Independent kitchen designer?

[Higgle]

Another new kitchen thread.
We have lived in this house for 18 years and the kitchen is falling to pieces.
Although it is quite a big area (15' x 17') we have problems with insufficient storage, strangely positioned cooker and there never seems enough space to work because all the units are covered in appliances.
DH and I have enough wit to know what we don't want but are at a bit of a loss to decide what we do. Plus there are now strange mysteries about what to do about tiles (which seems to be "out"). What we have decided to do is get an independent kitchen designer in to help us with a plan and then get quotes. Unfortunately there don't seem to be any independent kitchen designers in Gloucestershire? Does anyone know of one who might be able to help us. The total budget is not huge (15k max all in) but we think paying for some advice now will save problems later. All advice gratefully received!

We're currently at the planning stage for a kitchen extension and will be going from a very tiny useless kitchen to a large kitchen diner.

I've got this thread on watch for when I actually get round to deciding how the kitchen will look, as there seems to be some great ideas.

I too haven't got a clue and am daunted about getting it right and all the decisions that need to be made.

And my budget for the actual kitchen cupboards/appliances etc is probably even smaller than yours TBH - our kitchen will be from somewhere like Howdens or Ikea. 15k will be plenty and I think the 30K+ 'Smallbone of Devizes' kitchens are not worth the massive premium unless you have more money than sense.

I had john lewis out to design, then realised I could get identical kitchen from Mereway for half of the price. John Murray at Arena kitchens was extremely helpful and improved on the JL plans in my opinion.
Would be worth googling and contacting him, he rang me up to talk though my design. Very helpful.