Couple sign five-year lease and open German kitchen design showroom

A GERMAN kitchen showroom in Henley officially opened its doors on Saturday.

Kutchenhaus moved into the former Cara Shoes premises in Duke Street last month, which had been empty since 2022.

Owners Tyrone Church, 40, and his wife Michelle Calder, 46, from Caversham, signed a five-year lease.

Their son, Robert Calder, 25, who handles installations, and designer Ellie Chapman, 28, will be supporting them.

They cut the ribbon accompanied by friends, family and an AEG chef, who served chicken and rice, prosecco, Pimm’s and cupcakes.

Mr Church, who used to be a kitchen fitter, moved out of his previous line of work due to physical strains on his body.

He said: “I spent 17 years as an installer for kitchens and bathrooms but I was feeling the wear and tear on my body, and I knew something had to change. Naturally, the showroom was the next best thing.”

He is training his son, a former painter and decorator, to fit kitchens by bringing him to jobs.

Ms Calder, who used to be a pharmaceutical dispenser, has also joined the business. The couple have sold four kitchen designs so far with 18 more waiting for decisions and 15 still at the enquiry stage. The first kitchen is being installed in September.

She said: “We have a very good relationship at home and at work, so it’s working very well so far. Tyrone is out fitting and I’m in here.”

Customers can view three fully functional German-engineered kitchen displays in-store.

Kutchenhaus, founded in 2004, is Europe’s largest kitchen manufacturer with more than 80 showrooms in the UK.