Adam Thomas

Director, Adam Thomas Consultancy

STEM

Adam Thomas is an independent design consultant, acknowledged as a world leader in accessible, multi-generational and inclusive kitchen design. With 40 years’ of lived experience and professional practice, Adam’s ambition is to change the face of accessible kitchen design and enable access for all – by designing flexible, high quality kitchens with a full choice of colours and materials. 

For more than 30 years, his kitchen designs have been transforming homes across the country. Adam uses innovative design solutions to set new standards in his field. Working with private clients, case managers, architects, personal injury solicitors and occupational therapists, he develops unique, tailored accessible kitchens that allow people to live independently in safe surroundings with significantly improved quality of life. 

Adam is a specialist consultant to a number of ground-breaking initiatives working towards disability equality in housing and writes for newspapers and magazines. He is a visiting lecturer and provides tailored training for small groups of professionals. He also supports expert witnesses with consultancy services, as a subject matter expert in accessible kitchen design. 

In his 20s and 30s, Adam was the coordinator of the Rights Now campaign, an active campaigner for disability legislation – now part of the Equality Act 2010. He believes passionately in equality. Adam is married to equity, diversity and inclusion advisor Agnes Fletcher. He is the proud father of daughter Cara and the besotted owner of Jack Russell cross Colin.

“I am passionate about improving disabled people’s living standards and quality of life. For many years, I was banging the drum for accessible kitchen design almost single-handedly. Telling local authorities, housing associations and government how important it was for disabled people to be safe and independent in their own home; telling the kitchen industry that disabled people are a major market and were poorly served by what was on offer. At last, some companies have caught up. Symphony Kitchens is my biggest client to date and is leading the way. They get it. It has been a positively wonderful experience working with them. They commissioned me to create an affordable range of furniture called the Freedom range. They’ve skilled up their dealers and designers and their showrooms are accessible. I’m sure other manufacturers will follow. Finally, disabled people are beginning to get the products, design and service that they deserve.”