At Landmark, their perfect kitchen is “whatever you want it to be.” It’s about relaxed and informal family spaces that really work for people. More than just cooking, the kitchen is a unique and different kind of living room.
Landmark is steered by husband and wife team Mat & Natalie Davies. The service is bespoke, with superior craftsmanship, attention to detail and customer care. The Landmark style is contemporary with a modern vibe and feel. “There is a country influence but it’s not twee or twiddly” says Mat, “nor is it the high gloss modern look.” Landmark draws on a range of influences, from medieval craftsmanship to British artisans. Mat’s own influences come from post-war Scandinavian design and many current British furniture designers.
Mat and Natalie relocated to Cornwall. This is where Landmark mainly works, though they do have some great national press coverage. “We have a lot of older Cornwall clients, often with second homes,” says Mat. “For them it’s about eating, drinking, entertaining and escapism.”
Mat himself loves food and the enjoyment for him really starts with the preparation. In preparing food, he believes “the functionality of the kitchen is paramount.” Landmark believes firmly that taking time to understand what the customer wants is fundamental, so they start with a blank piece of paper. But understanding what the customer wants not only means style, it also means looking at how they make use of their living space. For many customers, the kitchen is central to their home; it’s where they spend a lot of their time. Landmark considers a range of elements including usage, the look and feel, the aesthetic, people’s lifestyles, will kids be involved in the cooking etc.
Often there can be an element of educating people about new kitchens, introducing them to what is out there and current. People can come with very fixed views on how they think a kitchen should look. Landmark are experts in their field and whilst they take seriously all customer requests, they’re also honest with their feedback, will constructively challenge and will encourage alternatives. Still it’s always with the customer’s best interests in mind. Mat feels that “people want to be led and want expertise.” And it’s fair to say that in choosing Landmark, people will most likely consider their excellent reputation. Spending a lot of money on a new kitchen means using a company they can trust.
Mat was particularly excited about Landmark’s new partnership with AGA. Around 30%-50% of their customer base use AGA and so he was delighted when AGA approached them. As well as partnering with a respected brand, Landmark are able to keep more customers in-house. If they want an AGA product, they can now buy it through Landmark.
This is Landmark’s sixth year. For Mat & Natalie, their strengths and weaknesses really do complement each other. Mat has a building background, works with design and liaises with other trades. Natalie is an exceptional project manager and communicator. Their reputation as a business is growing and they’re receiving excellent feedback. Whilst Landmark mainly works with larger projects, Mat says “we are happy to do supply and design, and to work with smaller budgets.” Mat enjoys working with different people. His greatest satisfaction is “seeing people’s reactions once a job is finished.”
To find out more about Landmark, visit their website landmarkkitchens.co.uk
