The Team
MEET SOFIA
Sofia Bune Strandh
Chief Executive Officer
Sofia, the founder of Sola Kitchens, hails from Sweden. Formerly a City lawyer, she transitioned to kitchen design when she needed a kitchen herself. Over the years, her designs have graced the covers of many magazines. Sofia is always accompanied by her red Labrador, Smilla, and enjoys skiing, running, and horseback riding in her spare time.
The team
Rhiannon
Head of Design
Rhiannon is a Product Design Graduate with a wealth of experience spanning almost 20 years, her ability to balance creativity with functionality has helped Sola to win numerous Design awards. When she is not in the showroom with a cup of tea, you will find her either on the netball court or planning her next cultural trip. Her love of dining at upcoming restaurants and the enjoyment of the fusion of foods is in keeping with the way she loves mixing ranges of designs.
Pamela
Head of Sales
Pamela has spent most of her career in the bespoke luxury industry, where her passion for achieving the clients' dream space has earnt her countless repeat clients and referrals. She is now sharing her wealth of knowledge with our team of talented designers, still enjoying being part of the design process. Early mornings are not a problem for Pamela, as when she is not at work you will find her at the pool with her son, who is a competitive swimmer.
Gary
Head of Projects
With over 35 years of experience in the kitchen industry, Gary has spent the last 11 years working on high-end residential projects in the UK and abroad, collaborating with renowned luxury brands. He is excited to lead the newly established projects division, working alongside developers, architects, and interior designers both in the UK and internationally to drive the growth of the Sola Kitchens brand. In his free time, he loves exploring different countries on city breaks, playing a round of golf and starting his day with an early morning gym session.
Matthew
Senior Designer
Matthew has decades of experience in the luxury contemporary market worldwide from Africa to the Middle East. Matt loves the creative freedom that Sola Kitchens has given him, having the opportunity to blend different styles and materials allowing him to push the boundaries of design. A keen sportsman and former rugby player, in his spare time he enjoys shooting or playing tennis.
Laura
Senior Designer
Laura is originally from Bath moving to London to pursue her design passions which have been deeply ingrained from early childhood. She has been using her creativity to design dream kitchens and stunning spaces, and her projects are regularly on the front of magazines. Lauras love of cooking and food is balanced with her love of the gym, outside of work Laura also enjoys being outdoors with her two playful Springer Spaniels.
Rita
Business Development Manager & Senior Designer
Rita is a Product Design Graduate with a wealth of experience as a designer and she brings her vast knowledge from working in top luxury Italian and German design companies, having worked in Portugal, Singapore and the UK and she has clients based all over the world. Rita’s designs are inspired by her love of cooking, and she prioritises functionality. Rita’s love of connecting people makes her the ideal Business Development Manager too. In her spare time, she also enjoys exploring art galleries or tackling her latest knitting challenge.
Antonio
Designer
Antonio studied Project Design at the University of Northumbria. For over a decade, he has dedicated his career to kitchen or furniture design, and at Sola Kitchens, he excels by thinking creatively and experimenting with textures and materials and is often involved in whole house projects. Antonio is a proud new father and is enjoying all aspects of fatherhood.
Carla
Designer
Carla started her career as an interior designer before becoming a specialist in kitchen design, which are inspired by her love of Scandinavian aesthetics, characterised by sleek functional and minimalist designs. Her background means that she can make the space come alive with the use of colour and textures. Carla enjoys spending time in her garden and growing her own favourite cut flowers.
Malin
Designer
Malin is originally from Sweden where she specialised in creating CGI designs to help homeowners optimise their floorplans and maximise space. Her design ethos centres on beauty and function as well as creating bespoke items which are individual to her clients. Malin loves to be inspired further by visiting hotels and restaurants and incorporates these concepts into her designs.
Sisi
Designer
Sisi holds an engineering degree which she uses to ensure stunning spaces with functionality and practicality and with over two decades in the industry she thrives on the freedom to explore design combinations and using her engineering background to overcome any issue. Outside of work she enjoys spending quality time with her daughters.
David
Designer
David has decades of experience crafted from both traditional to contemporary and throughout his career he has built on his extensive knowledge and honed his skills. Originally from a finance background which has given David an attention to detail that enhances his designs further. David enjoys running or spending time in the fields with his horses.
Fraser
Technical Designer
Fraser joined the Sola team as a technical designer in 2022, after graduating from Loughborough University with a degree in Industrial Design. A fan of classic Scandinavian design, Fraser is also a keen artist. When he's not painting, you can find him playing goalie for his Sunday league football team, enjoying a game of cricket, or strolling around the golf course.
Angus
Orders Manager
A graduate Product Designer, Angus began his career as an intern at Sola Kitchens in 2013. Since then, he has worked as a technical designer and kitchen designer, ultimately discovering his passion for managing the Orders Department. Angus thrives on design details, tirelessly working through solutions to ensure the smooth production and ordering of your kitchen.
Gudrun
Orders Processor
Originally from Germany, Gudrun holds degrees in history of art and fashion design. After many years as a kitchen designer, she joined the order processing department at Sola. Gudrun is highly creative, with a keen eye for detail and a passion for finding interior design solutions. In her spare time, she enjoys visiting art exhibitions and cultural events, as well as hiking and appreciating nature.
Carina
Operations Manager
Carina is our super-efficient operations manager, ensuring all installations run smoothly. With firsthand experience from physically building her own house, she possesses extensive knowledge about building work, making her an invaluable asset to our team.
Valentinos
Head of Marketing
Valentinos is an all-round marketing superstar who has been in the field since the late 2000s. His "scrap the ‘always done this way’" approach has helped numerous businesses in the interiors industry focus on marketing strategies that best serve their customers. Valentinos brings years of experience as a Marketing Manager for various luxury interior brands to his new role as Head of Marketing at Sola Kitchens. In his spare time, he loves fitness and baking, but you’re more likely to find him at the beach, in the sea, or soaking up the sun, as his dream is to travel the world.
Sanna
Office Manager
Sanna is our office manager, handling all the important behind-the-scenes work that makes the magic happen. After installing a Sola Kitchen in her home in 2011, she was inspired to join Sola Kitchens to ensure all clients love their kitchens as much as she does.
Jayne
Finance Manager
Jayne is our efficient and trusted bookkeeper, diligently managing all financial matters. When she's not focused on figures, accounts, and spreadsheets, she enjoys fishing and cooking gourmet meals for her family and friends.
David
Installation Manager
Since leaving school, David has worked as a carpenter and kitchen fitter, spending the last ten years managing high-end kitchen installations. He takes pride in owning the installation process and collaborating closely with the design team to deliver the perfect kitchen. In his spare time, David coaches his son’s football team, enjoys reading, and plans his next trip to the sun. He also has the unique hobby of collecting Trig points.
Simona
Installation Manager
Simona is a seasoned professional with over 10 years of design experience, including 2.5 years as an installation manager. Her extensive background is complemented by a remarkable attention to detail and a keen eye for precision in kitchen planning and installation projects. Beyond her career, Simona’s zest for life takes her on adventures, exploring both nearby and distant villages with her family. She also has a passion for the culinary arts, enjoying the delights of cooking as a personal pastime.
Tadas
Installer
Our installer Tadas brings extensive carpentry experience, ensuring every detail of your dream kitchen is finished to perfection. With a keen eye for detail, he takes great pride in perfecting each installation.
Robert
Painter
Robert, our expert painter and installer, was born, bred, and trained in Sweden. He works true magic with his paintbrush! When he's not painting and installing kitchens, he enjoys creating wonderful paintings in his spare time.
Smilla
Office Dog
Smilla, our office dog, is a Labrador who loves eating absolutely everything whilst balancing her busy acting career. In her spare time, she enjoys long walks, chasing squirrels in the park, and getting her tummy scratched. Woof Woof!
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