Who We Are (And Why That Matters)
We’re Steve, Dave, Leon and Stacey — a family-run kitchen and bathroom business based near Durham, covering the whole North East.
No Corporate Offices. No Sales Teams. No Strangers Who Don’t Care About Your Project.
Just three people who do this properly, every time.
Because when our name’s on the van, our reputation’s on the line.
Meet the Team
Steve
Director & DesignerSteve’s been designing kitchens and bathrooms for over 30 years. He’s the one who creates every design — layouts that make sense for how you actually live, detailed 3D visuals so you can see exactly what you’re getting, and solutions for awkward spaces that most designers would give up on.
He’s seen every awkward corner, every “I don’t think this will work” layout, every impossible space — and he knows how to make it work.
What makes Steve different: He won’t try to sell you the most expensive option. He’ll design the right option. Sometimes that’s a full bespoke kitchen. Sometimes it’s a smart makeover that saves you £5,000 and gets you 85% of the result. He’ll tell you honestly which one makes sense.
Steve’s proudest moment:
“A couple in Chester-le-Street thought their galley kitchen was hopeless. Too narrow. Boiler in the corner. No space for anything. I designed an L-shaped layout that used the ‘dead’ corner for pull-out storage, moved the sink to under the window, and somehow found room for a small breakfast bar. They cried when they saw the 3D design. Still one of my favourite projects.”
Dave
Sales & ConsultationsDave handles the consultations. He’s the one who visits your home, listens to what you actually want (not what he wants to sell you), and gives you honest, no-pressure advice on what’ll work for your space and budget.
He’s Steve’s brother, so when you’re talking to Dave, he’s working directly with Steve on the design. No Chinese whispers. No crossed wires. Just straightforward family communication.
What makes Dave different: He won’t push you toward the most profitable option. If a makeover makes more sense than a full refit, he’ll tell you. If your budget’s tight, he’ll work with Steve to find solutions that fit. He’s there to solve your problem, not hit a sales target.
Dave’s approach:
“I ask questions. I listen. I measure. Then I go back to Steve and we figure out what’ll actually work — not just what looks good on paper. If I’m recommending something, it’s because I’d do it in my own house.”
Leon
Lead FitterLeon’s the lead fitter and Steve’s son. He works alongside a small, experienced team of tradesmen who’ve been fitting kitchens and bathrooms for years. They know how to work with old houses, new builds, tricky plumbing, awkward electrics — all of it.
If there’s a problem that needs solving on-site — dodgy plumbing, surprise electrics, a wall that’s not where the plans said it would be — Leon’s the one who figures it out.
What makes Leon different: He explains things. If you’ve got a question about why something’s being done a certain way, Leon will take the time to walk you through it. No jargon. No “don’t worry about it.” Just clear answers in plain English.
Leon’s proudest moment:
“We were fitting a bathroom for a lady in her 70s. She was worried about having builders in, worried about the mess, worried about everything. By day two, she was making us tea and showing us photos of her grandkids. By the end, she said we’d ‘restored her faith in tradesmen.’ That’s what it’s about for me — treating people right.”
Stacey
Admin & SchedulingStacey keeps everything running behind the scenes. She handles scheduling, supplier coordination, and making sure nothing falls through the cracks. If you call or email, Stacey’s probably the first person you’ll talk to.
She’s Steve’s sister, so she’s as invested in the business and its reputation as everyone else on the team.
What makes Stacey essential: She’s the reason we show up on time with the right materials. She’s the reason you get updates before you have to chase us. She’s the reason Steve, Dave, and Leon can focus on designing and fitting instead of drowning in paperwork.
Stacey’s promise:
“If you email or call, I’ll respond within 24 hours. Usually within 4 hours. If something’s delayed or changed, you’ll hear from me before you have to ask. No chasing. No wondering what’s happening. Just clear communication.”
Why Family Matters (Really, Though)
When you hire a big company, here’s what happens:
- You meet a salesperson who’s great at selling but has never fitted a kitchen in their life
- They hand you off to a project manager who’s juggling 20 other jobs
- They send random tradesmen you’ve never met
- If something goes wrong, everyone points fingers at everyone else
- Good luck getting anyone to take responsibility
When you hire us, here’s what happens:
- You meet Dave, who handles your consultation
- Steve designs your kitchen or bathroom
- Leon and the team fit it
- If something goes wrong (rare, but it happens), you call Dave, Steve, or Leon directly
- We fix it. Because there’s nowhere to hide when it’s family.
That’s the difference between a family business and a corporate machine.
We’re not trying to hit sales targets. We’re not trying to maximise profit per job. We’re trying to do work we’re proud of — so you tell your neighbours, your friends, your family where you got it done.
Word-of-mouth is everything to us. That’s why we do it right.
Our Values
Not Corporate Waffle — Actual Principles We Live By
Quality Over Speed
We don’t rush jobs to squeeze in more clients. We take on 12 projects per month maximum — because we’d rather do 12 jobs properly than 30 jobs rushed. Cutting corners costs more in the long run (for you and for our reputation).
Honesty Over Sales Tactics
If a full refit isn’t the best option for you, we’ll tell you. If a makeover will get you 85% of the result for half the cost, we’ll suggest it. If your budget’s too tight for what you’re hoping for, we’ll tell you what’s realistic instead of overpromising and underdelivering. We’re here to solve problems, not sell you things you don’t need.
Local & Accountable
We’re based near Durham. We live here, we work here, and we care about our reputation in this community. If you need us after the job’s done, we’re 20 minutes away — not hidden behind a national call centre or a “submit a ticket” portal.
When Our Name’s on the Van, Our Reputation’s on Every Job
We’re not franchisees answering to head office. We’re not faceless contractors hiding behind a brand. We’re Steve, Dave, Leon and Stacey. Our names. Our business. Our reputation. Every single job.
That’s why we care. Because if we don’t, everyone knows.
The Family Promise
What You Can Expect from Us
Before we start:
- Honest advice, not a sales pitch
- A design that works for your life, not just our profit margin
- A transparent quote with no hidden costs
- Realistic timelines (we’d rather underpromise and overdeliver)
During the work:
- We turn up on time
- We treat your home like it’s our mum’s
- We clean up every day before we leave
- We keep you updated (you shouldn’t have to chase us)
- We don’t finish until it’s done
After we’re finished:
- We check in to make sure everything’s working perfectly
- We’re available if anything needs adjusting
- We don’t vanish the day the job’s done
- We’re a phone call away if you need us
That’s the Berriman Family Promise. It’s not marketing. It’s how we work. Because our reputation’s worth more than any single job.
What Customers Say About Working with a Family Business
“We got quotes from three companies. Two were a bit cheaper. But after meeting Dave, Steve, and Leon, we knew we’d rather pay a little more and work with people we actually trusted. Best decision we made. The other quotes didn’t include half the things Dave’s did anyway, so they wouldn’t have been cheaper in the end.”
— Paul and Emma H., Newcastle“The difference between them and the big companies? When I called with a tiny question three weeks after they’d finished, Leon answered his mobile and talked me through it. Try getting that from a national chain.”
— Michael R., Durham“You can tell they actually care. It’s not just a job to them. Leon noticed a wonky tile that I hadn’t even spotted and re-did it without me asking. That’s the difference between someone who cares and someone who’s just trying to get the job done and move on.”
— Sarah T., Chester-le-Street“I’m 74 and I was nervous about having builders in for a week, but they made it so easy. Explained everything, never made me feel daft for asking questions, cleaned up every day, and treated my home with respect. It’s the kind of service you used to get years ago. Rare these days.”
— Linda K., SunderlandThe Bottom Line
We’re not the cheapest option. We’re the right option.
If you’re looking for the absolute lowest price, you’ll find it somewhere else. (And you’ll probably regret it when the tiles start cracking six months later.)
But if you’re looking for quality work, honest advice, and people who actually care about getting it right, we’d love to work with you.
Because at the end of the day, this is our name on every job. And we sleep better knowing we did it properly.