Ralph Kent / architect

Ralph did a fantastic job for us when we hired him to reconfigure our 2-bed Victorian semi-detached house into a 3 bedroom semi. He created a third bedroom in the loft space and reconfigured the downstairs layout to enable us to make more use of the space we had, by moving the stairs to the first floor and changing an internal wall. Now the house is much lighter inside, and we have the extra space we were hoping for. Ralph listened to what we wanted to get out of the project and added ideas we hadn't thought of e.g. shelf storage on the stairs. He considered the practicalities of the planned changes (loss of loft storage space for example) and helped us work out how to fit these alongside family life. Ralph was professional, considered, and creative in his approach. He was open and gave us honest feedback when reflecting on our design and our budget. We highly recommend his services.

Excellent work. Ralph delivered the work to budget and timescale and represented very good value for money. He gave me some really good advice beyond his immediate remit and whilst clearly taking on board my requests he was also very good at redirecting me and saved me from several mistakes. I would recommend him as an architect who really does have the client's best interest at heart and achieves practical solutions with the clients budget clearly in mind.

At the end of 2019 we were planning the remodelling and updating of a house we had recently purchased. We wanted to create a kitchen diner, with utility, and connect the house to the garage. We could not visualise how it would work and so decided to contact an architect. Ralph was recommended to us by previous employers of his, and we are very glad that he was.Ralph listened to our views, challenged us a bit in terms of design and introduced his own ideas and thoughts. Exactly what we needed at the time.After one meeting, a detailed site survey and some phone and email exchanges Ralph produced his first conceptual design. On opening the plot plan and the graphical representation we immediately knew it was right. Ralph came up with a scheme that was modern, unique and a great use of our footprint. Roll on a year and (despite COVID) we have just completed the build of our extension which matches 95% to Ralph's first proposed scheme.Ralph produced an extremely comprehensive package of information to support our request for proposals from builders which has helped us manage costs. He has also been on hand to answer any questions the builders may have had throughout the process.I would thoroughly recommend Ralph's services to anyone planning a similar project.

I used Ralph for the design and planning for a ground floor extension and loft conversion in Hordle. Ralph was great from the outset, listened to our requirements, took the brief on board and gave us exactly what we wanted, he also submitted the planning application for us and was great to have on board with t process. Highly recommend.

We have worked with Ralph on our house refurbishment since before we actually bought the house! Ralph was good enough to come around when we were looking for a suitable house to refurbish in Lymington and provide advice and guidance on what would work and what wouldn’t. In fact on his advice we decided not to proceed on certain properties. When we found the house we wanted, it was an easy choice then to engage Ralph to help us with the refurbishment. Throughout he was very professional, pushing, coaxing and explaining to us features he felt we should implement but where we were unsure, and in all cases his experience proved to be correct. Equally, he was also very respectful of our wishes too and made changes to suit our requests and change the design accordingly. As such it was a very fruitful working relationship, where we challenged each other for the best solutions, and this continued throughout the build process and resulted in a stunning house which has everything that we wanted.We would highly recommend working with Ralph, and would not hesitate to use him again on any future projects.

We are pleased to thoroughly recommend our architect, Ralph Kent. Ralph produced plans for a large, complicated extension to a domestic property, along with a double garage and workshop, and progressed the project through to a successful planning application. Ralph understood what we wanted to achieve. He listened to our tastes and based any designs about what we wanted. Took energy efficiency into account, aesthetes and most importantly for us, a practical / functional space to live in. His plans reflected our ambitions for the property, ensuring the most efficient use of space, and demonstrated great attention to detail. He explained the various options, advising us on probable costs, and provided excellent 3D / visualisation to illustrate his proposals. In addition, his knowledge of building legislation and research of local planning regulations proved invaluable. He knew the necessary procedures and reports / surveys required to achieve a successful planning application.Ralphs communication was excellent. It was a pleasure to deal with him and we would be delighted to work together again.

We employed Ralph to design a rear extension and internal alterations to our 1980’s house, to make it fit for our family’s needs. Ralph was a pleasure to deal with from the start, considering all of our requirements. The initial design Ralph produced fit our requirements very well with only some small alterations needed. Ralph has a huge depth of knowledge on construction techniques and consideration of material choices, which have resulted in a stunning modern extension which we are so proud of. The drawings and specifications that Ralph produced were very clear and really helped with contracting the builder and left no room for ambiguity. Ralph provided excellent support throughout the build which was very useful for us due to my job taking me away from home for long periods of time. I would have no hesitation in using Ralph again in the future and highly recommend him.

Ralph Kent is a creative and professional architect with much enthusiasm and excellent communication. Ralph’s detailed plans were submitted with our Planning permission and Listed buildings consent applications, which were granted with conditions. His forethought has resulted in a carefully considered, well designed high end extension, which totally maximises the potential of our Grade II listed property. Can’t thank Ralph enough for his continued dedication to what has been a long and drawn-out project. We wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Ralph’s studio or use his professional services again for future projects.

I had an idea in my head of the extension I wanted for my house but no idea of how to organise anything to make it happen.Ralph was recommended by a friend and gently led me through the process. Ralph organised the surveyor, made lots of constructive suggestions, produced excellent drawings and very quickly secured planning permission for me. There was little for me to do except decide what design I wanted.Ralph Kent is a brilliant architect but it is all the product ideas he comes up with and his organising skills that get the job done.

Ralph comes highly recommended by us! Our tastes and preferences are probably different to the majority. Ralph listened to our requirements, then provided a full range of options and suggestions.The designs that Ralph created make maximum use of all available space. It was very helpful to see how different styles / designs / materials varied the expected cost.Ralphs communication is very clear and helpful. All drawings, plans and models are always well presented. His knowledge of regulations is excellent.We are happy that planning permission was granted after the submission of Ralphs application.If we have future projects, we will certainly be enlisting Ralph again.Michelle – Junction Road - Croydon