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Student Accommodation – University of Exeter

Alt Admin • February 9, 2016

“Input from John Strand was excellent. Deliveries were as agreed schedules and they were flexible in absorbing changes due to site restraints."

Joe Watt

Cowlin, Senior Project Manager

The need for good quality student housing is an ever present situation across the country and one which certainly applied to the University of Exeter with a student population of 17,950. In 2010 Cowlin Construction were awarded the contract to build a new facility and they approached John Strand MK to provide kitchens for the new INTO centre at Exeter.

Cowlin Construction (which is a Balfour Beatty company) discovered John Strand MK Limited on their group database and with INTO liaised with Sales Director, Calvin Reeves in the decision making process to develop the design schemes. The final project went to commercial tender and John Strand MK were the successful bidder. Their decision was based on the look and versatility of the kitchens and service.

The project, which had a budget of £20 million and a 65 week timescale, incorporated kitchens over 2 floors. This was a new build development with a brief that demanded high quality for overseas students which would work well within a studio setting and some kitchens for shared communal use.

Calvin commented on securing the contract: “Of course price is important, more in today’s economic climate, than ever before. But we are quite unique at John Strand; we have a very flexible approach and strive to fulfil the design requirements within the price range, normally within smaller than standard spaces. We use UK cabinet makers so we monitor the manufacturing process and can offer clients literally hundreds of finishes to choose from. Where multiple units are required the decision making process is imperative, get it right to begin with save a lot of headaches later on. To assist with this, we provided a sample kitchen for a ‘mock up’ room. This ensured the perfect colour could be matched and any modifications made before commencing the manufacturing process.”

In total John Strand supplied 195 kitchens comprising of 160 studio kitchens, 34 communal kitchens and 1 accessible communal kitchen. The programme started in September 2010 and a delivery schedule was planned with a document tracking procedure set up to coordinate phased deliveries to site. On a large scale project such as this, organisation is paramount especially when working around other trades on-site.

Commenting on the success of the project, Cowlin’s Senior Project Manager, Joe Watt stated: “Input from John Strand was excellent. Deliveries were as agreed schedules and they were flexible in absorbing changes due to site restraints. ..I have found John Strand a company that want to get things right and provide a good service.”

If you would like to find out more about commercial contracts we have completed or make an enquiry about a forthcoming project you have planned please contact the office on +44 (0) 20 8930 6006 or e-mail to enquiry@johnnstrand-mk.co.uk.



Product Specifications


160 studio kitchens – 1800mm wide with matt black MFC doors and cream MFC carcase.

  • Brushed aluminium worktops
  • Integrated 130L refrigerator with freezer compartment
  • Compact 700 watt microwave
  • 2 plate electric hob
  • Ducted extractor

34 communal kitchens – with fino bronze MFC doors and cream MFC carcase.

  • Designed to cater for up to 6 students
  • Kitchens were different sizes to accommodate space in different sized rooms but the average sized kitchen was 2400mm wide
  • Granite effect worktop
  • Single fan oven
  • 4 plate electric hob
  • Built in microwave
  • Ducted extractor
  • Lockable storage units

1 accessible communal kitchen – with fino bronze MFC doors and cream MFC carcase.

  • Designed to cater for up to 5 students
  • Motorized height adjustable sink unit
  • Mobile microwave units
  • Side opening single fan oven
  • 4 plate induction hob with manual controls
  • Ducted extractor

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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