About Us
D.G. Clifton & Son Ltd has been based in and around the pretty Sussex village of Loxwood since 1955. We have now moved to the delightful surroundings of Wharf Farm near Wisborough Green. Graham and Katharine Clifton work individually with each client to ensure that their needs are met. They personally design each project, pooling ideas between them to reach the perfect solution for each client.
Our speciality is sensitivity towards old country homes and the ability to design and plan bespoke country kitchens that are sympathetic to their style and age. We are also accustomed to working alongside architects and following their plans with care.
Our team of skilled craftsmen are all apprenticed and trained to use traditional joinery methods in the production of our bespoke cabinetry. We use the finest natural materials from ecologically sustainable sources, along with the best modern board materials to ensure a perfect finish. Our ironmongery and finishing products are also of the highest quality. As we do not sub-contract any of our cabinetry or installation works we have complete control over the quality and finish of our products. D.G. Clifton & Son’s reputation for quality and personal service is the outcome of a dedicated team of skilled craftsmen, attention to fine detail and appreciation of individual customer’s needs.
Our furniture is built to give lasting pleasure to those who use and enjoy it. Our wide client base has grown in two generations from a foundation of loyal, returning customers and personal recommendations. Some 75% of our business has come from this source. We are so confident in the quality of our craftsmanship and materials that we happily guarantee our cabinetry for 20 years against any defects, however small, arising from anything other than normal usage.
Process
Consultation
Once an enquiry is received, either Katharine or Graham will arrange a meeting, preferably at the client’s home to discuss their ideas and requirements for the project. We will discuss samples of materials to be used, for example, carcase material, cabinet handles, countertops etc. At the end of the consultation we will have a comprehensive idea of the client’s wishes and a full set of measurements, either from plans or the existing room.
Design
Using a combination of CAD and hand drawing, Katharine & Graham pull together all the elements of the design to produce detailed plan and elevation drawings and an initial costing. This is the starting point for discussion with the client and can be amended following further consultation. This is a vital part of the design process as it is imperative to perfect the design at this stage.
Manufacture
Following the signing off of the design by the client, the drawings are translated by hand into working drawings and passed on to the workshop manager with all the relevant information re materials etc. Everything is manufactured in our own workshop by skilled craftsmen using a combination of traditional and modern methods.
Finishing
Depending on the finish required, the cabinetry is either lacquered or spray-painted to a satin sheen finish in our own paintshop. Our skilled finisher applies a minimum of four coats of paint to an eggshell finish, ensuring a hard-wearing and durable finish. All cabinetry is finished and assembled in the workshop before fitting in your home.
Installation
Using our well-established team of fitters, we install all our own kitchens, wardrobes etc. At a pre-determined date we will arrive on site with all the cabinetry finished and ready to fit. Depending on the size of the project, installation of a kitchen should take no more than two weeks. Although the cabinetry will go in fairly quickly, there can be a 7 to 10 day lead time on some quartz and granite worktops. Before and during installation, we liaise with the other trades such and electricians, plumbers etc. to complete the installation with as little disruption as possible.