In the current climate getting good advice from the right company with specialist people is a priority and Arena Kitchens + Interiors promise just that. Celebrating 34 years in business in 2021, this Irish family business prides itself on its specialist team, consistently keeping customers’ best interests at heart.

The company was founded by brothers Kevin and David Rafter, who came from a background in kitchen sales and cabinetry. Following their master-joiner father Kevin Rafter Snr’s footsteps, they founded Arena Kitchens + Interiors in 1987. In the wake of a business trip to Germany in years that followed, they quickly realised that there was an opportunity to take these beautifully and quality designed kitchens to the Irish market. As a result, Arena Kitchens + Interiors has been the exclusive ambassadors in Ireland for the German kitchen brand SieMatic since the 1990s and have a selection of their wonderful styles on display in both showrooms. Arena also sells Hacker and Warendorf kitchens known for their quality, design, durability and sustainability.

Sales Director David holds a business degree, while Kevin, a draughtsman, is the Design Director. Says David, “We like to say there is one to make, one to design, and one to sell.” It’s a winning formula, given they have created some 11-13,000 kitchens over three decades, with many repeat customers. “We always emphasise due diligence is required when purchasing a kitchen. When you make an investment always query if the company or manufacturer will be around to deal with snags or maintenance issues. A tried and tested kitchen is an investment which lasts for 20 – 30 years.

“Arena’s kitchens are all European trend-led, driven initially by the fashion industry, especially when it comes to colour and handle styles,” says David. After an initial consultation, the experienced team at Arena Kitchens + Interiors will ask pertinent questions concerning the customer’s lifestyle – which in turn helps with the choice of kitchen style. Whether a family is large or small, or has a pet for instance is as important as whether a kitchen is for show or for entertaining. Recommendations are based on these facts and also budget.

There are two Arena showrooms – the 400 square metre showroom in Dublin 2 and the flagship state-of-the-art 500 square metre showroom in Sandyford, Dublin 18, which opened in 2017. In the latter, customers have access to the full SieMatic range including the latest SieMatic SLX kitchen model. In addition, Arena Kitchens + Interiors also sell kitchen appliances from Miele, Gaggeneau, SubZero & Wolf and Bora ensuring that it is a one-stop shop for all needs.

Customers will also find the full Ligne Roset range in the flagship showroom. The French brand, renowned for its luxuriously crafted furniture, lighting and accessories, is represented exclusively in Ireland by Arena Kitchens + Interiors and there is a natural synergy between the two brands. Ligne Roset is a family-run business with a strong belief in design and contemporary style, coupled with a commitment to investment and technical innovation. Creativity is also a key pillar of the brand. Ligne Roset was among the first in the industry to create outdoor versions of its iconic indoor designs. The brand is also known for its collaborations with both established and up-and-coming designers. Impressive past, present and ongoing collaborations include those with the award-winning Didier Gomez, Pascal Mourgue, Peter Maly, Pierre Paulin, Inga Sempé and the Bouroullec brothers, among others.

“Our customers have valued the quality and innovation of the products as well as the design collaborations,” says David. “We’ve found the best-selling collaborations and models are the Ploum Sofa by R&E Bouroullec brothers, the iconic Togo Sofa by Michel Ducaroy and the Prado Sofa by Christian Werner, though the list is endless.”

A selection of the most popular pieces from the Ligne Roset furniture range is available via Arena’s Express Item delivery scheme, and new pieces are shipped to Ireland on a weekly basis from the Ligne Roset factory in France. “Ligne Roset works in harmony with SieMatic and the ongoing collaboration just keeps on growing. We are proud to be a part of it,” says David. To discover the collection visit: www.arenakitchens.com.