Bespoke Made-To-Measure Kitchen Solutions

My journey into kitchens was not planned. It came through a period of major change, uncertainty, and eventually discovering a profession that genuinely connected with who I am.

In 2008, I founded Artiquea, a business specialising in handmade Syrian mother-of-pearl furniture and art. The business was built around traditional craftsmanship, attention to detail, and unique handmade pieces created by highly skilled Syrian craftsmen. For several years, we worked closely with workshops in Syria and imported furniture to the UK.

Then the Syrian revolution began in 2011. Over the following years, conditions became increasingly difficult. By 2014–2015, it was becoming almost impossible for many craftsmen to continue their work safely, and importing handmade furniture from Syria was no longer reliable or sustainable. It was a very uncertain and emotional period, both personally and professionally.

Around the same time, my husband Hussam and I extended our home in London and installed a Schmidt kitchen. During the design and buying process, and especially after living with and using the kitchen on a daily basis, I became deeply impressed by the Schmidt concept, the quality of the product, the design possibilities, the customer journey, and the level of thought behind the kitchens.

At the same time, we were asking ourselves an important question: what comes next after Artiquea?

Hussam suggested meeting the Schmidt UK team and exploring the possibility of opening a showroom. Looking back now, after almost ten years in business, it was one of the best decisions we ever made.

The beginning was challenging. I did not come from a kitchen or interior design background, and there was a huge amount to learn. But this business changed me in many ways. It helped me grow not only as a business owner, but also as a person. It made me discover strengths and abilities I never realised I had.

What I found most rewarding was becoming involved in every detail of a client’s project, understanding how they live, how they use their space, what frustrates them in their current kitchen, and how thoughtful design can genuinely improve everyday life. Over the years, I realised how important it is to approach every project as if it were my own home.

For me, kitchen design is about creating something beautiful and designing a space that will continue to work for the client years later – a kitchen they will enjoy using every day, and one where they will appreciate the small pieces of advice and practical decisions that make life easier in the long term.

That philosophy remains at the heart of Schmidt Fulham today: honest advice, practical design, attention to detail, and creating spaces that truly suit the people living in them, while giving every customer the level of care, service, and attention they deserve.