This large showroom made the most of its roadside location with a selection of kitchen displays set behind spotless windows.Smartly-dressed Paula joined me and explained that Premier was a family-run business with a number of showrooms.She gave me a kitchen and appliance brochure in a branded Premier carrier bag and a copy of the customer questionnaire, which covered everything from preferred worktop material, to questions about the type of activity carried out in the kitchen."The next step is to arrange an appointment for us to visit. We will measure up and then, with your customer questionnaire, put together a proposal specifically for you."Paula showed me an example of such a proposal - neatly bound, containing a number of CAD images and a breakdown of price. 

In-House Electrical, Osyth Close 

Odd one, this. As I drove through the Brackmills Industrial Estate, I spotted a warehouse sporting a large banner announcing 'New Kitchen Showroom'.The exterior of this grey, windowless building didn't give much away, so I strolled inside and found a cold, cavernous space stacked with white goods. At the back of the warehouse, a cluster of Crown kitchen displays sat in darkness. A note stuck to the wall read "if you want to view the kitchens, turn on the light".I turned on the light and viewed the kitchens. The saleswoman joined me, wrapped in her coat (it really was very cold), and I mentioned how much I liked the black gloss kitchen on display."It is good quality," she said. "We also sell another range, not as good quality, but it's cheaper." 

Situated on a trading estate on the edge of town, Davis & Payne has a smart exterior with large, distinctive sign.The shop sells fitted kitchens on the ground floor, but I wandered upstairs to view the bathroom displays. Nick looked up from his desk and said hello as I came up the stairs and after I had spent time looking at the neat, nicely tiled displays, including Sottini, Vitra and Showerlux, plus an extensive selection of tiles, he asked if I would like some help."Everything we sell is from reputable brands and although our fitters are subcontracted, they have all worked with us for many years," he said.As I was leaving, Nick gave me his number and said: "Give us a call and we will send someone out to do a free survey. This isn't a salesman, he won't try to make you commit to anything. It will be one of our plumbers who will be able to tell you what is and isn't possible, and then we will take it from there."We parted with a friendly handshake.

In a quaint street flanked by smart boutiques and coffee shops, I found Guy Stowe, at least I think that was what the shop was called, as the name on the awning was the previous occupant's.Richard showed me through to the back where there was an attractive display of painted solid-wood units from Wiltshire-based Neptune. He demonstrated the soft-close drawers and showed me the inside of a larder unit. I asked if I could take a brochure away, but there weren't any and he said the website was still under construction. Richard wrote his contact number on the back of a Perrin & Rowe tap catalogue.

Pretty shop in need of some serious branding 

Softley Kitchens had a reasonable website promising expert service and there was a page dedicated to favourable customer comments.The showroom however was disappointing. In a Victorian terrace down a residential backstreet, the showroom held three displays of Rotpunkt kitchens on a 'limited offer, 20% off'. The door was wide open when I arrived mid-afternoon, but the lights were off and no one seemed to be in. The windows were dirty, the carpet was worn and the door looked like it was last painted when the property was built.I hope the website is better than the showroom. 

Dreary... 

In-toto, Horseshoe Street 

This franchise sold kitchens and there were bathroom displays on the first floor. These featured Laufen sanitaryware with Hansgrohe taps and they were nicely tiled and well lit.There was, however, a stray palette propped against one wall. I spoke to Jenny who explained that someone would come to my home to measure up and then she would prepare drawings and a full breakdown of price."The only thing you will have to buy separately are the tiles," she explained. We chatted a bit about the weather, but Jenny didn't ask any questions about what I was hoping to achieve in my bathroom. 

Adrian Bottrill runs Davis & Payne with his sister. It is a family business, established in 1939, which moved to its current purpose-built premises in 1970. "We have always specialised in good quality kitchens and bathrooms," says Adrian."We can't compete with the prices offered by the sheds, so we concentrate on recognised brands that we can sell with confidence to our customers." Service is an important part of the package, as Adrian explains: "We handle the plumbing, lighting, flooring and basically project-manage the whole process. Providing our customers with peace of mind is so important."The majority of customers come from the villages around Northampton, encouraged by local advertising. "We have been in business a long time and that gives our customers confidence, plus we deal in reliable brands and offer good service," he said.