Oran McLaughlin · Published
Oran McLaughlin joined Dukes full time in 2005, after learning CAD and helping with design presentations from the age of 12. Meet our family business.
Start with a useful budget, rather than a single headline price
A starting price helps you decide which collections to explore, but it cannot tell you what a particular room will cost. Two kitchens with similar floor areas can have very different layouts, storage needs and finishes. An island, a run of tall cabinets or a detailed pantry changes the amount and type of furniture involved.
The most useful starting point is a budget you feel comfortable with and a short list of priorities. You might value a generous preparation area, easier access to storage or a particular painted finish. Telling your designer what matters makes it easier to recommend where to invest and where a simpler choice will serve you just as well.
What the four Dukes starting prices mean
Living starts from €12,000 and brings together welcoming Shaker, simple Shaker and beaded styles. It is a practical starting point for a busy family kitchen, with the room planned around everyday use. Urban also starts from €12,000, offering contemporary styling, clean lines and a different approach to colour and texture.
Signature starts from €18,000, with classic painted character and solid-wood door styles. Prestige starts from €30,000 and centres on bespoke handmade in-frame furniture. The choice is about the construction, details and overall direction you want, as well as the amount you wish to spend. Comparing actual samples helps make those differences clear.
Check the complete specification before comparing quotations
Our published starting prices include VAT and fitting. Do not assume that two quotations include the same worktops, appliances, fittings or preparation work simply because their totals are similar. Ask for the specification and scope to be set out clearly, including what is included and what will need to be arranged separately.
Check the cabinetry, worktop, sink, tap and appliance choices alongside installation arrangements. If your project also involves building work or changes to plumbing and electrics, establish who is responsible for those tasks. A clear comparison helps you understand the finished project, rather than making a decision on one number alone.
The layout influences the investment
Before choosing finishes, look at the way the kitchen will function. An island needs enough room around it to work comfortably, and a larger island is not automatically the best solution. In some rooms, improving the wall run or adjusting storage positions will make a greater difference to daily life.
Tell us where people enter the room, where you unload shopping and how you use the kitchen at busy times. Those details help us design a useful layout before adding features. It is easier to make decisions about cabinetry and storage when each part of the plan has a clear purpose.
Choose the details that earn their place
Door styles, worktops, storage fittings and appliances all contribute to the final specification. A kitchen you love does not need every available feature. Start with what you will use regularly and consider how each choice fits the room, your routines and the wider budget.
For example, someone who cooks every day may place more importance on preparation space and accessible cookware storage. Another household may want a breakfast area that keeps mugs, coffee and small appliances together. Your designer can help you compare alternatives while keeping the overall kitchen coherent.
Plan the order of decisions
The room layout and appliance positions can affect the work of other trades, so discuss them early. Your final colours and finishing details belong in the same plan, but they do not all need to be chosen at the first meeting. We can explain which decisions are needed now and which can be developed as the design progresses.
If you are undertaking a Mica / DCB rebuild, tell us at the start. We can discuss payment paperwork, coordination with your contractor and our arrangements for locking an agreed kitchen price for up to 12 months. The rebuild support page explains how final choices, fitting and aftercare fit together.
Bring your plans, your priorities and your questions
For an initial visit, bring any drawings or photographs you have, a likely project timeline and a budget range. A few saved kitchen images are useful, especially if you can say what appeals to you in each one. You do not need a finished mood board or a complete list of products before we can help.
Our initial consultation is free. At the Newtowncunningham showroom, we can help you find a suitable collection and explain the next steps in developing a kitchen for your home. The aim is a design you understand, an agreed specification and a price you can plan around.
Explore the four collections and starting prices · Mica / DCB rebuild support · Live Design
Discuss your kitchen budget