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Inspirations

As firm fans of British Standard—purveyors of readymade, endlessly adaptable kitchen cabinetry—we wanted to know more about their latest venture: a roving showroom, expertly fitted into the back of a white transit van.

The van, which features a fully fitted British Standard kitchen, is about to embark on a summer road trip across the UK, giving would-be customers the opportunity to experience their simple, wooden cabinetry first hand. Good news for those who are unable to visit their static showrooms in Marylebone and Hoxton.

Photography courtesy of British Standard.

the latest british standard roving showroom, which supersedes their more tradit 9 — Above: The latest British Standard roving showroom, which supersedes their more traditional shepherd’s hut.

the doors reveal a fully fitted british standard kitchen, designed by the compa 10 — Above: The doors reveal a fully-fitted British Standard kitchen, designed by the company’s creative director, Katie Fontana.

British Standard is the sister company of Plain English, which, for 30 years, has championed luxury, bespoke British cabinetry. At British Standard, the simplicity of design and quality of craftsmanship is upheld, but the responsibility of measuring, ordering, and installing is passed on to the customer (hence the reduced price point).

the rear view of the roving showroom. 11 — Above: The rear view of the roving showroom.

The roving showroom aims to make this process simple by offering a free design consultation. “We ask clients to come with accurate dimensions, to allow us to work together on a layout that fulfills their practical requirements and overall aesthetic aim,” says design manager Adrian Bergman. “It is a very collaborative process.” Before leaving, customers will be provided with an initial design and a shopping list of the cupboards and accessories they require.

the interior was inspired by the precision of yacht design and the kitchens des 12 — Above: The interior was inspired by the precision of yacht design and the kitchens designed for the Barbican Estate in London.

The interior of the van has been designed by Katie Fontana, co-founder and creative director of British Standard. Katie, an experienced yachtswoman, was inspired by both the space-saving precision of yacht design and the standardized design principles of London’s best-loved Brutalist estate, the Barbican. “The Roving Showroom created a unique design proposition but one that is not unfamiliar to us,” she explains. “We’ve long admired the compact design units at the Barbican, and the Barbican kitchens, in fact, were designed by Brooke Marine, a yacht outfitter. Drawing inspiration from yacht design, all these little interconnections felt like it was the right path to explore when creating the Roving Showroom.”