This month marks a very special milestone — Jane has been designing beautiful kitchens at John Franklin Kitchens in Glastonbury for 20 years.
This is what she had to say …..
When I look back, I still can’t quite believe how quickly the years have passed.
My family and I moved from Kent to Somerset in 2004. At the time, I had already spent several years designing kitchens for a family-run business in Beckenham. Our daughter Ella had just turned two when we made the move, so I took some time away from work while she was young and enjoyed those early years with her before she started primary school.
When the time came to return to kitchen design, the opportunity came about quite unexpectedly. My husband, who is a carpenter, had a customer who needed some bespoke wardrobe doors made and came to John Franklin Kitchens for them. He suggested that it would be a great place for me to look for work when I was ready.
So, one day, I walked into the showroom on the off chance and met Sue Franklin, the company owner and director. At the time, Sue was managing the business and handling all the kitchen planning herself, and it turned out she was looking for some extra support. The rest, as they say, is history!
Twenty years later, I still feel incredibly lucky that I found my way here.
Over the years, I have come to appreciate just how special John Franklin Kitchens really is. The company was founded in 1979 by Sue’s father, John, and when I joined there were still many team members and tradespeople who had been here since the very beginning. Some are still part of the team today — a true reflection of the family values, loyalty and care that have always been at the heart of the business.
One of the things I love most about my role is the freedom to design truly bespoke kitchens and bathrooms. Every customer is different, and every project begins with their ideas, hopes and needs. Being able to take those ideas and turn them into something real and beautiful is incredibly rewarding.
But it’s not just the design that makes this job special — it’s the people. Our customers come to us with so much excitement and trust us to create a space that will become part of their home and everyday life. Seeing their reaction when their kitchen or bathroom is finally complete, and hearing how happy they are with the finished result, is one of the greatest rewards. It is also wonderful to see the pride and craftsmanship from everyone involved, from the initial design through to production and fitting.
It has been a genuine joy to work here. I still wake up in the morning and look forward to coming in, which is something I never take for granted.
I feel very fortunate to have spent the last 20 years as part of this wonderful business, surrounded by talented colleagues who have become friends. I’m excited for the years ahead and look forward to continuing to create beautiful spaces with the John Franklin Kitchens team.