THE UNFITTED KITCHEN COMPANY
About Us
Celebrating over 40 years of Kitchen Design
THE UNFITTED KITCHEN COMPANY
Celebrating over 40 years of Kitchen Design
Our studio is in West Sussex and the furniture can be seen there by request. We are also appointing kitchen studios and craft galleries to sell our unfitted kitchens across the UK, Ireland and Northern Ireland, USA, Australia, Switzerland and Japan.
Johnny was a dealer in antique country furniture as a student. He also ran a furniture workshop from a young age. He immersed himself in the history and styles of British furniture, developing a passion for Arts and Crafts furniture and philosophy while he was studying to be an architect.
Read more about Johnny and his kitchen designs at johnnygrey.com.
Whilst at the AA School of Architecture, Johnny Grey sets up an antique pine furniture business at Hampshire Cottage barn with brother Rupert Grey, restoring antique pine furniture from the 18th and 19th centuries.
Johnny Grey publishes his manifesto, ‘In Place of Modernism’ – advocating a shift from the impersonal and rigid principles of modernist architecture towards a more human-centred approach to design. Grey criticises modernism for prioritising function and minimalism over emotional warmth, individuality, and sensory richness, arguing for spaces that cater to human well-being, incorporating elements like tactile materials, natural light, and colours that stimulate comfort and joy.
The Unfitted concept is coined, beginning with offices and home work places, launching as Home Office Furniture Collection at Guild Living. Unfitted Kitchens is coined and used in an advert in The Times, resulting in Johnny Grey’s first five kitchen projects.
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Prototypes for the new Unfitted collection for Selfridges are made.
Smallbone adopt the core concept and offer 150 pieces. The phrase Unfitted Kitchen is legally registered as a trademark jointly with Smallbone and displays go into major UK showrooms. Smallbone Unfitted goes into USA showrooms and sales reach over £1million per year. Media attention begins to increase with dedicated editorial features in The World of Interiors, The Times and Homes & Gardens. Freestanding pieces are made for Liberties.
Johnny Grey publishes several design books during this period, all with key content around the Unfitted Kitchen concept, solidifying him as a major designer in the sector. This includes the publication of Art of Kitchen Design (1994), Kitchen Workbook (1996) and Kitchen Culture (2004)
Johnny Grey develops the Kitchen Design degree course at Buckinghamshire New Uni with students being taught the core philosophy of the Unfitted Kitchen as a key kitchen design principle
– Design development starts in earnest for the Unfitted Kitchen Company, with prototypes built and tested
The Unfitted Kitchen Company is officially set up and trading begins nationwide
The first Unfitted Kitchen Company dealer is appointed to help drive UK sales
Our furniture is designed to enhance your kitchen activities. It is modular for ease of placement, access and dismantling to move, while avoiding looking like units. The design ideas are innovative but in some ways also traditional. The island has a rise-and-fall work surface for different heights of user, from children to tall adults. With the function of each item clearly designated, customers are able to plan their own kitchens. Some of the furniture items can be housed in tight spaces, corners or awkward spots.
Customers can choose colours, woods, appliances and work surfaces but we do suggest following our appliance recommendations as these have been carefully selected for optimum price, size and function.
We think green in choice of materials, energy use and re-usable components. Safety and life enhancing technology are built into the furniture.
Customers can add their own artwork, decorative bands or panels. We offer custom finishes, handmade glass and metallic paint surfaces, artisanal concrete counter tops and artists’ services at request.
Our studio is based in West Sussex and the furniture can be seen by request. We are also appointing kitchen studios and craft galleries to sell our unfitted kitchens across the UK, Ireland and Northern Ireland, USA, Australia, Switzerland and Japan.
