Ashley Ann Kitchens | Edinburgh

★★★★★

“We are currently renovating our flat and creating an open plan kitchen, so choosing the right kitchen company was really important to us. We visited four different companies, but none of them felt quite right. They didn’t really listen to what we wanted, and the designs just weren’t us. From the moment we met Maria at Ashley Ann, the experience was completely different. Maria really took the time to listen to our ideas and needs and provided us with several different design options, rather than just one, and patiently refining them with us until we got the perfect layout that also suited our budget. The final design was exactly what we had envisioned and truly felt tailored to us. During the installation, if we needed anything or if there were any small hiccups, Maria was always there to help and sorted everything very quickly, which gave us real peace of mind. As part of the renovation, 168 Interiors relocated our front door, which created much more space in the kitchen and allowed us to include a large larder, which I am absolutely in love with! The team at 168 Interiors were extremely professional and accommodating to our needs throughout the process. They were also very clean, polite and friendly, which made the whole experience even better. Overall, we couldn’t be happier with the service and the end result. The design and professionalism were outstanding, and we would highly recommend Ashley Ann (especially Maria) as well as 168 Interiors to anyone considering a home renovation.”

★★★★★

“When I first stepped into Ashley Ann, I was pretty sure we couldn't afford it...everything was just SO BEAUTIFUL. But we asked for a quote anyway, because... a girl can dream, right? When Maria showed us the design we were simply blown away. Everyone else we talked to was just slotting units into place on a diagram... Maria is a designer. She came up with a solution to an awkward corner that makes the space so much more useable AND what was once a dark corner is now a feature! We really wanted Ashley Ann, but we were still worried about affording it. But Maria really LISTENED... to our budget and to what was important to us. She didn't let me fall in love with any piece that was going to be unaffordable, she suggested alternatives until we found good solutions. Then came installation--you hear so many bad stories--but I cannot say enough good things about Sara from 168 Interiors and her team (Pavel & Pavel)! They were great to work with--great at communicating and giving me options. Any small issue I had was resolved quickly--Sara wanted me to be thrilled with the result, not just say "that's good enough". Again, the team worked with me to make sure I knew the cost of any of the "little extra" asks and believe it or not we came in just under budget for the whole project!”

★★★★★

“One star is one too many: Following Brexit and the uncertainties around COVID-19, we elected to support a family owned and managed Scottish company. One with a culture of care “enabling delivering on the promise to guide the customer through a skilfully managed journey”. However, from the customer perspective, this project was nothing short of a complete disaster from the start. It was clear from the outset that many basic measurements were inaccurate. Our clear instructions were sometimes ignored. Project management was woeful and the duty of care to the clients was way below an acceptable standard. The local Ashley Ann complaints procedure attempted to trivialise serious problems and silence the customer. Higher authorities at Ashley Ann Head Office were kept in the dark but when contacted were totally unresponsive. Direct emails went unacknowledged and were not replied to. We were obliged to wait weeks for a site visit from a senior member of management. Some of the more important defects included: Shelving which did not fit (see photo). Housings and doors for fridge and freezer were the wrong specification and not fit for purpose. Wall fixings for tall units which were totally inadequate (see photos). The tumble dryer socket was fitted within the tumble dryer housing and did not comply with safety guidance from the Institution of Engineering and Technology (see photo). Work began on 13th Sept 2021 and was finally finished on 9th Feb 2022. It was accepted that "the standard of the initial installation was at best - poor" and that "measures have been put in place to support the inexperienced team in the Edinburgh showroom". It was down to the expertise of the brilliant senior fitters from Thurso, David and Iain, who worked flat out for 3 days to finish a “four-week project” which lasted five months. The Domestic Electrical Installation Condition Report signing off the safety of the electrics was finally received in May. Ashley Ann overpromised and woefully underdelivered. Complaint resolution was dire. Simply the worst company we have ever dealt with.”