A & R Design

A&R Design were a pleasure to work with throughout the 2 week job. They scheduled around our needs and were communicative every step of the way about budget, timing and creative decisions. Some small tasks we hadn't considered in our original plan such as painting additional doors, shelves and windowsills ended up being included in the work without any issue. The difference between A&R Design and previous companies that had worked on our house was clear as day, everything was well-organised and handled by specialised professionals (decorators, carpenters, plasterers, plumbers, mastic men) instead of a jack-of-all-trades. We'd definitely be using them again for future jobs and have already recommended them to family.

After investigation Bryn Cook went straight to the problem. Stripped the section of roof as required. Repaired and replaced rotted battens and felt and replaced back as new. Job done no more water through our ceiling

I needed a company who could co-ordinate and offer project management for a variety of elements that I wanted undertaken. A & R were recommended by a friend who had used them. I wanted someone whom I could trust and who could guarantee to do what I needed. The work they did was excellent and they were willing go the extra mile when a few changes were needed. They did exterior painting and re-rendering and built an interior downstairs shower room and WC , redecorated the room from which it was created including remoulding the ceiling and liased with flooring and window companies. The workmen who did the work were very considerate and professional I am very pleased with the outcome now it is all finished.

Great building work and really helpful advice when re-modelling the rear of our terraced house, via a side return & extension, with assistance on the design of the kitchen. From the moment we met Robert from A&R we had a sense that we were in good hands, and that was the case with everyone who worked on our project. They were honest about the fact things may come up once the work started especially as ours is an older property but there were always helpful and practical choices of solutions offered for the couple of unforeseen things that arose We had some ideas of our kitchen design but Allison was extremely supportive with ideas to help us make decisions We would highly recommend A&R design - Thank you

A&R carried out a kitchen extension for us which included a separate utility room. Rob and Allison were completely professional in their approach to the project. They were responsive to our queries, they offered advice and guidance and were very well organised in keeping to schedule. Everyone who worked on the build - construction, carpenters, plumbing, electrical, plasterers and decorators etc - all were professional, tidy and did excellent work. They were also considerate of our needs as we were living at the property while the work was being carried out. I am extremely happy with the finished product and have received so many compliments from family and friends but also other trades who have been to the property since the work finished. I would definitely use A&R again and would not hesitate to recommend them to others.

I was pleased to be able to have A&R Design complete the work upstairs in my house as I had heard only good feedback from others about their work. The flooring repairs were done perfectly and all in one day. They were careful with some items of furniture that could not be moved elsewhere throughout the work and cleaned up everything as they went along. I was particularly impressed with the painting and the attention to detail. The decorator went beyond the call of duty and helped me sort out some things that had not been planned in at the start such as replacing door handles and moving some power points. Despite all that the decorating was done early and I got a fee reduction as a result. Once the work started Allison and the others were quick to help me choosing colours and fabrics as I had little experience and no other help available to me. She also found a new light fitting in lightening quick time which was very thoughtfully chosen. At the end their recommended cleaner came to do a final clean. Overall I was very impressed with what I realise was perhaps a small job for A&R Design but I felt despite that it was given full attention and I would definitely recommend them.

We used A & R Design at the start of this year to complete an over hall to a reception room and hallway / landing. We knew that there was a lot of work that would need doing and wanted a complete team of people who could carry out every aspect of the work including managing it all. We had underfloor heating installed, new flooring and walls plastered. Every member of their team who worked on our house was polite, professional and obviously took great pride in their work. As with any period house, there was some work that needed doing that involved extra costs. This was explained to us clearly and Robert came round to talk us through a variety of options. We always felt that the work was progressing and moving forward. The finished work is amazing. There are a lot of original features and woodwork and Todd the decorator painstakingly painted all of these to a really high standard. He also was great at giving us advice on which paints and colours to use. We are now loving our new space. We would not hesitate to recommend A & R Design and will definitely use them again in the future.

I had an old conservatory replaced with a single storey rear extension and found the team at A&R a pleasure to deal with at every stage. Rob, Allison and Jo were very approachable and efficient, keeping me updated on progress, sourcing and dealing with suppliers and providing a clear and accurate schedule of works and payment schedule. The onsite teams were unfailingly friendly, skilled and considerate which made living with the build far easier than I was expecting. Some time was lost waiting for the glass for windows and doors - a supply chain issue beyond the control of A&R - but once this was resolved, the team worked really hard to ensure that the job was completed on time and on budget. I am delighted with the result - the new space is beautiful inside and out, and has transformed my house.

A&R Design did a fantastic job. Complete replacement roof, fascias, guttering and painting the pebbledash. The work was completed in the time estimated and I was kept informed all the way through. All the guys worked hard and cleaned up after themselves. I can really recommend Todd who completed the painting meticulously. Whenever I had a query Robert would immediately pop by to discuss. So I would definitely recommend for anyone needing building work.

Through the later stages of the pandemic we had extensive work done at a newly occupied bungalow. We worked with an architect from December 2020 and work started in May 2021 We had a new first floor installed consisting of a bathroom, a sitting room with kitchenette and two bedrooms. We lived in the property, downstairs the whole time this was carried out with little inconvenience to us. Stairs were put in in July 2021 ready for us to move upstairs in September2021 for a complete refurbishment of the downstairs of an extension of a new kitchen, replastering of all the walls to the required insulation standards, complete renewal of all electricity, and double glazing and installation of downstairs toilet, utility room and ensuite to main bedroom. The main work was completed by December 2021Only two days were lost when steels were not available. The highlight of the work was the ease with which suggestions and changes to the architects design was made by the builders, the help and suggestions made for all the fittings and finishes which we had. The quality of the work is excellent and the foreman in charge was really helpful to us with his own suggestions and keeping us informed of the next steps being undertaken and anticipating any decisions we needed to make. We were always kept informed and any ideas we had were considered and incorporated as far as possible and little extras were accommodated. Customer care was paramount

We engaged A&R to undertake a project to renovate out home, whilst we remained living there. The scope included removal of a chimney stack, replacing several ceilings and floors, replacement of hot water and heating systems, a rewire, and a bathroom refit, with a project budget in excess of one hundred thousand pounds. Work started well and A&R contractors were polite and professional, with work largely progressing in line with the expected two and a half month duration. However, it was clear that there was a resource shortfall which caused the plumbing to fall steadily behind. In order to help the plumbers catch up, we agreed to have the old boiler removed before the new boiler was installed, on a promise that we would have heat again in a few days. A&R’s plumbers walked away from the job a day later which left us with no heating for two months; just after a large part of the house had been plastered. The cold weather and the humidity from the plaster made life very unpleasant. After this, we received inflated invoices with duplicate and, in some cases, concealed charges. Although the charges were removed when challenged, A&R were remarkably unapologetic about the more than eighteen thousand pounds they tried to add incorrectly. The rewire was only partially completed with dangerous wiring left in-situ. Ultimately, after over six months, A&R abandoned site leaving us with a substantially unusable home which we are having to have remedied by others. We have since discovered other customers with similar experiences.

We had an old conservatory replaced with a rear extension so we could have a completely new kitchen, utility and pantry. Excellent service from start to finish. You get a clear timetable for the work and schedule of payment so you know what to expect when, which takes out so much of the guesswork. Rob was always available and helpful, resolving some hiccups along the way without any drama, and no question was too small or stupid to bother him with. He has a friendly, skilled team all round. Thanks to the guys who did the initial demolition and block work with amazing speed, and then to Mark and Dean who cheerfully kept things moving on site even when material shortages due to Covid slowed things down. They were also all very kind with our elderly neighbours who needed reassurance at times. Special shout out to Allison who was a great help in sorting out our kitchen design and dealing with the suppliers so we didn’t have to! Thanks also to Jo for being so helpful and ultra-efficient with invoicing etc. And obviously thanks to Rob who oversaw the whole build, made everything work smoothly and popped in regularly to check all was well. If you want a company that is approachable, gives you options without the hard sell, and as clear and transparent as possible from quote to final invoice, then I highly recommend A&R Design. You might get cheaper quotes but I genuinely don’t think you’d get the same results or level of service. The space is great! Thanks!

We engaged A&R following a recommendation from a friend. The A&R team, Rob, Allison and Jo are all highly professional and were helpful at all stages of our rear ground floor extension build. All aspects of the project management were taken care of and we were kept informed on a daily basis of what was happening as well as the next stages. All the trades who came onsite were also very skilled, polite and tidy workers. Special mention to Jamie, Glen and Alfie who also gave us some good/helpful ideas that we hadn't considered. We added a couple of jobs to the interior finish as well as the exterior patio, fencing and lawn. It all came in on time and on budget and we are delighted with the finished product, having lived with the new space for nearly 3 months. We are complimented by everyone who has been to the house, and we can wholeheartedly recommend A&R based upon our experience with them.

Rob and the team were excellent throughout the project. Clear guidance on work scheduling and budget right from the start. We were kept up to date throughout on costs, timings for the different stages and Rob and the team were thoughtful and pragmatic about solutions to issues that we encountered on the way, particularly being mindful of our budget. The team were always on time, friendly and clean and did a fantastic job bringing the project in on time and to a very high standard. Final snagging was dealt with quickly and efficiently. I would definitely use A&R again.

A & R Design started our project on 28th October and as promised finished before Christmas. we are delighted with the end result, the kitchen and garden room look fantastic and they were friendly, helpful and professional throughout. I would highly recommend them.

We contacted A&R Design back in May 2020 asking for a quote for an Edwardian building refurbishment (a house that we were about to move into). After agreeing on the scope and cost they provided an exceptional service doing refurbishment works in July/August 2020. Both Robert and Allison were very easy to talk to and Jo was always really friendly and helpful. Robert gave us a lot of useful advice throughout the process. We were also very happy with the team on site, doing a great job and always contacting us if there was any issue or additional cost that we had to discuss. My profession is an architect so I work with various contractors. A&R exceeded my expectations. We are very happy with the results.

We recently appointed A&R Design to build a single storey extension that would encompass the existing kitchen and dining room and create an additional family area. Their experience was invaluable, from the much-needed practical and design ideas at consultation, through to the administration and delivery of the project. The agreed schedule of works and payment schedule allowed us to organise accordingly, choosing materials and finalising decisions so that slippage was kept to a minimum. Rob and Allison were very approachable and were always on hand to check on progress and discuss some of the finer points of the project. Day-to-day, the project was largely split into exteriors and internals teams, managed very efficiently by Glen and Jamie. Everyone was very professional and highly skilled, often going above and beyond to find solutions as things arose. The guys were punctual, polite, and mindful that we were living on site and also of our neighbours. Noise was minimal and the site was always left clean and tidy -- they even cleared from the garden so we could enjoy the bank holiday sunshine! The project was delivered on time and in budget and far exceeds our expectations with everyone's attention to detail and pride in their work evident throughout. All in all, we cannot believe how relatively painless the whole process has been and wouldn't hesitate to recommend A&R Design to anyone considering such a project.

I engaged A&R to design and fit a new kitchen. I was persuaded to go with them because they were local, had good reviews on Which? Trusted Trader and we got a good feeling about them unlike other people we had initially engaged who seemed less professional. Rob suggested getting Howdens to do the actual design and supply the kitchen. We were ok with this since friends who had Howdens kitchens were very happy with them. Both Rob (A&R) and Gary (Howdens) initially said that Howdens would be competitive with one of the lower quotes we’d received but as it turned out the cost was closer to the higher end. Howdens matched appliance prices we had seen elsewhere. A&R's quote for the fitting was reasonable. Rob project managed the various workmen extremely efficiently, each doing their job professionally, going and the next one not long behind. Rob popped in most mornings to see how work was going and was constantly on top of things. The job was complete a little ahead of schedule. The only issue as the work progressed was that we'd wanted the worktop corners rounded. Beforehand, Rob and Gary said that this wouldn't be an issue, when it came to it though, the fitter immediately said doing this wouldn't be easy and "never looked good" which disappointed us. True to his word, it took a few attempts to get right, but the end result was acceptable. Minor tweaks required were dealt with quickly and efficiently. Overall the work was very well done and we'd be happy to recommend A&R.

What an amazing company! At first I was very worried and nervous as this was my first build. Alison and Robert both reassured me and said that they were there to take all of that away and they were there for any questions or queries I had throughout the build. I had a two storey side extension and garage attached to the side of my house. Also back garden and patio works. Every single guy on the team were very friendly, polite, helpful and very tidy. They cleaned up after themselves every day and the mess was very minimal. They kept me updated when things were being delivered and what was happening each day. The progress was amazing to see as it changed so much everyday. Along the way I changed and added a few things of which they dealt with and carried out quickly. There were no problems and no complications. It was all done in the time scale they had given me and kept within my budget. The extension blends in with my house as if it has always been here and now this summer I can really enjoy my garden a lot more. Friends and family have also commented on how wonderful it all looks and at how quickly the build went up. The aftercare provided is also very reassuring. What a great team and I can't thank them all enough for the outstanding work. I have and will recommend A&RDesign highly.

We had a downstairs toilet fitted from scratch. The whole room had to be built and pipe work fitted. Work started on time and went to budget. All the workmen turned up on time, worked quietly and conscientiously, cleared up each day and were polite and considerate of our needs. The boss kept ensuring all was well and discussed and resolved any slight problems as they occurred. We are delighted with the finished work. I would thorough recommend this company.

A&R Design provided a 5 star service from start too finish for my kitchen and utility room-building project. Allison and Rob helped me with sound advice from project concept through to completion. I appreciated their help and guidance during the whole process - they patiently provided me with numerous costings and build options from a complete kitchen extension build (including raising the floor and roof) to a smaller kitchen and utility room redesign - which is beautiful, and just what I wanted. The work was completed by a friendly and courteous team (Jamie, Tony, Matt and Brian) and to an exceptionally high standard – the team were on time, very tidy and a real pleasure to deal with. In fact the team were stars, who would often offer practical suggestions to improve the look and finish of the kitchen and the utility room, nothing was too much trouble for them. Project communication was excellent and office invoicing and statements efficient and smooth from Jo. The after care {snagging issues as they came up) is a strong quality from Allison & Rob, any issue I raised was dealt with quickly and efficiently. It is this level of service and after care which makes them stand out for me. I have no hesitation in recommending A&R Design and the whole team.

A&R Design were recommended to me as so many other builders in the past had let me down. Mark & Dan and indeed Rob too were really polite and friendly. They took time to make sure nothing got damaged, dust sheets down and tidied up each day. They took out my chimney from the loft and spare room and were careful with all structures, putting in appropriate supports all the way. I wanted to use a few of the bricks for my allotment and they put them neatly aside for me when clearing the rubble. After this Dan showed off his plastering skills (superb!). The next time I get works done in the house, A&R Design's will be the first number I call. They just get on with the job and the results are outstanding. Thanks guys, much appreciated.

We contracted A&R for an extension build in Enfield. They project managed everything and brought in all trades and the architect, all of whom were professional and easy to work with. As we had some design features outside of the permitted development route, we were pleased that all planning issues were dealt with by A&R and the architect. good dialogue throughout the build, and always there for a discussion to work through options. To note, what I also appreciated was their consideration of the impact of the work on our neighbours.

We had a tired kitchen which linked through to a back room that was never used. A&R Design undertook the removal of the kitchen, removal of a substantial wall, removal of patio door and windows, installation of 2 large steel beams, bi-fold doors, new windows, new kitchen installation in a new position, underfloor heating, new radiators, all plumbing, electrics, plastering painting and finishing and renovation of a utility room. All of this was carried out in a most professional manner by a fantastic crew that were always polite and cheerful, kept us informed and consulted at all times and kept the site clean and tidy with the minimum of disruption. The finished kitchen and diner is amazing and ended up being far better than we could have expected. Can't recommend A&R Design enough.

We had a loft conversion and an extension to convert our small kitchen, utility room and garage into a large kitchen, new bathroom and new double bedroom. It was great to work with A&R throughout the process, the whole team were professional and the work was to the standard we hoped for and more. A&R really help with ideas an suggestions to make the build the best it could be. This was a once in a lifetime opportunity for us to improve and expand our living space and we are glad we chose A&R to do the work!