About Natalie

Founder of Cookhouse Design

I began my career over 25 years ago after completing a first year NVQ/apprenticeship in plumbing. I went on to set up my own plumbing business in London, attending call outs as well as installing kitchens and bathrooms. This allowed me to gain extensive knowledge in the design and installation of kitchens, along with the associated service requirements.

After getting married and moving from London to Surrey, I was employed as a designer in a kitchen and bathroom showroom. This role opened my eyes to the world of 3D design software packages, allowing me to further my experience, specifically in the kitchen design process. After having my second daughter, I was taken on as a project manager by Charter Walk Kitchens in Eashing/Haslemere. I was responsible for controlling the kitchen installations from start to finish: from initial site survey, design and ordering, building advice & issues, fabrication & supply of the kitchens, client liaison, installation schedules (including building delay setbacks/ problem solving and snagging). It was a very demanding job but put me in a great position to gain all the necessary skills and experience I needed to run my own kitchen design and installation company.

Here I was also taught to use AutoCAD and since mastering this software package (the same software used by architects) I have never looked back. AutoCAD allows designers to produce extremely accurate and cohesive plans and elevations (unlike the 3D packages) so, as well as designing kitchens, being proficient in CAD means I can also design boot rooms, bedrooms, dressing rooms, living rooms, studies, hallways, bathrooms…..any room which requires joinery.

The culmination of all of these years’ experience, enabled me to make the brave move last year to knock down my old extended 70s bungalow and rebuild a new, 5 bedroom property. I have designed every internal aspect of the house (from room layouts, paint colours and joinery designs to electrical/lighting plans and tiling schemes) allowing me to use my home as a showroom for my business. I have tried to showcase all kitchen styles, from traditional in-frame cabinets with butt hinges to layon (frameless) shaker and slab doors, as well as other exciting joinery ideas like geometric shelving, a DJ booth with slatted veneers and wardrobes with graffiti artwork inlay.

Reviews

Working with Natalie was an absolute pleasure. Her expertise in design, attention to detail, and hands on project management made the entire process seamless. She was incredibly informative, professional, and always on site to ensure every aspect was executed to perfection. From the initial concepts to the final touches, her commitment to delivering a stunning and functional space was evident at every stage. I couldn’t be happier with the experience and highly recommend her services - so much so I’ve just asked her to design my next kitchen!

From start to finish the experience with Cookhouse Design has been fantastic. Natalie was proactive with design ideas, created detailed 3D images of what the kitchen would look like and communicated brilliantly with us throughout the whole process We started with a blank canvas and at every step Natalie was there to listen, explain and when needed guide us. She took the whole stress out of the situation and I can’t recommend her highly enough.

From the moment we first sat down with Nat, we knew she was going to help us in our quest to get the dream kitchen. The process was enjoyable from start to finish - not only did she listen and take on board our vision for the space but she knew when to challenge us and talk us through other options. Our kitchen became a fusion of our wish list combined with Nat’s expertise - it really was the perfect combination. I think the biggest accolade is being recommended for future projects, and she’s gone on to design and project manage 3 of my friends’ kitchens. Whilst they all have something different to offer, you can definitely spot a ‘Nat Lamont kitchen’ because they really are the most beautiful around.

From start to finish, Natalie at Cookhouse Design has been amazing with creating our dream kitchen. Her commitment, professionalism and passion for designing was evident at every step of the journey, from the beginning with detailed and bespoke drawings, all the way through to communicating with tradespeople and builders at every stage of the project. Natalie was always there to offer support and guidance, and no question was ever too much. We are absolutely thrilled with our new kitchen; it works perfectly for our family and is exactly as we had hoped. We would, without any hesitation, recommend Cookhouse Design for any kitchen or house project and we will certainly be contacting Natalie for any future projects we may have.