The smart exterior of this compact show-room is designed to catch the eye of both pedestrians and passing cars.
Beneath the striking shop sign, the bright showroom windows were framed by pretty hanging baskets and a pair of bay trees in pots. Inside I found a glossy aubergine display. Rachael explained that this was manufactured from solid acrylic and handed me a Parapan sample to inspect. "Scratches can be buffed out," she explained. "And the manufacturer sup-plies an antistatic spray to help keep it free of dust." She then pointed out a display of coloured glass as a suitable splashback before I moved on to inspect a box of Silestone samples. She pulled out a couple of colour blocks and suggested I stick to matt as "too much gloss can be overpowering".
We discussed appliances. Kitchens Bespoke favoured Bosch, Miele and Neff, although Rachael said she could source other brands if I preferred. Then she showed me a bound copy of a design she was working on for a customer neatly presented with CAD images and costing.
As she handed me her card, Rachael said: "I can come out to have a look at the space and offer advice on what will and wont work."

SCORE: 8/10
Rachael made a confident and comprehensive pitch

On my way from East Grinstead to Crow-borough, I passed through the affluent village of Forest Row and spotted the rural outpost of this illustrious London specialist.
As you would expect, the exterior of the shop was immaculate, as was the monochrome interior with gleaming marble floor, handsome Lefroy Brooks sanitaryware, a stunning Drum-monds shower and subtle accessories, such as a chrome toilet roll holder complete with black paper.
Brian was on the phone when I arrived, giving me time to peruse the classic designs at the front of the shop and the more contem-porary ideas at the back, including a Victoria & Albert freestanding bath and an outsize shower with Bette steel flush to floor tray.
When Brian joined me, I explained that I was hoping to create a classic scheme in my main bathroom. Brian mentioned several times how exclusive the items on display were and, despite adopting my very best home-counties accent, he had obviously decided I was not to be encouraged. Instead, he suggested I bring in a rough drawing of my room.
"From that I can give you a basic plan and price and, if you are happy with that, we would progress to a full design. There's no point going to the next stage if it is beyond your budget."

SCORE: 6/10
Distinctly frosty

This showroom was situated on the edge of town on a residential road.
The bold blue sign and clear directions to the car park at the rear were user-friendly and the window looked good with a large freestanding acrylic bath taking pride of place.
Inside, however, was a disappointment. The lighting was harsh and boxes of tiles and towel radiators cluttered up the floor. This was a big showroom selling a wide range of product, but there was little thought as to how the kitchens, bathrooms, tiles and, surprisingly, fireplaces were displayed.
As I wandered around looking at the basins, I noticed that prices had been printed on to labels and stuck to individual items of sanitaryware, these labels were mostly faded and in one case the print had disappeared completely.

A half-hearted attempt to perk up the displays also fell rather flat, on one basin an incongruous box of orange potpourri balanced perilously on the edge of a basin. The saleswoman, however, was enthusiastic and pointed out the 50% discount on a Dansani basin unit. "It is a lovely piece. I can't believe it hasn't sold already," she said.

This showroom doesn't install bathrooms, but she offered to give me a card for a local plumber and 'lots of brochures' to take away.

SCORE: 6/10

Time for some fresh ideas and new price labels

The cream gloss kitchen with black granite worktop and turquoise glass splashback made a simple but effective display in the window.
I admired the coloured glass and Darren showed me an alternative display with amber glass behind the hob. He then opened and closed drawers to demonstrate the soft-close mechanism and pointed out a corner storage unit, mentioning that it carried a lifetime guarantee.
I asked if I should bring in a floor plan but he said: "We prefer to visit you at home if that's OK. That way we get a real feel for the place and take all the measurements we need." He then showed me a computer-generated design he was working on.  "We employ all our fitters, except for gas and electricity. They know exactly what they are doing."
Darren showed me a photo album of complete kitchens and letters from happy customers.

SCORE: 8/10
The perfect combination, smart showroom plus friendly professional service

A console basin on ceramic legs leant against a backdrop of badly painted orange hardboard in one window.
In the other, an 'ex-display' £50 bargain basin and pedestal sat against fuschia pink. Prices were scrawled on both pieces in blue marker pen. Inside, the showroom was shabby with holes in the carpet, bare light bulbs and price lists roughly fixed with Blu-Tack to the walls. The showroom covers three floors and upstairs I found more dusty sanitaryware set against old bedroom wallpaper.
Back downstairs, I chatted to Joan who explained the shop's relationship with Peter over the road: "He's a plumber and he will come out to measure up. When you next come in we will have his suggestions and then we can help you choose the bathroom. We keep Peter busy so it's a good idea to book him in sooner rather than later."

SCORE: 5/10
Dusty

This showroom is situated in a quaint period property in the town centre.
It was not immediately obvious, however, that Charlwood was a kitchen showroom, as it also sells kitchen utensils, the volume of which threatened to engulf the displays. On the pavement outside, I found a stack of wicker baskets and a bucket of feather dusters. Inside, mugs, rustic oven gloves, aprons and vintage cake stands covered every surface.
I asked Becky if I could buy a kitchen and she explained that the Nolte displays were for sale and that she was the kitchen designer. We looked at a cream gloss display, which had been given a 50s vibe with a layer of retro accessories, before going upstairs to inspect a white gloss kitchen with red glass splashback.
The awkward angles and low beams in the showroom certainly allowed Charlwood to demonstrate how they could fit a contemporary kitchen into a period property.
I asked a few more questions about the displays, but found that although Becky was friendly, she volunteered very little information about the kitchens or the service available.

SCORE: 7/10
Cluttered displays and a friendly, if vague, presentation

Rachael Workman had been in the kitchen business for 20 years before setting up her own showroom in 2008.
"It's just me in the shop, so it is a bit of a juggling act when I need to visit a client," she says. "It's hard work but I could never go back."
Rachael's background is in kitchen design and she sees this as her strength: "I'm not a salesperson, the design is everything to me, but not just in terms of aesthetics, the practicalities are almost more important. I'm a working mum so I know what works."
Her website has brought Rachael regular business from as far afield as London and Deal and the attractive exterior has also worked: "I've just finished a kitchen for a couple who admired the displays when stuck at the traffic lights."