In 2024 Stoneham retailer Sylvarna turned 40. To mark this momentous occasion, they decided to completely remodel their showroom to create a space that would allow customers to experience, see, and touch the kitchens on display. Their concept took shape, and in early 2025, Sylvarna unveiled its transformation to customers in Chichester. We spoke to Nick Street, co-owner of Sylvarna, to discover more about their showroom.

Tell us about Sylvarna?
Sylvarna kitchen design is a family-run business established by my grandfather Brian Street. It is now run by myself and my father, Simon. We also have an excellent design team and in-house installers, and we are fully qualified in electrical and gas works. This means we are equipped to carry out all elements of a kitchen project, ensuring customers receive the very best service from concept to completion.

At Sylvarna we pride ourselves on matching exceptional service with the finest products, only working with brands that are at the forefront of the kitchen industry. Our commitment to quality across everything we do is encapsulated by the kitchens we have created for many happy customers.

How long have you been a Stoneham retailer for?
We have been offering Stoneham kitchens to our customer for over 20 years, and during this time Stoneham has always been able to meet our customers’ needs, with furniture that delivers on both quality and style.

Why Stoneham?
Aside from what I’ve mentioned, Stoneham, like us are a family-run business so they understand the dynamics of running a family enterprise.  As a British company, we are fully committed to supporting other British companies like Stoneham. The fact that they hold the Royal Warrant also provides reassurance to our customers, that if they get a Stoneham kitchen, they can expect quality, superior furniture.

What Stoneham ranges have you got in your showroom?
We have two large Stoneham displays. The main display is the first thing customers see when they enter the showroom and it never fails to impress, especially the spectacular island. We’ve used this area to showcase Stoneham’s in-frame ranges – Knole and Penshurst, which highlight classic craftsmanship and fine detail such as dovetail joints.  Our second display includes Chart and Pitch offering a more contemporary feel. Both displays feature a mix of finishes and a combination of bold and neutral tones to show contrast and define specific features.

What key features do you have on display?
The key highlights include a stunning bespoke bar unit with pocket doors that slide out of sight, and a spiced pantry cupboard. We’ve kitted them both out with local produce and drinks so customers can see how these bespoke options enable perfect organisation for storing and displaying a wide range of items.

We’ve also added sociable seating areas to help customers envision a kitchen-living environment that could be achieved in their own homes. One of the seating areas is a curved booth with luxury cushioning at the end of a large island. This demonstrates a more informal dining setting and a place where fabrics can be introduced into a design. This island also features a sink, stools for additional seating and a vast worktop that provides plenty of room for food preparation.

A second island is also a focal point in our smaller display, allowing us to show different shapes and functions that can be applied to kitchens of varying sizes.

On top of this we also have a free-standing dresser and a beautifully crafted chimney mantle that frames a cooking zone, along with a wide range of internal drawers and integrated storage options, such as recycling bins.

What did you want to achieve with the displays?
A key part of our design brief for the showroom was to create large room settings that showcase a complete kitchen with living areas. This allows us to give our clients a much clearer sense of how a complete project would look, helping them to understand what can be achieved in their own home.

We’ve really aimed to showcase the very best of Stoneham and the possibilities for creating functional, beautiful kitchens. With Stoneham’s support, we feel we have achieved exactly that with our displays.

What has the reaction been by customers to Stoneham and the new displays?
Our customers have been blown away by the displays, especially when they first walk into the showroom and see the main Stoneham display. The impact has been so strong that we’ve placed more kitchen orders with Stoneham than ever before.

What are you finding is popular in kitchen design at the moment?
We have found that there has been a return to traditional style kitchens, featuring wood and neutral shades, complemented by beautiful, timeless hardware in finishes like brass and nickel.

While we can’t predict future trends with certainty, we know the team at Stoneham kitchens works tirelessly to manufacture the right products at the right time to stay ahead of the market.

For a Chichester kitchen company visit Sylvarna kitchen design

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