Yvonne Kelly from Crumlin, Dublin 12 on 19-Aug-2011

When was the work done?
The work was carried out in September, 2010.

What was involved?
I had my old kitchen completely gutted and stripped to an empty shell. It was literally taken all the way back to the brick. I had the kitchen redone with all new cupboards, work surfaces, counters and the fitting and installation of new appliances. Everything is completely integrated.

How did you choose DR Kitchens and Bedrooms?
I had  used the Pickapro website to get a plumber who was going to project manage some work I was having done around the house. I asked him if he knew of anyone who could do the kitchen and he recommended David Riordan. When I met David for the first time I kind of had a feeling that this guy is good. You know that feeling? David sat down with me for an hour that night to talk about the project and I knew then that he was the guy I was going to pick regardless of the price he quoted.

Had you definite ideas in mind before you talked to David Riordan?
I gave David an idea of what I wanted and he came back with plans.

Did David introduce new ideas?
He did, yes. David went through my ideas and pointed out things I hadn't even thought of. What I had originally wanted and what Dave built was basically the same but some things were altered for practical reasons or to make more efficient use of space. In particular, one thing I'm really pleased about is the larder. I had originally wanted a long larder press but David suggested two smaller ones, top and bottom because it would give me more counter space. I never would have thought of that but David with his experience did.

How did the project run?
I couldn't fault David on anything. He turned up when he said he would and had the job completed in three days, right on schedule. David's a very personable chap, easy to get on with and if anything was fazing him you'd never know it, he's very calm. David did such a nice job on the kitchen that I brought him back to fit another press in the utility room.

What was the biggest benefit to you of using DR Kitchens and Bedrooms?
I just felt that David was reliable and trustworthy. His work is excellent but what's most important to me was the trust that I had that I could leave the keys in his hands and go to work. There were no worries about locking up the family silver if you know what I mean. David's attention to detail, even with regards to the tiniest thing is incredible. David would see something that I thought was fine but he would say no, that's not right and fix it.

What's your favourite part now?
To be honest the whole thing. The kitchen before was old and the new one is great.

Would you recommend DR Kitchens and Bedrooms to others?
I certainly would and I already have.

Any tips for other people?
I think it's important to have a project manager overseeing the job. They'll organise everything and get the right people doing the work. Since it will be the project manager running things, you need to have trust in that person.

 Edwina Dwyer from Kilkenny on 28-Aug-2011

When was the work done?
David has done a lot of work for us in the last few years. It started four years ago when he did a kitchen for us in Maynooth and when we moved to kilkenny this past year, he built and installed another kitchen, bedroom wardrobes and fitted out a utility room. We had another house that suffered flood damage about twelve months ago and David did the kitchen there as well.

What was involved?
The first kitchen project in Maynooth involved replacing an existing kitchen that wasn't fulfilling our needs. It was done in an old style, traditional look. The new kitchen in Maynooth is a black, high gloss contemporary style. It's large with glass doors on the cabinets and an island in the centre.

Later when the house was finished and the kitchen installed, we had David come back to do bedroom wardrobes and fit out our utility room. The utility room has storage, several presses a laundry chute and three, floor to ceiling sliding doors on runners. We also had a washer and dryer that we wanted side by side but they were of different heights. David built a plinth so that the two machines are at the same level. With regards to the presses, one hides the big water tank, one large press is a hot press and the middle press I wanted a clothes horse that was concealed. I was fed up with hanging cloths on the backs of chairs and radiators and David made up a perfect system for me. If you tell David what you want, he'll come with a solution.

How did you choose DR Kitchens and Bedrooms?
I think my Husband used google and found David. He was looking to get someone local and David's workshop is in Celbridge, which was close by to us.

Had you definite ideas in mind before you talked to David Riordan?
With regards to the first kitchen in Maynooth, it was my husband that dealt with David and came up with the traditional, old style kitchen. I worked closely with David on the second kitchen in Kilkenny. I gave David our architects loose drawings of a kitchen plan and told him that I wanted a black, high gloss modern kitchen.

Did David introduce new ideas?
It was a combined effort between David and myself. David was good about asking questions about what we wanted, pantries, corner units, etc. He wanted to build a kitchen that fulfilled all of our needs. He knew the style that I was looking for and came back with a Gold, Silver and Bronze version of that type of kitchen that related to different budget considerations. It's nice to be given a choice.

How did the project run?
What I like about David is that he's very reliable and will fit you into his schedule as soon as he can. If David gives you a day, he's here on that day and the workmanship is excellent. David is very honest and will always answere the phone to you. My husband and I were at a football match at Croke Park one day and we saw David in the crowd with his kids. We decided to play a joke and called him telling him that we had a problem that he needed to get to straight away. David said "you mean right now?". I couldn't keep up the joke but the point is that he still answered the phone and will do so any time of the day or night.

What was the biggest benefit to you of using DR Kitchens and Bedrooms?
The biggest benefit is the quality of the workmanship. With David, even the little things like the seams are perfect. He's just really conscientious about his work. We wouldn't keep going back to David if he wasn't very good.

What's your favourite part now?
There isn't one thing, all the work that David did is equally lovely.

Would you recommend DR Kitchens and Bedrooms to others?
Yes, definitely.

Any tips for other people?
if you have even a small idea about the job, don't be afraid to suggest it. A lot of times, especially with David, they can work around it and make it up.

 Tempy Cummins from Kildare on 18-Aug-2011

When was the work done?
David has done several jobs for us over the last year. He did some work for me a couple of months back in my own home and last year he installed a kitchen and bedroom wardrobe system in my mothers house.

What was involved?
I needed more storage in a box room upstairs. I had open shelving and I needed drawers inserted into all the open spaces. I was very particular with regards to dimensions and style and David delivered it perfectly. He also did work in my utility area and improved the internal arrangements in other cupboards and storage spaces.

David also put in a new kitchen for my mother and wardrobes for my sister-in-law.

How did you choose DR Kitchens and Bedrooms?
I knew David and what he did for a living from a business networking group we're both members of. I also got to know him as a person through my own business because he's one of our clients. As a person, Dave is someone you could depend your life on. He's wonderful and I knew that because of the work I saw in his shop, that he would be perfect about his work.

I knew David would be perfect to do the kitchen for my mother, she was elderly and wanted a new kitchen for the first time in her life. I just knew David would do a wonderful job for her and he did. She loved it so much that she wanted him back to do the bedroom wardrobe system as well.

Had you definite ideas in mind before you talked to David Riordan?
I had a good idea with regards to function and David provided the solution to my needs.

Did David introduce new ideas?
Yes, David will scratch his head and come up with what he thinks is the best utilisation of the available space. He comes up with style ideas and we go back and forth until we come up with the idea I like. What's nice about David is that he presents his ideas but leaves the decisions to yourself. It's easy to see how his ideas and what you want will look because he uses 3D graphics. It's fantastic as a visual aid.

How did the project run?
David's here when he says he'll be here and if you're expecting an email with drawings and plans to arrive at a particular time, they will. He's very easy to deal with, finishes the job on schedule and gives you exactly what you want. If you ever had an issue he would get back to you straight away and remedy it. Not that it ever happened with Dave but I know that's his style.

What was the biggest benefit to you of using DR Kitchens and Bedrooms?
David goes to the end of the world to find the creative solution to peoples different requirements, it's not just standard work he does. As far as myself personally, I would utilise David again for any type of work I may need done in the future.

Would you recommend DR Kitchens and Bedrooms to others?
I would recommend David without hesitation and in fact I have, to my mother and my sister in law. She used him for a couple of bedrooms and wanted something out of the ordinary. She was delighted with what David was able to do for her.

Any tips for other people?
I think its important to be very clear on what type of work is being agreed to. I think some people when they take on a project have an idea in their head but may not communicate it to the person doing the work. It's too easy for misunderstandings to take place. Be very accurate and specific about what you want and get it all in writing. Both sides need to be reading off the same page.

 Anne Wilson from Celbridge, Co Kildare on

When was the work done?
David has carried out work for me on two separate occassions. The first job was in December of 2009 and involved a wardrobe and a utility room fitout. The first job turned out so well that I had David back in the the summer of 2010 to do another wardrobe for me.

What was involved?
We had put a new extension onto the house and we had two bedrooms that needed wardrobes installed. One a regular sized room and another a small box room. David built and installed a double wardrobe, finished in oak in the larger room. The doors open and close so nice and smooth, there are no creaks and it's lovely. The second room like I said was a small box room that can only fit a single bed. David built a wardrobe unit that sits beside the bed as well as narrower units over the bed. I'm very happy with how it turned out and how it fits with the look of the room.

We also had a small utility room that we had David add a storage unit and a press. We had David use less expensive materials in there because it's only a utility room but it came out very nice and blends in with the oak colour I have in my kitchen. There were unsightly pipes in the utility room and David built something to cover them up and finished them off nicely.

How did you choose DR Kitchens and Bedrooms?
Like David, I live in Celbridge and I got his name out of a local Celbridge directory. I had contacted Dave a few years before about a job but I chose someone else because Dave was slightly more expensive. I should have chosen David because the guy I picked was a total disaster. I told myself the next time I would get David and I did. I haven't regretted it either.

Had you definite ideas in mind before you talked to David Riordan?
Not really with the utility room but I did have ideas about the wardrobes.

Did David introduce new ideas?
He did, yes. With my utility room being so small, David told me what would be possible and what wouldn't. He gave me good ideas, I agreed and it really turned out well. With regards to the wardrobes, he took my ideas and refined them where necessary.

How did the project run?
Excellent. He was here when he said he would be, always communicated with me about what was going on and completed the job on schedule. David is a very pleasant man to have in your house. He was also very clean when he worked. He covered up the stairs to keep dust off them and even had covers on his shoes to keep the carpets clean.

What was the biggest benefit to you of using DR Kitchens and Bedrooms?
With David, you know what you're going to get, you're going to get quality work.

Would you recommend DR Kitchens and Bedrooms to others?
I would recommend Dave to anyone, including my neighbours with no hesitation. If I'm not 100% happy, I won't recommend someone. During the extension project on the house I had a few guys that I definitely would not recommend to others.

Any tips for other people?
From my point of view I would say it's important that when you're planning your project, not to rush into anything. Take your time and do it right because if you're going to pay for the job, you want it done right. Also get the contractors advice and look at all your options before you make a final decision.

 Jackie deLacey from Celbridge, Co. Kildare 

When was the work done?
in April 2010.

What was involved?
Dave fitted sliding door wardrobes into one of my bedroom.

How did you choose DR Kitchens and Bedrooms?
Dave did a kitchen for a friend of mine. He did a terrific job there and he came highly recommended.

Had you definite ideas in mind before you talked to David Riordan?
I really wasn't quite sure - I was open to suggestions. I just wanted everything to have a place, to be much more organised.

Did David introduce new ideas?
Yes - I hadn't intended getting the type of system that he put in. But I'm very pleased that I did go with it.

How did the project run?
Very good. Dave had the carcases made in his workshop and it took about a day and a half to put them in. It took quite a bit of work to get them in because it's an older house so you don't have many straight walls.

There were two fitters and Both fitters of them were terrific - they were clean, tidy. Absolutely everything went to schedule.

The follow up was great as well. I thought I had a problem with one of the mechanisms and Dave came up to the house straight away. It turned out I just wasn't using it right.

What was the biggest benefit to you of using DR Kitchens and Bedrooms?
I think it's important to get somebody reliable and Dave was. It was a pleasure to have people like that working in the house - they were two real gentlemen.

What's your favourite part now?
I love the whole lot.

Would you recommend DR Kitchens and Bedrooms to others?

I actually recommended Dave to a friend last week. 

Any tips for other people?
I made sure that I chose finishes that I would be happy to live with and I took advice on those finishes.