FAVOURITES
GO TO FAVOURITES
At Caple, we are renowned market leaders in the industry with trend-setting modern kitchen ideas. So, it was with this in mind that we embarked on our latest venture to design an impressive 2,000 sq ft showroom in the heart of Leeds. Here, a mix of trade customers from the industry can now browse the latest top-quality kitchens, high-performance appliances and stylish sinks and taps within Caple’s comprehensive portfolio.
Our director Danny Lay explains: “Visitors to our new Leeds Caple Studio can expect a completely immersive experience. Step inside our beautifully designed showroom to discover two floors featuring sinks, taps, appliances and kitchen furniture, which include a specially designed area, where we showcase the capabilities of our latest appliances.”
Our director, Danny, discovered the location 12 months ago and planning, including the extensive fit-out, began in January this year. The brief was to create a showroom with key features from Caple’s comprehensive portfolio within two dedicated areas. Danny explains: “The ground floor would showcase a collection of appliances, sinks and taps in a studio set-up. Meanwhile, the first floor would accommodate a kitchen showroom and cooking demonstration area.”
With the design and installation now complete, the process has not all been plain sailing. Danny says: “There were many obstacles we had to overcome, including the position of the site in a pedestrian area, which is off a busy main road. The showroom is designed in a characterful Victorian railway arch so we were unable to fix anything to this structure. So, our new Caple studio is effectively freestanding within the space.”
Our Caple Studio is situated in a highly convenient location. You can simply step off the train and we are based in a Victorian arch under the main line. If you plan to drive here, we are located only one mile from the M1/M62 junction. Danny explains: “Caple is a fast-growing brand and the more presence we have on the UK high street through displays, Caple Studios and our own showrooms, the more brand awareness we achieve for the consumer. We’re also delighted to have chosen our first showroom outside Bristol in Leeds.” In fact, this year Leeds was named as one of the top places to live in the Sunday Times’ North and Northeast Guide.
Creating a showroom in the north, which is filled with modern kitchen ideas, has been of paramount importance. Danny adds: “The creation of our Leeds showroom now enables us to present modern kitchen ideas to our trade customers across the north of England. We are already fully booked with visitors these next two months.”
When you visit this impressive showroom, you’ll discover seven exceptional quality room displays filled to the brim with modern kitchen ideas. The unique cooking demonstration area comprises a large island where up to eight guests can gather during presentations. Here, invited trade visitors can enjoy three-course meals on a Caple Experience Day. You can also expect to see a beautiful bank showcasing 15 of our ovens, microwaves and warming drawers. In addition, there are tap stands, which feature 25 distinctive models.
Don’t forget our striking accessories wall where you can peruse 35 key additions for design-led kitchens. Our island unit on the ground floor also houses eight stylish sinks and taps. These include our revolutionary new SASO worktop sinks, which add a sleek, discreet aesthetic for a designer kitchen with only the base of the sink bowl and overflow on view. In short, we have carefully curated every aspect to present a selection of must-have modern kitchen ideas.
Highlights to note include our new Tela 900 island extractor, which you’ll find in our Verse true handleless kitchen display. Featuring striking smoked glass shelving directly above the appliance, you can choose an additional glass shelf unit, which fits either side of your hood.
This 900mmW model features a maximum 550m3/h extraction rate with an anti-condensation system and a high-performance carbon filter. Designed in an on-trend matt black painted finish, this model includes a dimmable, dynamic LED bar and touch controls for a contemporary finish.
Our Verse kitchen also features bespoke pocket doors for clutter-free kitchen design. These open outwards then glide back between your furniture, where they are concealed in a ‘pocket’. These help to create an illusion of space and provide a super-sleek, stylish finish to every contemporary kitchen. When closed, you can use them to hide appliances, workspaces and storage areas or an entire kitchen wall.
In our Leeds Caple Studio, you will find our Sutton kitchen, which features an in-frame island in our new colour Forest. This deep green shade is bang on-trend as is a new bespoke colour we chose for our Shoreditch kitchen display, Topaz. However, the latter demonstrates perfectly how customers can buy a primed option. You then spray the furniture in your own colour choice for more versatility in a luxury kitchen.
Thanks to our in-house Caple design team, we have produced new handles in line with the latest modern kitchen ideas. These instantly provide perfect finishing touches to our kitchen furniture collections. One such example is our innovative Hexagonal Brass Knobs. These striking accessories feature textured detailing and these are located in our beverage centre. We also showcase our new Bar Handles, which can be cut to length. In fact, you’ll find 1200mm versions on our Lyde kitchen cooling bank where our WC1800 furniture-framed wine cooler takes centre stage.
Don’t forget to look for our new Knurled (diamond-cut) Brass knobs, some of which come with suitably elegant back plates. These appear in our Shoreditch kitchen display. We have also introduced an innovative new lighting system, Alina. This comes with a matt black or brushed nickel frame within a discreet rectangular light design. Situated underneath wall cabinets, these not only look chic but they light the way for food prep below. They can also provide atmospheric lighting when homeowners are entertaining.
Lauren Ward has joined Caple in this new role, following an impressive kitchen industry career, spanning more than a decade. To date, she has provided training and product knowledge to help her teams sell furniture and products to their customers. However, this is her first position where cooking plays a key feature. Lauren says: “I have always believed that this should be part of the trainer’s role. What better way is there to demonstrate all of the amazing features our products have, than to cook and prepare food in front of them?”
Our new Northern Regional Training Manager admits she has loved cooking from an early age. In fact, she used to enjoy baking with her mother and grandmother. Lauren explains: “I can remember sitting on the worktop, when I was a little girl, thinking I was helping them cook. Looking back at it now, I think I was actually making a real mess! However, through this love of family baking, I inherited my grandma’s cookbooks with priceless handwritten recipes in them. One is a boozy Christmas cake, which we still bake together today for the family. And my newest baking role at home, as Auntie Loz to my niece Emily and nephew Charlie, is to make them themed birthday cakes.“
Lauren is now presenting dedicated Caple Experience Days for trade customers featuring modern kitchen ideas at our new Leeds showroom. Here, she explains what to expect: “A typical experience day begins with welcome drinks and a freshly baked snack. This allows me to introduce myself as the Northern Regional Training Manager and host for the day. However, this also enables the guests to explore the studio at their own leisure. I then continue in the demo area with a hand-crafted Caple presentation, which I deliver to invited guests.
“Once I have finished the presentation and answered questions, we all transition into the studio tour and training session. I walk our guests through the entire showroom, which showcases a collection of modern kitchen ideas for discerning designers. This gives me the chance to present a handful of hero products and demonstrate their versatile functionality within live demonstrations.
After a short break, we return upstairs to my demo area. This is where I prepare, cook and serve dishes (a mouth-watering three-course meal) to our guests. This aspect of the day enables me to demonstrate the functionality of our products live. I also provide invaluable sales skills and technical information on every product. This way, you can develop your knowledge of Caple to relay to your customers.”
Have you seen our new Caple Studios in Frimley, Surrey, and Iver, London? Set up by CBD Kitchens, you can read all about them here.
