Our Story
Chisholm Design has grown year after year, ever since Jo's first project in 2012. After designing her own kitchen, Jo was asked by a friend to design theirs. Since then, we've designed hundreds of kitchens, utility and boot rooms, expanding our team and improving our capabilities along the way. Starting out at her kitchen table, she and Rob moved into a garden office when he joined the business in 2018 and we now work from our design studio near Tilford, Surrey, which includes a small, but feature-packed display kitchen.
Jo has always had a strong artistic streak, a wonderful eye for colour and a passion for design. Although she trained as a mechanical engineer, she undertook a part-time interior design course whilst in the Army, combining camouflage combat clothing with chic soft furnishings!
We strive to provide a highly personalised service, going above and beyond what our clients expect. We aim to make the whole kitchen design and fitting experience as stress-free as possible, seamlessly managing the process from beginning to end.
“Jo and Rob’s calm and informative approach during a very stressful time was extremely reassuring"
The kitchen was due to be fitted mid-lockdown and, despite a delay in our build holding up delivery, Jo and Rob still ensured everything lined up to plan. They took the additional stress and the headache away and I would have no hesitation in working with them both again. The kitchen is absolutely beautiful and we couldn't be happier with the finished result”Claire, Farnham - 2020
Our approach
We don't just provide a kitchen. We transform kitchen spaces and by doing so we transform the way you live. We help you take what's in your head and bring it to life with real care and attention.
We are, of course, designers, consultants and project managers. But we are also givers-of-second-opinions, the distillers of impossibly large numbers of choices, counsellors and constant re-assurers. Amidst the stress and turmoil of a renovation project, we try to act as a calming, reassuring presence, taking part of your load and allowing you to think about the myriad other challenges, decisions and problems that will inevitably come your way.
Our people
Chisholm Design: a talented and passionate team helping to bring your kitchen ideas to life.
“Both Rob and I take every bit of our business personally - we are completely invested in it; in our people, our projects, our suppliers, our tradespeople and - most of all - our clients. We set the bar for client satisfaction very high at Chisholm Design. Anything less than ‘delighted’ means we’ve fallen short. And that really isn’t a soundbite or marketing slogan - if things go wrong (as they sometimes do) we both lose sleep over it. And when it goes right (which it always does in the end), the sense of satisfaction, knowing we have a delighted client, with a gorgeous kitchen, is the reason we do what we do.”
- Jo Chisholm, Founder -
JO
Jo is a former Army Officer and qualified engineer with a passion for design and colour. A mother of two, keen triathlete and brilliant cook, she started Chisholm Design from the kitchen table nearly a decade ago. She throws herself into every project (approaching 200 of them so far, and counting) no matter the shape or size. With a love of clean lines and simplicity, Jo’s keen eye for detail shines through in every kitchen she helps bring to life.
ROB
Jo’s husband, Rob, spent 16 years in the Army and then joined the John Lewis Partnership, first on the retail side in Waitrose and then in a Group role across the whole Partnership. After a brief foray into business management at JP Morgan, he took the plunge and began working alongside Jo on projects for Chisholm Design in early 2018. He’s been well-tutored by Jo (!) and, in addition to managing the portfolio of fittings, leads the development of the business as it goes from strength to strength.
JO CHISHOLM
Jo is a former Army Officer and qualified engineer with a passion for design and colour. A mother of two, keen triathlete and brilliant cook, she started Chisholm Design from the kitchen table nearly a decade ago. She throws herself into every project (about 150 of them so far, and counting) no matter the shape or size. With a love of clean lines and simplicity, Jo’s keen eye for detail shines through in every kitchen she helps bring to life.
ROB CHISHOLM
Jo’s husband, Rob, spent 16 years in the Army and then joined the John Lewis Partnership, first on the retail side in Waitrose and then in a Group role across the whole Partnership. After a brief foray into business management at JP Morgan, he took the plunge and began working alongside Jo on projects for Chisholm Design in early 2018. He’s been well-tutored by Jo (!) and, in addition to managing his own projects, leads the development of the business as it goes from strength to strength.
ANTOINETTE
Antoinette joined Chisholm Design in 2022 as our Operations Manager, responsible for ensuring that all the necessary preparatory building works have been done and for managing the kitchen fitting process itself.
After a career in advertising and retail, she changed tack after completing her own house extension project and moved into the construction world. She gained a huge amount of practical building experience, before realising that kitchens were her true passion!
VICTORIA
Victoria joined Chisholm Design as a kitchen designer in 2021 and became our Senior designer soon after. She graduated with a degree in Interior Architecture and Design from Farnham’s University for the Creative Arts in 2020.
Victoria loves reading, cooking and travelling in her spare time.
JESSICA
Jessica joined the business in January 2022. Like Victoria, she also has a degree in Interior Architecture and Design from Farnham’s University for the Creative Arts. And like her, she brings both passion and a flair for design!
CATRIONA
Cat joined the team in April 2023 and is our Office Manager; playing a vital role in supporting the design and operating teams in procurement and scheduling each of our kitchen projects. With a ten year stint in the property industry, Cat understands how homes make people feel and how kitchens can make or break a project's success.
Whilst away from the office Cat can be found in her own kitchen keeping a young family fed, or on the hockey pitch!
INKA
Inka, Jo and Rob’s English Pointer, is the final member of the team. She can often be found at the showroom, where she will always give a welcoming bark to visitors, the postman and delivery drivers, but is actually the most loving and friendly dog imaginable.
The only thing that Inka loves more than a good, long run around nearby Frensham Pond or a juicy bone to chew on is Jo, upon whom she dotes!
We do appreciate that not everyone likes dogs, so please let us know if you’d rather she wasn’t around if you come to visit us.
Why us?
We set incredibly high standards and are completely engaged across all our projects. This translates into the best possible service and a really personal touch for our clients. We really do go the extra mile and pull together to deliver the best possible experience for every customer, every time. When things go wrong, get derailed, or get delayed - and they almost always will at some point, on any house project - we will move heaven and earth to minimise the impact and get things back on track.
“We were particularly impressed with the time both Jo and Rob dedicated to our kitchen, understanding our requirements, formulating the plan and being on site during construction. Both were hugely supportive and always at the other end of the phone when needed – even whilst holidaying in France!”