Upcoming Saturday 26th September 2026 · 10am-4pm · Counter Interiors, York.
Most homeowners planning a new kitchen in York have already been to two or three other places before they reach us.
Many come to us after visiting several showrooms with plenty of ideas, renders and quotations, but still unsure how to compare what they’re actually being offered.
By the time they arrive here, they’re not confused because the decision is complicated. They’re confused because nobody’s helped them understand the right questions to ask in the first place.
“That’s what I want to change.“
Reserve your place at The Great Kitchen Design Experience →
What This Day Is – And What It Isn’t
This isn’t designed around a hard sell. It’s designed to help you make better-informed decisions about your project.
Yes, there are exclusive benefits for people who decide to proceed with a project. But that’s not why we’ve put this together.
After more than 20 years of designing kitchens – starting as an apprentice in Manchester, fitting them myself, and opening Counter Interiors here in York with Becky in 2013 – I’ve seen the same mistakes made again and again.
Layouts that look brilliant in a render but become an obstacle course to live with. Appliance upgrades chosen for the brochure, not for how the person actually cooks. Beautiful bespoke kitchens that feel tired five years in, because the decisions were made for the Instagram photo rather than the twenty years of daily use that follow.
Most of that is avoidable. It just requires knowing what to look for before you start.
“You’ll make hundreds of decisions when designing your kitchen. Some matter enormously. Some barely matter at all. The trick is knowing which is which before you spend the money.” – Luke Counter
That’s what this day is designed to give you.
What Happens During the Day?
10:30am – Luke’s Talk: What 20 Years of Designing Kitchens Has Taught Me.
I’ll be giving the same talk that became one of our most-read blog posts this year.
Here’s what I’ll cover:
- Where additional investment makes the biggest difference.
- Why some beautiful kitchens become frustrating to live with – and the design decisions that cause it.
- Which appliance features can genuinely transform how you cook and use your kitchen.
- What separates kitchens that still look exceptional after 20 years from the ones their owners are planning to rip out.
It’s a frank talk. Spending more can absolutely create a better kitchen. The important thing is understanding where that additional investment will make the biggest difference to the way your kitchen looks, feels and works.
All Day – The Design Clinic
Bring your floor plans, measurements, or inspiration photos. Our kitchen designers will spend 10-15 minutes giving you honest, practical direction on your specific project.
Not a sales pitch. Actual advice – whether you end up choosing us or not.
All Day – The Project Lounge
Sit down with a coffee and talk through your plans informally with the team.
No presentations. No pressure. Just conversation.
Which, honestly, is how all of this should start.
All Day – Live NEFF Cooking
Ann Reynolds is confirmed as our demonstration chef, and she’ll be cooking throughout the day on the appliances we specify in the kitchens we design.
We’re a NEFF MasterPartner – one of very few kitchen showrooms in Yorkshire to hold that accreditation. There are things you only understand about premium appliances when you see them working properly.
The NEFF Slide & Hide oven, for example. The door disappears underneath instead of dropping open – meaning you can actually get close to the food without reaching over a scorching hot door. It’s one of those features that’s much easier to appreciate in person than it is from a brochure or specification sheet.
A brochure can’t show you that. Watching Ann cook on one for 30 seconds can.
Who Should Come
This day is for homeowners planning a kitchen, bedroom or living space project in the next 18 months.
You don’t need a detailed brief. You don’t need to know exactly what you want. In fact, the earlier you are in the process, the more useful the day will be.
The best thing you can do before making hundreds of decisions is spend a few hours with people who’ve seen what works and what doesn’t.
We’ve deliberately kept places limited so every guest gets proper time with our designers – not just a walk round a showroom. If you’re thinking about coming, don’t leave it too long.
Reserve your place here →
What’s Available Right Now
The following promotions are currently available independently of the event. Event attendees will also have access to the exclusive benefits shown further below.
Free Premium Venting Hob – Worth £2,000+ (Valid: 1 September – 30 November 2026)
Order a kitchen with four or more appliances before 30th November and we’ll include a NEFF or Siemens venting hob.
These extract steam and smells right at the hob – no bulky overhead extractor, no hood cutting across your sightlines above an island or open-plan space. It changes how the whole room feels.
The exact model is confirmed with our team as part of your kitchen plan.
Up to £1,100 Cashback on NEFF & Siemens Appliances (Orders: 28 August – 30 November 2026 · Claims close: 31 May 2027)
Purchase between three and seven qualifying NEFF or Siemens appliances with your new kitchen and claim cashback directly from the manufacturer:
| Qualifying Appliances | Cashback |
| 3 appliances | £250 |
| 4 appliances | £400 |
| 5 appliances | £550 |
| 6 appliances | £750 |
| 7 appliances | £1,100 |
Add a qualifying venting hob or glass draft hood and there’s a further £600 on top. Full terms apply – speak to our team to confirm what’s right for your project.
Free 4-Piece Flex Pan Set (Valid: 1 January – 31 December 2026)
Specify a qualifying FlexInduction venting hob or a GlassDraft hood and hob combination, and receive a complimentary four-piece Flex Pan Set. Ask our team to confirm your model qualifies before ordering.
15% Off Your Second Room (Kitchen + fitted bedroom · 12 months to order room two)
Planning a kitchen and a fitted bedroom? Order a second qualifying room within 12 months of the first and receive 15% off.
The same design team carries your brief, your finishes, and your priorities through from one project to the next. Fewer repeated conversations. A more considered result across your whole home.
Click here to learn more about our current offers →
Your Day at a Glance
| Time | What’s On |
| 10am | Doors open – welcome coffee |
| 10:30am | What 20 Years of Designing Kitchens Has Taught Me |
| Throughout the day | Design Clinic, Project Lounge & Live NEFF Cooking |
| 1pm & 3pm | Design Q&A Sessions |
| 4pm | Event closes |
You can arrive at any point between 10am and 4pm, although if you’d like to hear Luke’s main talk, please arrive before 10:30am.
Exclusive Attendee Benefits
Attend the event and book your Home Measure & Wishlist Appointment by 31st October 2026 to receive:
✓ 10% off all NEFF and Siemens appliances
✓ 10% off kitchen and bedroom furniture
✓ Complimentary Home Measure & Wishlist Appointment
✓ Priority Design Appointment Access
Benefits apply when you proceed with your project. No payment taken on the event day.
Where to Find Us?
Counter Interiors Unit 9 Kettlestring Park Kettlestring Lane, York YO30 4XF
For sat-nav: YO30 4XB
The event is free to attend. Places are limited. Registration is required.
Reserve your place here →
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens at The Great Kitchen Design Experience in York?
The day includes Luke Counter’s 10:30am talk on what 20 years of designing kitchens has taught him, a Design Clinic where you can bring your own plans for honest feedback, a Project Lounge for informal conversation with the team, Design Q&A Sessions at 1:00pm and 3:00pm, and live NEFF cooking demonstrations from Ann Reynolds throughout the day. Doors open 10am and close 4pm – arrive when it suits you.
Do I need to bring anything?
If you have floor plans, measurements or inspiration photos, bring them – the Design Clinic works best when our designers have something to work with. But you don’t need anything prepared. Plenty of people arrive with just an idea and a rough budget.
Is it free to attend?
Yes. Registration is required because places are deliberately limited, so every guest gets proper time with our team. No payment is taken on the day.
What kitchen and appliance offers are currently available?
Currently running: a free NEFF or Siemens venting hob worth £2,000+ with a qualifying kitchen order of four or more appliances (to 30th November 2026); up to £1,100 manufacturer cashback on qualifying NEFF or Siemens appliances; a free four-piece Flex Pan Set with qualifying venting hob purchases; and 15% off a second room when ordered within 12 months. Terms apply – speak to our team to confirm what applies to your project.
Who is Counter Interiors?
Counter Interiors is York’s largest independent kitchen showroom, based at Kettlestring Park. Founded by Luke Counter in 2013, we design and install bespoke kitchens, fitted bedrooms, and living spaces for homeowners across York and Yorkshire. We’re a NEFF MasterPartner, Masterclass Platinum Partner, and regional Sub-Zero & Wolf supplier for Yorkshire. Every project is designed by Luke or one of our experienced designers, with full project management from first consultation to final installation.
Can’t make the event?
Get in touch anyway. We’re always happy to help homeowners understand their options, whether you’re ready to proceed or just starting to explore ideas.
📞 01904 479 792 ✉️ [email protected]
Luke Counter is the founder of Counter Interiors – York’s largest independent kitchen showroom. With over 20 years of kitchen design experience across Yorkshire, he holds accreditation as a NEFF MasterPartner and Masterclass Platinum Partner. To reserve your place at The Great Kitchen Design Experience, visit: here