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Student Accommodation – College House, Birmingham

Alt Admin • February 9, 2016

“... our experience with John Strand has been excellent."

James Homer

Director, City Student

The demands for student accommodation are still increasing and developers ‘City Student’ has been meeting some of those demands by creating accommodation at College House, in Birmingham

This development involved refurbishing a 24,000 ft2. B1 office with change of use into a student residence. The planning consent was granted in March 2013 for 90 en-suite studio apartments, complete with communal areas and launderette. The building costs were circa. £2million with works commencing shortly after planning was granted in April 2013. The programme was extremely tight to ensure completion in time for the 2013/2014 September student in-tact.

Sales Director at John Strand, Calvin Reeves was responsible for overseeing the project supplying and installing 90 kitchens.

We asked Director of City Student James Homer some questions about why, after researching competitors in the student accommodation kitchen market, he selected John Strand and how he found working with us:

Why did you decide to use John Strand kitchens for this project?
 “We chose the 1200mm and 1500mm kitchenettes, as well as a dining table and chair. John Strand had a good range at a competitive price, and a track record of similar projects which was very important. Crucially though, Calvin instilled confidence in us that John Strand were fully capable of delivering within the relatively short timescale”. 

How efficient do you think the design and selection process was?
“Extremely. I visited the showroom once earlier in the year, and was shown a number of different options from which I chose the most suitable solution. Calvin was always on hand to advise on any design issues

Please describe the delivery procedure and ease of installation of the kitchens?
 “The kitchens and furniture were all scheduled for delivery and installation via our building contractor. I understand that the process was very efficient and professionally handled.”

Would you recommend John Strand  and if so, why?
 “Without question. From the initial contact with Calvin, right through to the installation of the final dining chair, our experience with John Strand has been excellent. Lines of communication were always open for any queries, and any amendments or minor errors were dealt with swiftly and efficiently. Many thanks to Calvin – he made the whole process painless, I won’t hesitate to call him again for our next job.”

Kitchens Hidden From View

By John Strand • January 20, 2025
We have been making and selling kitchens for small spaces for a long, long time, so long in fact that we feel comfortable to call ourselves ‘expert’ in the field. An early design development was from the ‘mini kitchen’, which is solely a base unit, to the hideaway kitchen. ‘ Hideaway kitchen’ is the name they have always been given but then it dawned on us, do our customers (and potential customers) understand what a hideaway kitchen is? Simply put, a hideaway kitchen has a top unit with doors which can be shut to conceal the workings of the kitchen so thus hiding it away ! Other names for these kitchens include ‘kitchen in a cupboard’ and ‘concealed kitchen’ or the ‘hidden kitchen.’ We refer them to as hidden kitchens these days to avoid confusion. All pretty straight forward stuff. Simple but great, especially if you need a kitchen in a studio apartment or meeting room. Focusing on the design, the questions we most commonly get asked relate to safety. Can the hob be this close to the sink and is it safe to have doors? Safety is, as it should be, at the top of the list. Sinks must always be positioned with 300mm space between the hob and or any sockets, and the doors can be fitt ed with power supply cut-out and / or the hob is fitted with a safety timer so will cut out after a set time. Hidden kitchens are increasing in popularity every year and when you consider the combination of style, function and suitability for small or multi-use areas it just makes sense.  For more information please visit our website…johnstrand-mk.co.uk

Unlock the full potential of your living space

By John Strand MK • January 8, 2024
John Strand Sofa Wall beds 1. Maximizing Living Areas: The most apparent advantage of a sofa wall bed is its ability to maximize living areas. During the day, the sofa serves as a relaxing seating arrangement, allowing you to make the most of your space. When night falls, seamlessly transform it into a comfortable bed, eliminating the need for separate pieces of furniture and optimizing your floor space. 2. Dual-Functionality in Compact Spaces: For those renting or living in smaller apartments or studio flats, the sofa wall bed is a revelation. It effortlessly combines two essential pieces of furniture into one, providing a seating area for daytime activities and a sleeping space at nighttime. This dual-functionality is a game-changer in compact living situations. 3. Effortless Transition: The mechanism behind sofa wall beds is designed for ease of use. Transitioning from a sofa to a bed, and vice versa, is a smooth and hassle-free process. This user-friendly feature ensures that you can transform your living space with minimal effort, making it an ideal solution for all age groups. 4. A Stylish Addition to Any Room: Sofa wall beds are not just about functionality; they also add a touch of style to your living space. Available in various designs, colors, and materials, these pieces can complement any decor style. The seamless integration of a sofa wall bed enhances the overall aesthetics of your room.

Concealed Kitchens: The Sleek Solution for Modern Living

By John Strand • September 18, 2023
The benefits of a concealed and hidden kitchen.

Small Kitchen Design Layouts

By Donna Connolly • February 27, 2020
    Small Kitchen Design Layouts How to make kitchens work in a small space? Kitchen design, like many forms of design, relies on what have become traditional formulas and concepts.  These ‘design rules’ have been tried, tested and work a treat; such as the classic triangle of fridge, sink and hob within a 7 … Continued The post Small Kitchen Design Layouts appeared first on John Strand MK.

Making space in Studio apartments – A guide to open-plan, multi-functional apartment living

By Donna Connolly • December 19, 2019
    The diminishing size of homes, is a topic you often hear discussed but what truth is there in it?  Is it just a cliché and common misconception batted around, along with the lines of; “It wasn’t like that in my day”.  So are humans getting bigger (we are but that’s another story) or … Continued The post Making space in Studio apartments – A guide to open-plan, multi-functional apartment living appeared first on John Strand MK.

Wall beds for studio apartments

By Alt Admin • December 5, 2019
The objective was to create light filled, desirable apartments aimed at young professionals in a town centre location but the challenge was in the size. John Strand worked with property developers for a project of contemporary flats in Watford Hertfordshire.  The objective was to create light filled, desirable apartments aimed at young professionals in a … Continued The post Wall beds for studio apartments appeared first on John Strand MK.

Luxury Cabins by the Sea

By Alt Admin • November 14, 2019
Oh we do like to be beside the seaside!The aim of Cabü by the Sea is to provide beautiful buildings for everyone.  An ambition successfully achieved with the Scandinavian inspired cabins offering a relaxing space within the wild and windswept surroundings of St. Mary’s Bay. CABU approached John Strand Kitchens for a development of architecturally … Continued The post Luxury Cabins by the Sea appeared first on John Strand MK.

Office to residential converstion in Harrow

By Alt Admin • November 5, 2019
Change of use from office space to stylish contemporary studio apartments with John Strand Contract kitchens.Harrow sits on the North West of London’s Metropolitan line. A short tube-ride into central London and a stone’s throw from the rolling countryside of the surrounding home counties. It’s a popular destination with first time buyers and therefore an … Continued The post Office to residential converstion in Harrow appeared first on John Strand MK.

Kitchens in a Grand Location

By Alt Admin • October 24, 2019
Bespoke kitchens for a beautiful and grand refurbishmentThe majority of John Strand clients call looking for expert help, they need a kitchen but don’t have space for one!  On the opposite end of that scale is Barrington Hall, lack of space was definitely not a concern for this project. A magnificent Grade II listed Georgian … Continued The post Kitchens in a Grand Location appeared first on John Strand MK.

A Brief History of the John Strand Mini Kitchen

By Donna Connolly • October 8, 2019
    It’s small and mighty.  John Strand has been supplying compact kitchens for over 30 years and here is the history of how it all began, and why, three decades on, the one-metre-wide kitchen units are still sold across the country. Constructed of steel with a powder coated white finish; it houses a sink, … Continued The post A Brief History of the John Strand Mini Kitchen appeared first on John Strand MK.
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