Kitchen, Wardrobe, Utility

Customer reference for DR Kitchens and Bedrooms as told to pickapro by Edwina Dwyer from Kilkenny on 28-Aug-2011

When was the work done?
David has done a lot of work for us in the last few years. It started four years ago when he did a kitchen for us in Maynooth and when we moved to kilkenny this past year, he built and installed another kitchen, bedroom wardrobes and fitted out a utility room. We had another house that suffered flood damage about twelve months ago and David did the kitchen there as well.

What was involved?
The first kitchen project in Maynooth involved replacing an existing kitchen that wasn't fulfilling our needs. It was done in an old style, traditional look. The new kitchen in Maynooth is a black, high gloss contemporary style. It's large with glass doors on the cabinets and an island in the centre.

Later when the house was finished and the kitchen installed, we had David come back to do bedroom wardrobes and fit out our utility room. The utility room has storage, several presses a laundry chute and three, floor to ceiling sliding doors on runners. We also had a washer and dryer that we wanted side by side but they were of different heights. David built a plinth so that the two machines are at the same level. With regards to the presses, one hides the big water tank, one large press is a hot press and the middle press I wanted a clothes horse that was concealed. I was fed up with hanging cloths on the backs of chairs and radiators and David made up a perfect system for me. If you tell David what you want, he'll come with a solution.

How did you choose DR Kitchens and Bedrooms?
I think my Husband used google and found David. He was looking to get someone local and David's workshop is in Celbridge, which was close by to us.

Had you definite ideas in mind before you talked to David Riordan?
With regards to the first kitchen in Maynooth, it was my husband that dealt with David and came up with the traditional, old style kitchen. I worked closely with David on the second kitchen in Kilkenny. I gave David our architects loose drawings of a kitchen plan and told him that I wanted a black, high gloss modern kitchen.

Did David introduce new ideas?
It was a combined effort between David and myself. David was good about asking questions about what we wanted, pantries, corner units, etc. He wanted to build a kitchen that fulfilled all of our needs. He knew the style that I was looking for and came back with a Gold, Silver and Bronze version of that type of kitchen that related to different budget considerations. It's nice to be given a choice.

How did the project run?
What I like about David is that he's very reliable and will fit you into his schedule as soon as he can. If David gives you a day, he's here on that day and the workmanship is excellent. David is very honest and will always answere the phone to you. My husband and I were at a football match at Croke Park one day and we saw David in the crowd with his kids. We decided to play a joke and called him telling him that we had a problem that he needed to get to straight away. David said "you mean right now?". I couldn't keep up the joke but the point is that he still answered the phone and will do so any time of the day or night.

What was the biggest benefit to you of using DR Kitchens and Bedrooms?
The biggest benefit is the quality of the workmanship. With David, even the little things like the seams are perfect. He's just really conscientious about his work. We wouldn't keep going back to David if he wasn't very good.

What's your favourite part now?
There isn't one thing, all the work that David did is equally lovely.

Would you recommend DR Kitchens and Bedrooms to others?
Yes, definitely.

Any tips for other people?
if you have even a small idea about the job, don't be afraid to suggest it. A lot of times, especially with David, they can work around it and make it up.