kbbreview Rising Star: October

We’ve teamed up with Blum to find the upcoming stars of kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom retail. This month our Rising Star is Luke Niblett, the owner of Luxe Kitchen Designs, who talks us through his journey into the KBB sector

by Rebecca Nottingham17 October, 2024

Listen to the full interview with Luke in a special bonus episode of The kbbreview Podcast using the player below or go straight to it in Apple Podcasts, Spotify or YouTube.

Luke Niblett made his first foray into the KBB world when he started his Fine Cabinet Making course at Moulton College in 2013.  

To supplement his income while he was studying, he worked part-time at a kitchen showroom. And the rest, as they say, is history. 

During his time in the industry, he says, it became clear that taking product designs from their initial concepts to completion was where his passion lies. In 2014, he started his professional journey as a kitchen designer for a small design firm.

Fast forward to today and, at the ripe old age of 29, Niblett is now embarking on the next stage of his career, as the owner of his own business, Luxe Kitchen Designs which he officially opened in March this year. 

“I’d hit a ceiling with cabinet making and had got to a point in my life where I wanted to push myself further,” he explains. “So, I made the jump from cabinet making to kitchen design full time. I absolutely loved the journey working at another firm but decided I also wanted fulfil another ambition and start my
own business.”

Luxe isn’t like most KBB businesses; instead of having a dedicated showroom, he saw an opportunity to use his supplier’s showroom to present and display kitchens and bedrooms to customers. An approach that, he says, allows his clients to save on costs without sacrificing the quality of the products. 

“It’s quite a unique approach but customers have responded really well,” he explains. “They love the idea that they are getting a full design service and a quality kitchen or bedroom, but because our overheads are low, they’re getting it at a fraction of the cost of others on the market.”

He may only be 29 but he’s already been in the industry for around 13 years so, other than the need to run the business itself, what keeps his appetite for designing kitchens alive and where does he see himself in 10 years’ time?

“Other than the creative process for me it’s the outward customer satisfaction when you’ve finished the job,” he says. “You know, when they are so openly blown away by it and they give you their seal of approval, that’s easily what I love most.

“Obviously, I very much hope Luxe will be around in 10 years and that’s what I’ll certainly be focusing on. I’ve got loads of ideas for the business and expansion is definitely part of that plan.”

Listen to the full interview with Luke in a special bonus episode of The kbbreview Podcast using the player below or go straight to it in Apple Podcasts, Spotify or YouTube.