Treetown Kitchens

Featured in Nourish Magazine, Winter 2022, Words by Vicki Ravlich-Horan

They say birds of a feather flock together.  This is evident when you see local companies like Treetown Kitchens and Mr Ralph Lighting working together, businesses that not only complement each other but hold the same values and outlook. 

Owner of Mr Ralph, Rachel Williamson worked with Kevin Middlemiss (owner of Treetown Kitchens) nearly 20 years ago on her kitchen.  It was a Workman’s cottage on King Street in Cambridge and Rachel says, “no problem was to big for Kevin, he is genuinely lovely.”  It’s that initial experience working with Kevin that has led Rachel to continue the relationship with Treetown Kitchens, not just for her projects but with her own growing business.

But it’s Rachels latest project at her house we’ve come to see.  The kitchen in the 90s Huntington house was the last piece in the major renovation puzzle.  Hayley Hohneck, Operations, Marketing & Design at Treetown Kitchens, says Rachel “had a really specific vision she was working to.”  The key to making this vision come to life was working with the confines of the room.  “Rachel was really open to our ideas” says Hayley “in the end we removed a door to make it work.”

Key to Rachels vision and an example of the craftsmanship of the Treetown cabinet makers is the exquisite rangehood cover which was bespokely made.  The team didn’t stop there to execute Rachels dream kitchen.  “Kevin went to such lengths” claims Rachel “making up the cabinet profiles so I could see it.”  At first sight, said cabinets may look like the run of the mill shaker profile but in fact they are a thinner profile that the team had to make by hand. 

This attention to detail runs throughout Rachels gorgeous kitchen, from the brass taps and handles from Abi to the carefully hidden but easily accessible fridge.  And of course, the lighting!

 “People can often narrow down their cabinet choices, but lighting is so much harder” say Hayley.  When choosing lighting for your kitchen both Rachel and Hayley agree you need to think about general lighting, task lighting and then aesthetics.  This is beautifully illustrated in Rachels kitchen which has four different types of lighting.  The beautiful Rattan pendant is a beautiful feature but does not shine a light on what you are chopping or mixing, for this there are track lighting.  Added into the mix are the Bernard Lights that are a feature but also create spot lighting.  And finally, there are the Wall dot lights adding extra light to the room. 

Hayley points out that “kitchens are no longer hidden away.  They are now pieces of art and lighting is a key part.”  And this is why you can now find Mr Ralph lighting at the Treetown kitchens showroom and a Treetown Kitchen in the newly expanded Mr Ralph showroom in Gordonton.