A Dundonian who designs luxury kitchens has been named the UK’s best at top industry awards.
Abbie Hunter creates bespoke kitchens at the forefront of design and technology in her role as a designer at Selan Design in Broughty Ferry.
She joined the family firm after graduating from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design (DJCAD) three years ago.
Now she has been named the top new designer of the year at the Designer Awards ceremony in London.
Top tips from kitchen designer
Abbie, 24, handles all aspects of design from initial discussions with customers, to surveying and designing the room to liaising with installation teams.
She said: “When people come in for a design, we have a discussion and I try to show them what they are asking for.
“But I’ll then give them a couple of different options they might not have thought of.
“A lot of people don’t see the space different from what it currently is and that’s how we can get to quite interesting designs.”
Abbie has also shared her top kitchen design tips.
She said: “I like features that takes the kitchen away from being a run of tall units – things like open shelving or colour splits.
“For people thinking about a new kitchen my advice is to keep an open mind. You don’t have to put your kitchen back in the way it is.
“There are so many other possibilities which means you can have more than you expected in your kitchen.”
Shocked to win design award
Abbie was honoured to be named in the shortlist for the Designer Awards and went to the London ceremony with no expectations of winning.
The former Craigie High pupil was shocked when her name was announced from the stage.
“It was amazing to be shortlisted against people from London and all over the UK,” she said.
“To be from a small shop in the Ferry and win, it was totally unexpected. It was a great, great night.”
Selan Design’s investment in talent
Selan Design, which has operated in Union Street since 1989, has invested heavily in technology and is able to show clients what their finished room will look using 3D goggles.
Equally important to the business is investment in top local talent, with a relationship with DJCAD stretching back decades.
Founder George Selway runs the business with son Paul.
He said: “Every two or three years we bring in a designer fresh from the college and train them up.
“Paul has spent half his life training people about the ethos of kitchen design.
“Abbie has been a total star and we are thrilled she’s taken home the trophy after we’ve been a runner-up in the awards three times before.”
Conversation