For bespoke kitchens in Hemel Hempstead, Tamaru is a strong first visit: its Hockliffe studio designs both German-made Häcker kitchens and handmade English cabinetry, publishes a guide price from around £15,000, and can manage building work through DreamBuild. Kesseler in Tring, Tom Howley in St Albans and Martin Moore in Old Amersham are good comparisons if you want a single handmade brand.
Hemel Hempstead homes are a mixed bunch. There are older houses in the Old Town, post-war New Town streets, and a growing number of newer builds. A kitchen that works beautifully in one can feel awkward in another, which is why the design conversation matters as much as the cabinet doors.
We looked at four studios within reach of the town and compared how each one works. If you are starting to research bespoke kitchens in Hemel Hempstead, this will help you decide which showrooms deserve a Saturday morning.
The four studios at a glance
| Studio | Where | What they make or supply | Opening hours (as published) | Price guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tamaru | Watling Street, Hockliffe, Leighton Buzzard LU7 9LP | Häcker German kitchens and handmade English cabinetry, plus appliances, flooring and building work | Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm | Fully fitted from around £15,000; mid-size and island layouts often £20,000 to £25,000+ |
| Kesseler | 31-32 High Street, Tring | Kitchens hand-built at its Nottinghamshire factory | Tuesday to Friday 9:30am to 5pm; Saturday 10am to 2pm | Free 45-minute Wishlist and Estimate appointment |
| Tom Howley | London Road, St Albans | Six bespoke kitchen collections, plus pantries and boot rooms | Monday to Saturday 9:30am to 5:30pm; Sunday 11am to 3pm | Not published |
| Martin Moore | 20 Whielden Street, Old Amersham | Handcrafted kitchens | Monday to Saturday, 9:30am to 5:30pm | Not published |
How we compared
We read each studio's own website in October 2026: showroom pages, kitchen ranges, the design process and anything published on price or lead times. We looked for the things that make the biggest difference to a Hemel Hempstead project: choice of styles, whether one team handles design and fitting, help with building work, and how easy it is to get an appointment. We did not commission a kitchen from any of them.
1. Tamaru: two kitchen traditions under one roof
Tamaru's studio is on Watling Street in Hockliffe, just off the A5, and Hemel Hempstead is one of the areas it lists as covered. It comes first here because it is the only studio of the four offering both a German-engineered range and handmade English cabinetry, so you can compare two very different approaches in one visit.
On the German side, Tamaru designs Häcker kitchens from the Concept130 and Systemat ranges, made in Germany, with handled and handleless options. On the English side, its handmade cabinetry comes in LayOn and InFrame styles, made to measure, which suits shaker designs and painted finishes. That choice is useful in Hemel, where a sleek handleless run might suit a newer home and an in-frame painted kitchen might suit an older Old Town property.
The process is laid out clearly. It starts with a conversation by phone or at the studio, including an early talk about budget. The design is then developed around storage, appliances, seating and how you move through the room, and you review plans and 3D visuals at the studio before a fixed written quote. Tamaru's area page says manufacturing typically takes around four to eight weeks, and installation usually two to three weeks for a standard kitchen.
It is also one of the few studios to publish a price guide: fully fitted kitchens from around £15,000 for a smaller scheme, with medium kitchens and island layouts often in the £20,000 to £25,000+ range. Interest-free finance and Buy Now, Pay Later may be available depending on the project.
Tamaru is an approved partner for appliance brands including Sub-Zero and Wolf, Miele, Siemens, Bora and Lacanche, and it is part of the DreamBuild Group, so structural changes and extensions can be handled alongside the kitchen. Phone 01525 210795.
Suits: homeowners who want to compare German and English styles, or whose kitchen is part of wider building work.
2. Kesseler, Tring: one designer from start to finish
Kesseler's Tring showroom is at 31-32 High Street. Its kitchens are hand-built at the company's Nottinghamshire factory, and the showroom page says "Every kitchen is guaranteed for life." The ranges cover the Vanquish handleless kitchen as well as framed and shaker doors, with colour matching to Farrow and Ball shades.
The page says you work with one designer from first consultation to installation, and it offers a free, no-obligation 45-minute Wishlist and Estimate appointment. It recommends booking before you visit. Note the hours: closed Sunday and Monday.
Suits: people who want a single British-made brand and a clear early estimate.
3. Tom Howley, St Albans: weekend browsing and home visits
Tom Howley's St Albans showroom is on London Road and has the longest opening hours of the four, including Sundays from 11am to 3pm. Its site lists six kitchen collections, from Hartford to Summerville, along with walk-in pantries, boot rooms and laundry rooms.
The showroom page describes one-to-one time with a designer, a personal account manager from ordering to installation, and design visits at home if you cannot get to the showroom.
Suits: busy households who can only visit at weekends, and anyone planning pantries or boot rooms too.
4. Martin Moore, Old Amersham: a classic handcrafted look
Martin Moore's Buckinghamshire showroom is at 20 Whielden Street in Old Amersham, open Monday to Saturday from 9:30am to 5:30pm and closed on Sundays and bank holidays. Its kitchens are described as handcrafted, and design consultations can be booked through the website.
Suits: people drawn to a traditional handcrafted kitchen who are happy to drive into the Chilterns for a look.
Do you need permission for a new kitchen?
Usually not. The Planning Portal says, "A planning application for installing a kitchen or bathroom is generally not required unless it is part of a house extension." If your home is a listed building, it advises consulting the local planning authority first.
That matters in Hemel Hempstead's Old Town, where some older properties may sit in a conservation area, as Tamaru's area page points out. Building regulations can still apply to parts of the job. GOV.UK lists replacing fuse boxes and connected electrics, and installing or replacing a heating system, among the alterations that may need approval, and extensions are covered too. A studio that manages building work, or works closely with your builder, saves a lot of chasing.
Getting the most from a showroom visit
A first visit goes much further if you arrive prepared. Bring a rough floor plan with measurements, including window and door positions and where the boiler, sink waste and gas supply sit today. Photos of the room from each corner help a designer picture the space.
It also helps to know your must-haves before you see the displays. Think about how many people cook at once, if you want seating at an island, which appliances you are keeping and where the bins and recycling will live. Be honest about your budget early. Tamaru, for example, talks about budget in its first conversation, which saves time on designs you would never build.
Five questions to take to every showroom
- Who designs the kitchen, and is the same team responsible for fitting?
- Where are the cabinets made, and what is the lead time?
- What exactly does the quote include: appliances, worktops, fitting, removal of the old kitchen?
- Who handles electrics, plumbing and any building work?
- What guarantee covers the cabinets, and who do I call if something goes wrong?
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bespoke kitchen cost in Hemel Hempstead?
Prices depend on size, materials and appliances. Tamaru publishes a guide of around £15,000 for a smaller fully fitted scheme and £20,000 to £25,000+ for medium kitchens and island layouts. The other studios here quote after a design appointment.
How long does a bespoke kitchen take?
Allow time for design, manufacture and fitting. Tamaru says manufacturing typically takes four to eight weeks and installation around two to three weeks for a standard kitchen, longer if building work is involved.
German or English handmade: which is better?
Neither is better in every home. German kitchens suit sleek, handleless and highly organised designs, while English handmade cabinetry suits painted, in-frame and shaker looks. Seeing both side by side, as you can at Tamaru, makes the choice much easier.
Sources
General information only; check details directly with each business. Details were taken from each studio's website in October 2026 and can change.