Craftsmanship

  The Ugly Duckling is a family-run business specialising in bespoke hand-painted kitchens and cabinetry.

Based in Winsford, Cheshire, we work across the local area and also travel nationwide for bespoke cabinetry projects. Many of the kitchens we work on are already beautifully made — they simply require the right preparation, materials and craftsmanship to completely transform their appearance.

Every project is thoroughly cleaned, dustless sanded, primed and hand-painted using professional cabinet coatings specifically designed for furniture and cabinetry. The result is a smooth, durable finish created to withstand everyday life within a busy home.

With over 12 years of experience, we’ve worked on everything from traditional in-frame kitchens built by skilled cabinetmakers through to modern fitted, previously painted, high-gloss and laminated kitchens.

Alongside our cabinetry work, we are also Granite & Stone Spray Specialists, offering our professional Spray Granite system for worktops, tiles and flooring. Applied directly over existing surfaces, this seamless stone-effect finish provides a durable, waterproof and heat-resistant alternative to replacement.

  Every project begins with a walkthrough of the kitchen so we can explain exactly what will happen at each stage. We then carefully set up our drying systems and preparation area before any work begins.

Doors, hinges and hardware are removed so we can access the full kitchen framework and properly prepare every surface, not just the obvious areas.

Any necessary repairs and surface preparation are carried out before the cabinetry is thoroughly cleaned, degreased and mechanically sanded using our dust controlled system, creating a smooth and stable surface ready for paint.

All visible areas are hand-painted, including all cabinet doors and drawer fronts, including backs, along with visible framework, end panels, trims, plinths and internal frames to glass cabinets. We apply specialist adhesion primers followed by durable cabinet topcoats specifically designed for kitchen cabinetry and everyday use.

Between coats, surfaces are carefully hand sanded and denibbed to maintain a smooth, consistent finish. Each coat is then professionally laid off by hand to create the seamless appearance our work is known for.

Once the finish has fully cured, the kitchen is carefully reassembled and all existing hardware is thoroughly cleaned before being carefully refitted. Alternatively, new hardware can also be fitted where required.

The result is a beautifully hand-painted kitchen with a durable finish designed for both visual appeal and everyday use.