56 | Living | June 2019

Timeless and effortlessly stylish, Olive & Barr trulycelebrates the glory of British craftsmanship.

Sharon Martin visited their new Malvernshowroom for some kitchen inspiration

MOVERS ANDSHAKERS

Olive & Barr was born outof a need for quality Britishcraftsmanship, attention todetail and an intuition forkitchen design. Founder AlBruce began his illustrious

career 25 years ago, studying to be a cabinetmaker at college. From humble beginnings,his natural skill in the craft of cabinetryand keen business acumen saw him quicklyrise up through the ranks of the handmadekitchen industry.

“I have always been interested in interiordesign and my creative side led me intoa furniture craft course at college whereI trained to be cabinet maker. I learnedtraditional joinery techniques and how toproduce the best quality timber products.From there I worked my way up through thekitchen industry, gaining valuable experienceand a wealth of knowledge along the way.”

Al finally opened his own kitchencompany, Olive and Barr in 2018 after beingapproached by the founder of Beswick Stone

June 2019 | Living | 57

in Cirencester. “John had just opened ashowroom for Beswick Stone and asked meif I would like to open a kitchen companyupstairs. It was the perfect collaborationproviding all kitchen renovation componentsunder one roof, so of course I said yes.”

Al decided to focus on shaker stylekitchens, in particular because of theirclever design and thoughtful touches suchas soft-close doors (a feature rarely seen onan in-frame kitchen) and the luxurious andextensive range of colourways.

“‘Beauty rests on utility’ is the ethos uponwhich shaker design is based, an ethos whichembodies the art of simplicity, functionalityand fine craftsmanship. This resonates withour philosophy of creating hand-craftedbeautiful kitchens that will never go out offashion and will stand the test of time.”

All Olive and Barr cabinetry is handcraftedin the Cotswolds, and their shaker kitchenslook and feel lavish, but with a price tagwhich is beguilingly low. Being a relativenewcomer to the shaker kitchen industry,

HOMES INTERIORS

Olive & Barr has boundless verve and a deep-rooted passion for customer care.

“We are already proving to be quite theindustry disruptor by providing an impeccableproduct at (seemingly) impossibly competitiveprices,” said Al.

Harnessing the time-honoured traditionsof yesteryear whilst simultaneously embracingthe technological developments of the futuredrives success. Olive and Barr handmadekitchens effortlessly combine traditionaljoinery techniques with modern technologiesso that you receive a reassuringly iconicshaker kitchen, without having to relinquishthe cutting edge “bells and whistles” of acontemporary kitchen.

A responsible company with sustainabilityat its core, Olive and Barr workshops andartisans are based in the Cotswolds and usecarefully-sourced materials which are bothtraceable and accountable. “We know thatlittle touches such as removing and recyclingall packaging after installation is important toyou, so it’s important to us too. Our materials

are accredited by the FSC (an internationalorganisation dedicated to promotingresponsible management of the world’sforests), and we do our bit for the planet (andkeep overheads low) by using the timber offcuts to heat our workshops. We do everythingin our power to ensure that our company isone to be proud of, and one which our clientsare proud to be affiliated with.”

‘‘Beauty rests onutility’ is the ethosupon which shakerdesign is based,an ethos whichembodies theart of simplicity,functionalityand finecraftsmanship’

58 | Living | June 2019

Al Believes his company offers “the bestquality, best value handmade shaker kitchensyou can buy in the UK today.” That’s quitea claim. As a cabinet maker and designer, Alrecommends visiting at least three showroomsto get three different plans and comparativequotes. “You will be surprised at how muchthey might vary. We offer a free design serviceinstore or we can arrange a home visit.”

Of course, Al’s kitchen will be one of Oliveand Barr’s finest, won’t it?

“Yes of course. I have a stunning dark greypainted kitchen in ‘Nightcap’ with a beautifulmarble worktop just like the one we have inthe Cirencester showroom.”

Over the years, having worked onhundreds of kitchens, the odd one stands out.“I’ve had a client asking for a dog bed to beincorporated into the kitchen island, which isactually a very practical idea,” Al tells me.

Kitchens are no longer just a place tocook, they have become the hub of a home, aspace for entertaining and the kitchen islandis a design feature that’s a must-have for mostOlive and Barr customers.

“It’s the perfect place for guests to gatherand chat to the host. It’s also extremelypractical, in terms of providing extra storage.”

And the kitchen trends for 2019?“We’ve coined a trend the Country

Grand, with floor to ceiling cabinets (ratherthan wall cabinets) which provide masses ofstorage. Luxurious materials such as graniteand marble are used for the worktop andsplashback. The lighting is glamorous too –think lanterns or chandeliers.”

In terms of colour, green is taking overfrom dark blue as a key colour for 2019.“Our Hunter Green painted kitchen looksboth dramatic and luxurious when used ina Country Grand scheme, while when it’spaired with wooden worktops it takes on amore rustic look. Customers are favouringbrass handles over chrome and brass orcopper taps and light fittings.”

Time for a kitchen makeover methinks,and so another trip to Olive and Barr.

oliveandbarr.com

‘I’ve had a client asking for a dog bed to beincorporated into the kitchen island,

which is actually a very practical idea’

HOMES INTERIORS

L