Kitchen of the Week: A Cottage is Enhanced by an All-glass Extension

Kitchen of the Week: A Cottage is Enhanced by an All-glass Extension- Sometimes with period properties, the best way to extend isn’t to copy what’s already there, but to do something completely different. And this was certainly the way kitchen designer Alex Saint of bulthaup by Kitchen Architecture was thinking when he approached this quintessential thatched cottage in Cheshire.

Rather than attempt a traditional brick-built extension, he decided, along with the homeowners and the local planning authorities, to go for a contemporary glazed structure that doesn’t interfere with the layout of the existing property. ‘We went for a very pure and simple addition to the cottage,’ says Saint. The result is subtle, timeless and wonderfully bright.

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Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here A couple with visiting grown-up children
Location Knutsford, Cheshire
Size 4.8m x 3.1m
Designer Alex Saint of bulthaup by Kitchen Architecture

This home is a classic Grade II listed thatched cottage in Knutsford, Cheshire and, understandably, there was a series of discussions with the planning authorities to get the design for the new kitchen extension just right.

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After considering some more traditional plans, the couple and their designer settled on this strikingly contemporary glazed extension. ‘It doesn’t interfere with the original property too much,’ says Saint, ‘and we didn’t have to alter the cottage a great deal to install it.’

Structurally, all that needed to be changed was the opening up of the outside wall that leads into the new extension. The old kitchen had been positioned just to the left, where there is now a generous entrance hall.

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With the structure built almost entirely of glass, there were numerous implications for fitting the kitchen units and appliances. ‘Some of the initial principle concerns were things like fixings. For example, we didn’t have anything to attach the tall units onto,’ explains Saint.

A low-level wall runs around two of the three sides of the extension, so the backs of the base units could be fixed to that. ‘It just meant that we had to be really careful about how we planned the layout of the kitchen, so that in the end we didn’t need to fix anything high up,’ adds Saint. ‘Everything had to be literally millimetre-perfect.’

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The glass structure also meant there were a few heat and ventilation ramifications. Double glazing ensures the temperature doesn’t fluctuate too much in the winter, but the sliding doors – chosen so as not to impede the way out to the patio – need to be left open on sunny summer days to let the breeze through. The oak for the breakfast bar had to be treated with a UV finish to protect it from the sun, too.

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Saint created a modern-classic kitchen design, with sleek white cabinets and worktops. ‘The unit colour is actually a very soft matt white, almost borderline grey,’ he explains. ‘We didn’t want it to be a stark finish, but something a little more understated. It’s easy to clean and doesn’t streak like glossy surfaces,’ he adds, ‘which is great as there is so much natural light in the room, which will show up any marks.’

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A microwave, fan oven and warming drawer have been fitted on the left of the sink area. Beyond is a clever storage unit, which contains a pull-out shelf. The toaster, kettle and other appliances can be kept in here, plugged in, and drawn out when necessary.

The sink is integrated into the laminate worktop and has a 55cm stainless steel base, so the trays from the oven can fit inside to be washed. It’s finished off with a tap with a pull-out nozzle and a boiling-water tap.

Oven; hob; microwave, all Gaggenau. Tap, KWC. Boiling-water tap, Quooker.

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The layout was based on the family’s wish for a sociable space. ‘The cook will always have nice views, either out of the window above the sink, or facing the raised breakfast bar area and the garden beyond. When guests are around, they’ll feel inclined to sit at the bar, which will also keep them safely out of the working zone,’ explains Saint.

To the right of the sink area is a raised dishwasher, so the homeowners don’t have to bend down to stack the dishes. The cabinet above opens on a push latch, as does the drawer beneath. Next to the dishwasher is a full-height fridge: its door looks as if it’s divided in two, but this is purely aesthetic, creating a line that follows the edge of the worktop.

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The oak breakfast bar provides a contrasting texture to the white kitchen furniture. ‘It creates a nice artisan feel,’ says Saint. The wood is bolted to the units, and the worktop is shaped around it.

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Cabinets under the breakfast bar provide additional storage and have push-to-open doors, which keeps the look of this side of the kitchen more simple. Handles are reserved for the more functional areas. ‘If you have too many handles, sometimes you can’t see the wood for the trees,’ says Saint. ‘A nice balance of both styles tends to look more considered.’

Bar stools, Carl Hansen.

bulthaup by Kitchen Architecture

Both the cabinets and worktops are in laminate; the worktop is 10mm thick and the same colour as the cabinets. ‘Having one material and one colour gives the space a homogenous look. We wanted it to appear as one piece of material, one piece of furniture,’ says Saint.

Directly under the hob are two power sockets, so that the island can be used for any kitchen appliances. Lighting was kept as minimal as possible and is fitted on a track system, so it can be moved and added to easily. The flagstone floor was sourced by the homeowners and matches the patio exactly to create a flow between inside and out. Tiny up-lighters are integrated into the floor to create further visual interest at night.

Chair, Carl Hansen.

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