Couple left out of pocket following business liquidation celebrate in new kitchen

Tuesday, 16 July 2024

After Kay and Peter Dellow's kitchen dream turned into a nightmare the community rallied behind them. Now, they are celebrating and say their faith in humanity has been restored.

Sausage rolls are the first thing Kay Dellow cooked in her new kitchen after the community rallied behind her and her husband, when their dream retirement project turned into a renovation nightmare.

Kay and Peter Dellow planned to retire after the installation of their almost $26,000 kitchen, set to be complete by December 2023, but that was destroyed when the company they paid to design and build it, Kitchens Direct, went into liquidation.

Left $17,634.40 out of pocket, the Dellows spoke out about their ordeal and it wasn’t long before other companies came to their aid.

Ezy Kitchens Timaru, with the help of its suppliers and other businesses, offered to supply and install a new kitchen free of charge.

On Friday night, with the kitchen now complete, the Dellows celebrated and thanked those businesses that helped make their dream come true.

“This is just amazing,’’ Kay said as she walked around her kitchen pointing out its features.

“It’s overwhelming to see these businesses come together and support us. Because of the generosity of everyone involved with our new kitchen, we wanted to say ‘thank you’.’’

Kay and Peter Dellow celebrated the completion of their Timaru kitchen last week with all the businesses that helped them achieve their dream.

The Dellows said they had gone public about their ordeal in the hope others affected by the liquidation would come forward.

It had been a heart-warming process watching as the kitchen was installed over several weeks, she said.

“I came home to let the workers in and watched the splash back go up and I nearly cried.

The Dellows with some of those who helped make their kitchen renovation disaster into a happy affair.

“I have cried since this has been done … it’s just magical.’’

Kay Dellow and Ezy Kitchens’ kitchen design and sales manager Chrissy Hyde measuring up the Dellow’s Timaru kitchen in March.

Over the past few weeks she has found herself standing in the kitchen admiring it, and said the breakfast bar had become a focal point for the couple.

Barrett Joinery’s Brannan Couchman has a laugh with Kay Dellow while doing work in her new kitchen in May.

“I just sit here and smile.

“The colour scheme is just fantastic - it’s all beautiful.’’

Chrissy Hyde of Ezy Kitchens, left, Kay and Peter Dellow and Allan Cross of Level Electrical Timaru after the couple’s kitchen was removed in May.

“We’re not getting down on our hands and knees any more.

Allan Cross of Level Electrical Timaru, back left, and Brannan Couchman and Garth Stewart of Barrett Joinery doing work on Peter and Kay Dellow’s kitchen in May.

“I’ve got a corner cupboard that you pull the whole thing out, I don’t have to get down to reach anything, which is what we wanted.’’

Christening the new kitchen by making her family favourite, sausage rolls, she said the Dellow’s faith in humanity had “well and truly’’ been restored..

“We’ve gone from being totally destroyed … to be so overwhelmed with the generosity.

“We trust people again. You’ve got that spark back.’’

Wanting to pay their good experience forward, the Dellows had given their old kitchen away to a Timaru woman, she said.

Ezy Kitchens designer Chelsie Farrant, left, Peter and Kay Dellow and Alpine Carriers Timaru branch manager and company owner, Anthony Mason and Sam Johnson deliver the new kitchen at the end of May.

Ezy Kitchens Ltd development manager Dushay Pont said it had been a pleasure to help the Dellows out.

He said those involved with project had enjoyed it and it was important to acknowledge others who had helped.

They were Barrett Joinery, NZ Panels Group, Hafele NZ, Joinery Scene, Freeform Laminates and Stone, Archant, Acero, Robinhood, Alpine Carriers, PSP Ltd, Patemans Lighting, Greg Adams, Level Electrical Timaru, Telfer Electrical Timaru and Geraldine Glass.

Pont said Ezy Kitchens had also completed another kitchen for someone who had paid a deposit with Kitchens Direct.

“We were able to supply this kitchen at a reduced cost due to some of our suppliers supporting this as well,’’ he said.

“No-one else came forward.’’

Kitchens Direct (NZ) Ltd, was put into liquidation in October, along with three associated companies.

In May, liquidator Mohammed Jan told The Timaru Herald he was still investigating a number of matters including debtors and other funds thought to be owed to the company.