a project, including how billing runs—whether directly with the homeowner or through the design or architecture firm—to make sure our process works smoothly alongside yours.
Our designers work across the U.S., with our latest projects located in Nashville TN, Nantucket MA, Los Angeles CA, Sun Valley ID, Jackson Hole WY, New Orleans LA, Greenwich CT, Austin TX, New York NY and San Francisco CA.
VISIT A SHOWROOM
A walk-in visit to one of our showrooms is a good way to get a feel for Plain English before committing to a project. There’s no need for an appointment; just browse freely, or ask one of our team members for a guided tour. Visits typically range from a quick fifteen-minute look to an hour or more for those who want to go in depth.
If you’d like to get started with our design service, contact our team today. Make an enquiry online or contact us by phone or email.
To find out more about Plain English, view our brochure, or see examples of our work in the press. If you have any queries, see our FAQ’s or get in touch below.
NEW YORK DESIGN STUDIO
212 203 0726
hello@plainenglishdesign.com
LOS ANGELES DESIGN STUDIO
323 410 1557
hello@plainenglishdesign.com
For enquiries outside of America, please visit our UK website.
