26th September 2024 | IN INDUSTRY NEWS & BUSINESS | BY SBID ShareTweetPinterestLinkedIn Founders & Design Directors, Keith and Helena Myers of The Myers Touch Kitchen Design Studio have announced their planned retirement from the industry after 21 years in business. Leading their award-winning studio in Winchester, Keith and Helena Myers have mapped out a plan to retire by the New Year. Their team of designers, installers and business support staff have been informed of their decision and they are working closely with those individuals to plan this transition. The Myers Touch team are completing the process of notifying all current clients of their commitment to complete projects. For any 2025 projects, they will ensure a smooth handover to one of their manufacturing partners. Suppliers are also in the process of being notified to ensure the successful completion of all projects. The husband-and-wife team began their kitchen design business in 2003 with the vision to open a premium design studio and consultancy service that showcased state-of-the-art kitchen displays, growing the business over the years to one that is recognised as one of the leading kitchen design studios in the UK winning several retailer, showroom and project design awards over the past two decades. Before embarking on a career in the kitchen industry, Keith and Helena had previously worked in global sales and account management in IT and pensions business process management in Insurance. Whilst raising three small children and being trained in engineering design and interior design, they gained architectural, interior and spatial design experience from overseeing three complete home renovations in their spare time, which gave them the confidence to both leave their jobs. Keith and Helena Myers inside their kitchen design studio They began their dream of starting their design business journey from their home study, offering a home remodelling consultancy service with a focus on the kitchen space as the hub of the home. In 2007, the design duo found a previous contemporary fireplace showroom just a stone’s throw from their family home which they turned into their Design Studio, remodelling the main space to showcase contemporary kitchen display examples and converting the original garage to their ‘designer’s hub’ space. As their business grew, Keith and Helena began plans to expand the studio in 2015. The extension enabled them to double the size of the studio so they could showcase additional luxury kitchen displays and expand their hosting space for clients and customer events. This development turned the studio into a 210 sqm contemporary, state-of-the-art, ‘Mies Van Der Rohe’ style architectural building for architects and homeowners, which over the years has offered interactive kitchen displays from leading partner brands including eggersmann, Copatlife, KH Kitchens and SieMatic. Their pioneering approach to kitchen design has led Keith & Helena to regularly host and take part in industry talks at RIBA, The KBSA, Grand Designs Live and Ask the Expert, KBIS (virtual), and The Homebuilding & Renovating Show – in 2022 Helena received an invitation to America’s largest industry show in Orlando, KBIS where she took part in a talk alongside other American industry experts. They have also been proud to have won many global and national showroom, retailer and project awards over the past two decades. Keith is a current Regional Director of the KBSA and a former Regional Director of SBID. Keith & Helena Myers said “After 21 years of fun and adventure in the world of kitchens, we have decided to retire. It’s not been an easy decision, as it’s never a good time to say goodbye to our studio, our wonderfully supportive and talented staff team, as well as the friends and partners we have enjoyed such fulfilling relationships with over the past two decades. We are proud of what made our business stand apart in an ever-competing industry – our design approach has always been to ensure each of our designs enriches household relationships first and foremost and the homeowner’s quality of life through the efficiency, relevance and beauty of their designed spaces bringing into a home what we are renowned for – creating kitchens with light, space & laughter. We look forward to saying a personal thank you to our amazing staff for their long-term commitment and hard work over the years. We also want to thank our customers and industry friends who we have had the pleasure to get to know personally and professionally throughout our business journey. It was our vision in 2003 to create an award-winning showroom in the heart of our home town of Winchester and looking back we are proud to have achieved that and been privileged to have designed many exceptional kitchen living spaces for homeowners across the UK and Europe. We will be watching from the sidelines at the future of an industry which we love, and we hope it continues to get the recognition that designers across the UK deserve.” All business enquiries about the purchase of the studio should be made in writing directly to: [email protected] About The Myers Touch We are The Myers Touch, award-winning interior architects and designers who specialise in creating luxury kitchen living spaces. Our goal is to enrich your life through the creation of an exceptional kitchen space that reflects your practical, aesthetic and emotional aspirations. We believe every kitchen should contain elements of beauty, efficiency and personalisation – a place that expresses Light, Space and Laughter for you. Visit Profile If you’d like to feature your news or stories on SBID.org, get in touch to find out more. If you’d like to become SBID Accredited, click here for more information.