Adam Thomas
Director, Access Matters Limited
Adam Thomas is the UK’s leading accessible kitchen designer. He has established a reputation for innovative design that sets the standard for the industry. Born out of lived experience, years of research and professional practice, Adam has developed kitchen design principles that are transforming homes and lives across the country. He was consultant kitchen designer for the 2012 Athletes’ Village and his work led to revisions to the specification for accessible kitchens within Approved Doc M of the Building Regulations.
Adam is the winner of the inaugural Kitchen Bedrooms and Bathrooms Association Accessible/Inclusive Room Designer of the Year and its Lifetime Achievement Award. He lectures on the Kitchen Design degree course at Buckinghamshire New University and regularly writes on design for publication. He also leads training for architects, case managers, OTs, environmental health and disability grant officers, and works closely with personal injury solicitors.
Adam has worked to the principles of universal, inclusive design for 30 years. In the past three years, he has been instrumental in developing the concept of multi-generational living as a design principle with the Royal Society of Arts and other leading design influencers.
His markets span high-end premium quality kitchens for disabled individuals to social housing designs for whole developments.
His recent partnership with The Symphony Group, one of the biggest kitchen retailers in Britain, has led to the new Freedom range. Designed to provide bespoke, accessible kitchens at scale through a nationwide network of retailers whose designers have received specialist training from Adam on the accessible kitchen design.
“After 30 years of advocacy and activism, the proudest moment of my career was when I was approached by Symphony Kitchens to design a mass market range. As a keen amateur chef and wheelchair user myself, my passion and professional purpose is to ensure that any disabled person can be as safe, comfortable and creative as possible in the kitchen. I know how frustrating it is when the kitchen doesn’t work as it should and how liberating it is when it does. And I know the crucial role this part of the home plays in family and social life.”