It’s been a buy few weeks for the Bluebell Team, not just in our Sale HQ but some of our team members have been across (and ‘in’) the Channel to France! Here’s a round-up of what they’ve been up to..

Bluebell Girls Paris Reunion

Last month, our inspirational Founder and Director Alison Reuben jetted off to Paris for a very special occasion. More than 300 former Bluebell Dancers from all over the world came together at the Lido de Paris to celebrate the Bluebell Global Reunion. As you may or may not know, from the age of just 16, Alison was a Bluebell Dancer for a number of years so this was an emotional and enjoyable trip. We couldn’t be more proud of Alison, who went on to name our wonderful fitted furniture company after the iconic dance troupe.

James’ Channel Challenge

Alison is not the only member of our team who crossed the channel last month. Huge congratulations to our Designer James who, along with his friends from Rudyard Lake Youth Sailing Club, successfully completed their magnificent Cross Channel Challenge to raise money for the wonderful Maggies Centre Manchester.

The team sailed on Saturday, leaving Rye early in the morning and 7 hrs 1min and 45 seconds later, they arrived in Boulogne France. They couldn’t have wished for better weather and they even got a Supertanker to do a 360 degree about turn in the middle of a shipping lane to avoid them!

What an amazing achievement – we really are so proud of James and if you’d like to donate, simply click here. Many thanks to Carol Kane and the team at Boohoo who also came on board (excuse the pun!) to sponsor the team.

BUILT BY HAND, FITTED WITH CARE
For more details on our range of fitted furniture, contact us on 0161 976 6606 or you can fill out in an enquiry form on our website. Alternatively, why not pop into our Washway Road showroom and meet the team for yourselves?

The last few months have been extremely busy at Bluebell so we thought it would be nice to share a few snippets of what we’ve been up to.

Wembley Way

As a family business, we were incredibly proud to make it to the finals of the National Family Business Awards 2019. The Awards ceremony was held at Wembley Stadium and was a glittering occasion and a chance to come together with like-minded companies to celebrate our achievements and successes. Sadly we weren’t winners on the night but rubbing shoulders with such inspirational people was a huge honour. Above, you can see our Director’s Alison and Mike making the most of the trip and visiting the hallowed Wembley turf.

Sale Scarecrow Safari

We’re excited to be taking part in the Sale and District Lions/Act4Africa Scarecrow Safari. Come and meet the newest member of the Bluebell Team at our Washway Road Showroom! 

The Scarecrow Safari runs until the 4th September. See how many Scarecrows you can find in M33 by the 4th September to be entered into a draw for the chance to win £400 worth of cash prizes. For more info of how to join in the fun, click here.

We’d also like to introduce you to our Factory Manager, the lovely John Horner. John has been with us since we started 26 years ago and is literally part of the furniture at Bluebell (excuse the pun!). Not only is John a wonderful chap, his knowledge and expertise is second to none in the industry and we are very proud to have him as part of the Bluebell family.

John was also the imspiration behind our Scarecrow Safari entry. Look closely into John’s eyes and we think you may see the Bluebell logo in them too!

Teambuilding Day 2019

We’re a competitive bunch at Bluebell so our annual team building day for our Designers is always a highlight! This years’ Pitch & Put event was held at Pinky Park with Stephen, Josh, Darren, James and John along with Directors Mike & Alison and of course our Bluebell mascot Dennis (kept on a lead due to chasing the balls!). The big winner of the day was our Graduate John Lewis. The Award Ceremony was overseen by Sales Manager Stephen (he considers himself semi-professional!!) who luckily took being pipped to the post in good humour! 

After helping transform her own kitchen, we were delighted to again team up with Jan Mecrow of Inhouse Interior Design, to work on an exciting kitchen project in Wilmslow. From experience, Jan knew that Karen was in good hands. The beauty of choosing Bluebell is that even the pull-out drawers are designed to the client’s exact specifications. Add to this the extensive advice about products, lighting and space-saving tips, and of course the expert fitting by our in-house installers and you get a sense of why Jan picked Bluebell for Karen’s kitchen transformation and why she has no hesitation in recommending us to her clients.

Some of the challenges Jan and the Bluebell team faced included a restricted space by a corridor leading to the utility room, poor access to the garden and a lack of storage. All of these considerations needed some careful planning, re-imagining of the space and some clever suggestions from Jan and our design team with the help of some CAD drawings by the guys at our Washway Road showroom.
The original kitchen was also blocking the outlook onto the garden and the sink faced a solid wall. The dining table and sitting area was at the back of the room, where it was dark and there was no view of Karen’s lovely garden.

The building plan began with completely removing the corridor, which immediately opened up the room and the addition of Velux windows meant the natural light was now streaming through. A small extension at the garden-end of the room made a big difference, with double doors leading onto the terrace, giving a great connection to the outdoors.

With the help of initial sketches, plus Bluebell’s CAD designs and lots of creative inspiration from Jan and the Bluebell team, the proposal for the kitchen included moving it to the rear of the room, leaving the garden end for living space. The sink was moved to the back wall, and a large mirror was added to give the feeling of space as well as that all-important view of the garden.

Bluebell also created a large island in the kitchen area with cupboards in a contrasting darker colour to the others to make a real focal point for the room and adding much-needed extra worksurface. Combined with elegant lighting techniques in the island itself (including under counter mood lighting – a clever touch we often employ at Bluebell) to open up the space even further and of course the new Velux windows – the transformation was really incredible.

On many of Bluebell clients’ must-have lists is an all-in-one Quooker hot tap, for normal hot and cold water and boiling water for hot drinks. Not only is this practical, it also eliminates the need for a bulky kettle. Practical suggestions like these and other storage hacks are what our Bluebell team is renowned for – we love to create beautiful spaces but also functional ones built to be used as much as admired! Another top tip which we employed for Karen was to advise on a Bosch combination microwave oven so there’s no need for a separate microwave elsewhere. Great if storage space is at a premium.

Darren also recommended a tall integrated built-in fridge and dishwasher placed in the correct areas to complete the functionality of the kitchen. As Karen loves to cook, making sure all these little details were taken care of was imperative throughout the design process.

For the splashback, Karen chose a beautiful 30mm thick ‘Infiniti Drift’ Quartz. It was used for the work surface and, for added wow-factor, was also ‘wrapped’ around the sides of the island and all the way down to the floor. 100mm upstands in Quartz were also used at the back of the sink run while the cupboards were finished with satin brushed contemporary handles.

Improved task lighting and muted mood lighting created zoned areas and a wood look floor and an eclectic mix of furniture gave it a wonderfully natural feel. The use of wool upholstery – as well as some velvets and cottons meanwhile added real warmth to the scheme.

A cosy, wood burning stove completed the transformation – a simple column design in the corner of the room that added bags of warmth and character – a lovely place to sit and relax.

Both Jan and the Bluebell team see the kitchen as being the heart of the home and previously, Karen didn’t have enough work surface for baking – now she bakes practically every day as the kitchen is very much her happy place!

For us, hearing this makes us happy too and we can’t wait to embark on our next project with Jan and the team.

A cosy, wood burning stove completed the transformation – a simple column design in the corner of the room that added bags of warmth and character – a lovely place to sit and relax.

Both Jan and the Bluebell team see the kitchen as being the heart of the home and previously, Karen didn’t have enough work surface for baking – now she bakes practically every day as the kitchen is very much her happy place!

For us, hearing this makes us happy too and we can’t wait to embark on our next project with Jan and the team.

Wish List


Worktop: Infiniti Drift Quartz


Wall Unit Colour: Cashmere


Appliances: Bosch


Flooring: Karndean Van Gogh ‘Country Oak’


Paint: Farrow and Ball Cornforth White and Ammonite


Lamps: Heathfield Lighting


Dining Chairs: Bontempi Casa ‘Nata’ in grey leather


Sofa: Bespoke design by Inhouse Interior Design


Accessories/Art: Client’s Own
 


Other Suppliers/Tradespeople: Eric Jackson Design and Build


Flooring Supply and Fit: Terry Cragg – Cheshire Carpets

Photography by Andrew Smith SG Photography.

We can all agree on the importance of the kitchen, the hub in most homes, so we were delighted to join forces with Jan Mecrow, owner of Inhouse Interior Design in transforming the kitchen in her beautiful home in Wilmslow. Together with one of Bluebell’s talented kitchen designers, Darren Pincus, Jan and Darren worked together to create a stylish and bespoke space with materials, accessories and cabinetry custom-made by Bluebell in our Altrincham factory and fitted by our team of expert installers.

Darren could see great potential in this room and was keen to help Jan bring to life her vision for a contemporary and practical kitchen, giving a real ‘wow factor’ to visiting friends, guests and clients. Jan chose Bluebell for the project after collaborating with us on a number of design projects for clients. Together with our knowledge, experience and eye for detail, not to mention quality and Darren’s creative flair – Jan knew she was in good hands.
 
The Bluebell design team loves a challenge… and not only did Jan have an awkwardly shaped kitchen with little wall space for cupboards or radiators, it was also a dark, chilly room, only getting some sunshine in the evenings. 

With plenty of floor space and, of course, heaps of creativity from Jan and plenty of advice and suggestions from Bluebell – there were lots of positives and we were eager to make a start on the exciting project.
 
Following a home consultation with Jan, Darren initially started with sketches and CAD drawings to explore a number of options and ‘solutions’ to Jan’s challenges. Luckily, the only building work needed was to remove existing floor tiles to make room for the new, large grey ceramic tiles and adding in some all-important underfloor heating so the job got underway quickly.

Jan wanted feature lighting above the island, choosing to use one of her local UK suppliers to create an elegant showpiece as you enter the room. Furniture lighting was also key in setting the mood for the success of the kitchen and was carefully thought through at initial concept stage by Jan and the Bluebell team.

To colour complement the space, Jan opted for dark greys, taupes and warm, metallic finishes. Another reason Jan loves Bluebell is because our doors come in over 100 finishes and colours – no restrictions or compromises needed when you choose Bluebell! Jan visited Bluebell’s Washway Road showroom to choose her doors from the fantastic selection we have on display.

Using neutral, but rich-toned fabrics in the curtains and blinds added texture and warmth and this, together with new mood lighting helped to create distinct zoned areas. The finishing touches were all taken into consideration by the Bluebell team and all worked in harmony with the overall design of the space.
 
The worktop chosen was 60mm Infiniti Burlington Quartz with return legs down to the floor, and matching splashback behind the hob up to extractor. Renowned for its heat resistance and durability. The Bluebell team thoroughly recommend using Quartz in this way as a great alternative to granite. 

Both stylish and functional, kitchen islands can instantly create a larger kitchen area, as well as adding some stylish seating.

In Jan’s case, a bespoke round wooden table top, (made from a 350 year old yew tree), was added to the corner of the island.

As well as being visually stunning, the island improved the natural flow through to the garden room, dining room and the exterior as well as providing a great place to enjoy a light lunch or glass of wine.

The piece de resistance of the design however has to be the cleverly concealed double door ‘Gin and Coffee Station’. Hidden behind bespoke cupboard doors is a recessed shelf, drawers and fridge area which Jan has transformed into the perfect place to make an Americano or serve up a G&T depending on the occasion! The Bluebell team added an internal pullout worktop which can be extended when needed. These little extras and special touches are what make Bluebell stand out from your average kitchen company. These glorious details can be added to any design and can make such a difference for the customer. The cupboard was then finished with warm LED strips, a wine storage area and adjustable shelves so Jan can choose whether to put larger or smaller objects in the space – effectively future-proofing it!
 
Next to the coffee station is another clever detail suggested by Bluebell – a deep and spacious pullout Liebherr fridge – again making the most of the space available and perfect for reaching for the tonic or milk depending on your tipple!

On the far side, Darren designed a bespoke tall corner unit complete with round carousel – a fantastic addition and an intelligent way to maximise the practicality of what can often be a wasted space.

Adding an additional touch of glamour are the gorgeous textured brass handles and brushed brass electrical sockets – it’s these beautiful details which really set this design scheme apart and show Jan’s excellent eye for detail and knack of making everything look stunning.
 
The end result was better than even we could have imagined. Jan and the Bluebell team managed to combine a warm and inviting feel with a tasteful, stylish kitchen that has timeless appeal and has been a deeply rewarding project for all of us.

We are absolutely delighted to introduce you to our very own beautifully bespoke Shaker Doors. Made in house at our Altrincham factory by our talented craftsmen and women. This is one of our most exciting product launches and there are many reasons why we chose to design and manufacture our own shaker doors which are outlined in this newsletter.

Why Choose Bluebell-Made Shaker Doors?

Goodbye Vinyl – Hello Hard Wearing Quality. Not everyone will know that most high street shaker doors are actually vinyl wrapped MDF. Unfortunately this process is not very durable or hard wearing and after a while, once exposed to heat in your kitchen for example (such as steam from a kettle, toaster or hob) – they can very easily peel off. Our Bluebell-Made Shaker Doors are not made in this way and so peeling and degrading is not a problem – longevity of your beautiful new furniture is therefore guaranteed.

Bespoke And Made to Measure The beauty of our Bluebell-Made Shaker Doors is you’re no longer limited to shape, size or style (something you’ll find is still the case with many of our competitors). We make them completely bespoke. Have a tricky space or angle you need help with? – our doors are designed to fit the space perfectly. What’s more, the framework surrounding your doors can be changed to whatever specification and size you need – no having to compromise on style, shape or design with Bluebell!Matching Interiors With many high street companies, the inside of your doors will be standard white MDF – but with our Bluebell-Made Shaker Doors – all our interiors are the same colour and finish as the outside – making for not only a high end finish but also a sleeker, classier look.

Colour Collections Galore Most high-street retailers offer a limited amount of colours and finishes  – here at Bluebell, we match your doors to any colour and finish you wish, with well over 100 finishes. You can also choose from a smooth or grained finish to help achieve the look you desire.

Creative Customisation In the centre panel of a Bluebell-Made Shaker Door, you can also stick with the traditional shaker look with matching centre panel or we can add a mirror or glass in the centre. Alternatively, why not go for a beautiful feature product called Sibu?

Customer Satisfaction Guaranteed It’s not just our Bluebell-Made Shaker Doors which make us different from your average high street retailer. When you choose Bluebell, you’re choosing a Family Business with over 26 years’ experience and a team of dedicated professionals whose sole aim is to bring your furniture to life and create the space of your dreams. From our designers to our installation team – everyone works directly for Bluebell and takes a huge amount of pride in their work, ensuring an unparalleled level of service from start to finish. What’s more, if you have any issues or snagging which needs addressing, a quick call to us and you know it will be dealt with straight away giving you that additional peace of mind.

At Bluebell, we pride ourselves on our quality craftsmanship, design innovation and excellent levels of customer service so when we work with other local companies, we’re very careful to only choose those with a similar philosophy to us. We’re therefore delighted to introduce to you our most recent partnership with the amazing team at Fireplace Superstore in Cheadle Hulme.

The team at Fireplace Superstore know everything there is to know about home heating. They also boast one of the largest showrooms in the North West, jam-packed with fireplaces, stoves, BBQs and log burners. You can also view a huge selection of their products on their website.

Like Bluebell, everyone at Fireplace Superstore is highly experienced and fully qualified. Their levels of customer service really are second to none and for added peace of mind, they also include excellent warranties as standard with their products, so you know you’re in safe hands. 

We’ve had the privilege of working on a number of projects together with Fireplace Superstore and we can safely say their attention to detail and commitment to quality is of paramount importance to Neil and the team. Not only are their products of the highest quality, their installation teams are real perfectionists and extremely knowledgeable too – something we know is highly important to our Bluebell customers – after all, it’s about trust. 

You can visit the Fireplace Superstore showroom on Stanley Green Trading Estate in Cheadle Hulme, call them direct on 0161 488 4991 or email info@fireplacesuperstore.com Don’t forget to mention Bluebell Fitted Furniture sent you!

We’ve Been Awarded the 
Which? Trusted Traders Certificate of Distinction.

In May 2018 we were delighted to receive the much-coveted accolade of
Trader Of The Month by Which? Trusted Trader and this month, we are very proud to announce we have gone one step further and been awarded the highest honour possible – A Which? Trusted Trader Certificate of Distinction.

Which? Trusted Traders is an endorsement scheme that recognises reputable traders and businesses who successfully pass an assessment process carried out by their trading standards professionals.

To be awarded a Certificate of Distinction, we’ve had to meet even more exacting criteria – such as receiving a steady stream of positive reviews on our Which? Trusted Traders web page, meeting all the compliance criteria and giving excellence in customer service on a consistent basis. We’re one of the first companies to receive this honour so we’re absolutely thrilled to share the news!

Becoming A Which? Trusted Trader

To become a Which? Trusted Trader you have to pass an assessment process designed to give YOU the customer complete trust and peace of mind. The process includes:

Credit report

This is obtained to validate the financial health of a business who applies to be assessed.

Customer Satisfaction

The Which? Trusted Traders endorsement team will check a selection of customer references from a trader’s most recent work.

Business procedures

A thorough examination of business and administrative procedures to ensure that businesses have consumer interests in mind.

Interview and assessment

Our standard assessment includes a face to face visit and interview carried out by a Which? trading standards professional to fully understand all aspects of how the applicant runs their business.

Report

Businesses receive a report of the assessment, providing valuable feedback from our experienced assessors to ensure that they meet our high standards before they are allowed to join the scheme.

Endorsed trader

Having passed all these checks, the trader is now able to choose to join the scheme, agreeing to abide by the terms and conditions, code of conduct and pay the membership fees. They can now show their customers that they are an endorsed Which? Trusted trader.

Your Safe In Our Hands – Don’t Just Take Our Word For It!

Another benefit of being a Which? Trusted Trader is that customers can leave completely independent reviews on their dedicated website as well as rating us from 1-5. This means when you choose Bluebell, we come thoroughly recommended. That’s why so many of our clients are returning customers who’ve used us time and time again.

For more details about Which? Trusted Traders, our Certificate of Distinction or our range of fitted furniture and how we can help you save space and make the most of storage in your home, contact us on 0161 976 6606 or you can fill in an enquiry form on our website.

Looking to create more storage space in your home? We have the experience, creativity and know-how to solve this problem and can come up with clever design solutions you may not have even thought of, and our team of in-house fitters will install everything for you.

Book Your No-Obligation Home Consultation Now.

Why not pop into our Washway Road showroom in Sale, give us a call on 0161 976 6606 or make a no-obligation home appointment online now by our website.

2018 was a phenomenal year for all the team at Bluebell and we’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who supported us. We had the privilege of working on some amazing projects for some fantastic clients and one of our favourite and most glamorous jobs has to be this stunning bar we helped design, fit and install in partnership with Lana Filippova Interiors of Bowdon. It’s a great showcase for us and really proves there are no limits to what our talented team can do. We hope you like it!

This stunning space for a lovely local client really does have the WOW factor and took us all the way to the finals of the Northern Design Awards 2018.

Starting Afresh

After a fantastic festive season, we’re busy preparing for the year ahead. We’ve got lots of exciting things planned but before we start, we always like to have a bit of a clear-out and a declutter. And it’s got us thinking at Bluebell HQ how clever storage and gadgets can really help focus our minds.

After discussing it in more detail with our design team, here are a few of our top tips and favourite products to help you make the most of your space and keep your home neat and tidy.

Tip One

A good way to maximise space and storage in your bedroom is with under-bed drawers. Our team are often asked to build bed frames with pull-out drawers, or bedside cupboards and bookshelves – this works well to hide clutter and also provides handy nooks and crannies to add a pretty lamp or an ornament. Also how about adding a ‘bed-bench’? – functional and stylish – ask our team for more details.

Tip Two

Under-stair storage is a clever way to really utilise an area and make more room for all the things we need but want to hide away. Whether you go for pull-out drawers or larger cupboards, we can help you get the most out of this often-overlooked area.

Tip Three

Tip Four

Not every home has space for a media area and study – how about combining the two? With some clever tricks and nifty design planning, a desk can be transformed or hidden away when it’s time to watch a movie. 

Tip Five

If you’re struggling for extra seating and also need a place to put your handbags or shoes, our team can design and build you a window seat. A great way to make the most of the space and frame a beautiful view too!

Over the years, we’ve had the pleasure and privilege of helping design fitted furniture for lots of wonderful customers. Styles may have changed, materials have developed and technology has been transformational but one thing that’s not changed from our very first design is our commitment to quality, unwavering customer service and thirst for innovation.
 
Below we share some of our favourite bedroom designs, all of which have been designed, manufactured and fitted by our talented in-house team.

We’d love to know which is your favourite.

Sleek & Stylish

This contemporary design maximises the space available to create a luxury ‘hotel-style’ look. Don’t forget to consider recessed lighting and bespoke headboards for a sophisticated touch. And not only does it look beautiful -it’s also made to last. 

The Perfect Project

Whilst some customers’ needs are simple and straightforward, some of our clients require full project management and we’re happy to help either way! This particular scheme was an absolute delight to work on in conjunction with one of our favourite interior designers – Lana Filippova. 

Study & Sleep

Making the most of available space is essential in a smaller bedroom – especially if it’s for a child who has lots of toys as most of them do! This bespoke bed ticks all the boxes with space for clothes, toys, study and sleep. It’s also great fun too!

Pamper Party

Our clients don’t just need fitted wardrobes, sometimes they also need an area for getting ready. This bespoke dressing table fits the style of the room perfectly with beautiful ‘floating’ drawers plus clever lighting and shelving.

Go For Bold

Masculine, stylish and boasting oodles of storage – this particular bedroom design combines deluxe bespoke fitted wardrobes with gloss bedside drawers and headboard to make a bold style statement. Sliding doors are perfect if space is at a premium – a really popular choice with our customers which can be completely personalised.

Child’s Play

Here’s another bespoke bunk bed in the client’s chosen style. It’s amazing how the material, colour and finish can completely personalise the look. We’ve got hundreds of colours and finishes to choose from in our Sale showroom so do feel free to pop in and take a look.

Thank You!

Over the last 25 years, we’ve had some lovely feedback and thank you messages, but this one from 9-year-old Holly may well be our favourite yet! And judging by how well she has drawn our logo – she could well be a future furniture designer too!