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Kitchen of the Week: An Open-plan Kitchen in an 1850 Mews House

Kitchen of the Week: An Open-plan Kitchen in an 1850 Mews House- Off-street parking may be an asset if you live in London, but losing a garage to gain a beautiful kitchen was a no-brainer for the owner of this three-bedroom mews house. ‘The garage was where the kitchen is now,’ explains Charlie Borthwick, founder of kitchen design company Cue & Co of London. ‘There was a bedroom on the other side and a spiral staircase in the centre. The layout was a bit all over the place!’

Architect Nick Farnell of NFA Architects redesigned the space and Charlie sat down with the owner to design a new kitchen. ‘To make the kitchen really work, it was critical it flow into the living room,’ explains Charlie. To achieve this, he designed floor-to-ceiling units that run into the adjoining living space, and then tucked the island around the side to create an unobtrusive cooking area. ‘Space was at something of a premium, so we wanted to make use of every inch,’ adds Charlie, ‘while adding a few industrial touches and some accent colour to bring a unique feel and character.’

Cue & Co of London

Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here A professional woman, her daughter (when home from university) and their dog
Location West London
Property A converted mews house, built around 1850
Size The kitchen is approx 3m x 2.5m, opening into a large family room
Designer Charlie Borthwick, founder of Cue & Co of London

Situated in what was a garage, the kitchen has been designed to maximise space. ‘We always like to build right up to the ceiling,’ says Charlie. ‘It doesn’t cost a lot more to do this, but there are many benefits. You get more storage, there is no dust trap above the cupboards and they look like furniture rather than units lobbed up on the wall!’

Contemporary Kitchen Contemporary Kitchen

The open-plan design of the newly reconfigured ground floor meant the kitchen needed to appear as a seamless continuation of the living room. ‘I designed units that look more like fitted cabinets than kitchen cupboards,’ says Charlie. These run right along one wall, morphing in purpose from kitchen to general storage as they go.

‘You then come round and see the island with the pendant lights over it and the space begins to feel more like a kitchen,’ adds Charlie, ‘but with its own personality.’

Cue & Co of London

A tall larder contains pull-out storage, while the fridge, freezer and even the cooker hood are concealed within this sleek bank of units.

Table light, Cue & Co of London.

Cue & Co of London

The cabinets are designed by Charlie and then modified to suit each customer. ‘We typically use a mix of moisture-resistant MDF, which is very stable, and timber,’ says Charlie. The cabinets were then spray-painted in a soft grey eggshell. ‘The walls were painted in a very similar shade to help the kitchen blend in and feel part of the entire ground floor,’ he adds.

Ladbroke kitchen, Cue & Co of London; spray-painted in French Gray Estate Eggshell, Farrow & Ball.

Cue & Co of London

The splashback is made from polished plaster. ‘It’s mixed on site to the colour specified and is hard as a rock,’ says Charlie. ‘It’s then waxed to create a very smooth, wipeable finish.’

The pink used here is picked up around the scheme, on the island stools, box lanterns and cushions in the living space. ‘Having gone for such a seamless design, we wanted to throw in some colour,’ says Charlie. ‘You come around the corner and it jumps out at you.’

Check out more smart splashback finishes

Cue & Co of London

Charlie made the box pendant lanterns from reclaimed timber. ‘They are painted on the inside in the same pink as the splashback to continue those pink accents around the space,’ he says.

Memoria Collection box lanterns, Cue & Co of London.

Cue & Co of London

Charlie and his team built new sliding doors at the front, which can be opened to give direct access to the street. ‘There’s also a central, front door,’ says Charlie, ‘but these are a beautiful feature that remind you of the property’s past as a garage and, before that, stables.’

Cue & Co of London

‘I love mixing clean lines and a sleek finish with industrial touches,’ says Charlie. He chose polished concrete for the worktop. ‘It gives a bit more character than granite or marble,’ he says.

Range, Falcon.

Read expert advice on the pros and cons of different worktop materials

Cue & Co of London

The polished concrete worktop was designed bespoke. ‘I wanted to be able to see as much of the aggregate in it as possible,’ says Charlie, ‘for a really earthy, stony feel – it’s properly concrete!’

Finger grips cut into the cabinet doors take the place of traditional handles, keeping this wall of storage looking light and flush.

Cue & Co of London

The property was extended at the back to create a larger living area with glass sliding doors onto the courtyard garden. The same grey flooring runs throughout for a cohesive feel.

Black Earth floor tiles, European Heritage.

Cue & Co of London

Charlie designed a floating draining board for the sink, made from Corian and timber. ‘Trying to cut drainage grooves into a concrete worktop is never an easy thing to do,’ says Charlie. ‘Also, I want the island to be used as much as possible, so when you’re not cooking at it, you can sit around it, chatting and socialising. Being able to put the draining board away helps it to perform all these functions.’

Sink, Blanco. Mixer tap, Perrin & Rowe.

Cue & Co of London

‘Extractors are often seen as a feature in a kitchen,’ says Charlie, ‘but I prefer to conceal them.’ The remaining space in the cupboard that contains the extractor has been converted into wine storage. ‘It’s about making use of every inch,’ he adds.

Cue & Co of London

The drawers are constructed from solid oak, which is durable and warm in tone.

Cue & Co of London

A spacious living area opens off the kitchen and leads onto the courtyard garden through newly installed sliding doors. ‘The whole ground floor flows now,’ says Charlie, ‘with the kitchen a seamless part of it.’

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Kitchen of the Week: A Warm and Contemporary Kitchen on the River Dart

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Kitchen of the Week: A Warm and Contemporary Kitchen on the River Dart- To say access to this house, built at the bottom of a cliff overlooking the River Dart, was tricky for contractors is something of an understatement. ‘The logistics were extraordinary,’ explains kitchen designer Andrew Petherick of the unusually located new build in Dartmouth. ‘We had to book a barge that left from further up the river so it would arrive on site at high tide.’

As river barges don’t have any protective layers and are, in essence, floating metal shelves, all of the materials had to be heavily protected to ensure they wouldn’t be damaged en route. ‘It was a complicated project,’ Andrew admits, ‘but looking back, it was great fun.’

Artichoke

Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here A family
Location Dartmouth, Devon
Size 8 x 9m. The house has 4 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms
Designer Andrew Petherick of Artichoke
Architects Robert Seymour Conservation

The kitchen design was part of the wider construction of a new, four-bedroom home undertaken by Robert Seymour Conservation. A previous house was knocked down to make way for this one, which overhangs the River Dart.

‘When the client bought the house, he bought the public loo at the top of the house, too, which he turned into a lift lobby to get down to the property at the bottom of the cliff,’ explains Andrew.

Artichoke

Artichoke was asked to create a kitchen that alluded to the forms of a boat, as the owner is a keen sailor. ‘The client wanted the design to nod towards a galley kitchen,’ explains Andrew. Teak worktops, olive ash cabinets and the curved edges of the island and splashback, with everything neatly tucked away, give it a real sense of a nautical cook’s kitchen.

Artichoke

One of the most striking things about the space is the amount of light, with glass elements on both sides of the room and a large skylight above the central island.

The skylight was also instrumental in bringing in some of the heavier furniture, such as the ovens and fridge, which would have been too heavy to bring in by barge. ‘We had a digger lifting the furniture off the barge into the living room, and we were worried the heavier pieces might pull it into the water,’ explains Andrew. Instead, they used a crane to lower these items through the skylight.

Fridge, Sub-zero. Bar stool, Nest.

Artichoke

The bay window peeps out over the tidal wall of the house, allowing spectacular views of the River Dart. In terms of deciding on the layout, says Andrew, ‘It was important the living room took precedence in terms of views.’ The living space, including central fire pit, was designed by the architect, with furniture selected by the client.

Artichoke

The island comprises olive ash cabinets and drawers, which hide some of the utilitarian elements, such as the dishwasher and rubbish bins. A microwave is also housed in here, opposite the Aga. ‘I’m not sure I love having huge banks of appliances, it makes it difficult to design something elegant,’ explains Andrew. Simple spotlights highlight the island after dark.

Microwave, Miele.

Artichoke

In order to be able wash some of the client’s more delicate crockery, Andrew included a solid teak sink in the design, as it’s more forgiving than other materials. Teak contains natural oils that repel water, making it ideal for wet areas. The taps are operated by pulling the upright tips forwards.

The worktop is also teak. ‘The client wanted to be able to chop directly onto the surface,’ explains Andrew. Although chopping will mark the surface, the client wanted it to be a usable and practical worktop, and knew replacing it would be easy once it became heavily marked.

T45 taps, MGS.

Get expert tips on choosing the perfect worktop

Artichoke

On the other side of the island, the wood dips back to create a breakfast bar. ‘We made it that shape because it mirrors the curve in the glass splashback behind,’ says Andrew. It also features a crisp mitred edge (where a joint is cut at 45 degrees to hide any edge detail). It’s small touches such as these that give the kitchen its elegance.

Artichoke

The second sink is the scullery sink and is a stainless steel under-mount, designed to be big enough for Aga pans. Andrew went for recessed handles detailed into the furniture so as not to break up the lines, and so it remains in keeping with the contemporary, sleek look.

Artichoke

Bifold doors open out onto a patio that overlooks the river. Behind, the lift shaft is visible; this is also the entrance to the home. When buying the property, the client also bought the 1960s public loo at the top of the shaft and transformed it into the lift lobby, as the only other access was via a steep, narrow set of concrete steps. Now a lift takes you down into the home with ease and convenience.

Artichoke

In this image, the curves of the kitchen are easily visible. ‘This is by no means a square kitchen,’ says Andrew. For the splashback, the designer had to take templates of the interior wall of the building to curve the back-painted glass to the same angle.

Olive ash, used for the cabinets, tends to grow in very straight lines and has a distinctive, and rather beautiful, striped grain. ‘It’s a nice warm colour,’ says Andrew. ‘When we do contemporary designs, we try to do them with warmth. Contemporary can be hard, so we introduce a softer and warmer element, making it more fun to be in.’

Range cooker, Aga.

Check out different types of wooden kitchen cabinetry

Artichoke

The wooden elements and sleek lines of the kitchen successfully give it that galley kitchen feel, making it perfectly at home in its little spot by the river.

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Kitchen of the Week: A Georgian Country Gem Transformed With Light

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Kitchen of the Week: A Georgian Country Gem Transformed With Light- Before the redesign of their kitchen, the owners of this Georgian farmhouse had already made a decision to open up what had been a dark, closed-off space by partially knocking through to an adjacent room. The idea meant they’d be able to steal natural light from windows previously blocked off from the kitchen, as well as gaining a more airy feel. They also wanted the kitchen to retain its country credentials and have a cosy, welcoming feel, as well as providing enough space in which to entertain.

So when father and daughter team Mike and Jo Ashwin, from Hill Farm Furniture, took on the design, their brief was to run with the new theme and create a room that packed in storage and farmhouse character, yet felt fresh and uncluttered.

Hill Farm Furniture Ltd

Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here A farming couple whose children have left home
Location Near Sleaford, Lincolnshire
Size Approximately 4m x 4m. The house has 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms
Designers Mike Ashwin and Jo Ashwin of Hill Farm Furniture

In this well-proportioned Georgian kitchen’s previous incarnation, the cupboards were dark wood, the Aga was deep green, and there was just one source of natural light – the window over the sink.

One of the significant room-brightening jobs was getting the Aga re-enamelled in farmhouse cream. The couple also upgraded the cooker by adding an electric module, which increased its width. This affected the design of the kitchen, as there was now little space for anything either side of the cooker.

‘We added very small cupboards, though,’ says Jo Ashwin. ‘They’re mainly to frame the Aga, but they also come in handy for spices and oils.’ The Ashwins also added the fire surround and two painted wooden corbels under the shelf to add architectural interest.

Hill Farm Furniture Ltd

The characterful kitchen table was part of the original room. ‘So many people now, even in old properties, want an island and aren’t bothered by having a table,’ says Jo. ‘But a table like this is a really traditional farmhouse kitchen feature, and we were happy the owners wanted to keep it – it really adds to the room.’

That said, in a smallish kitchen it did leave the couple a little short of workspace, so the designers decided to add a mini island, ‘more of a butcher’s block’ as Jo describes it, and butted the table up against it. It’s a good-looking combination, but also very practical.

Discover ideas for creating the perfect space for an informal kitchen supper

Hill Farm Furniture Ltd

‘There wasn’t a vast amount of storage in the previous version of the kitchen,’ explains Jo, ‘but we managed to get two larder units in here.’ This one is chiefly used for crockery and glassware, but also hides a fridge behind one of the side doors.

Hill Farm Furniture Ltd

The wood – down to the cupboard interiors – is all English oak. ‘The oak worktops are light and warm and – buffed with clear Osmo oil – bounce light around, too,’ says Jo.

The piece of unpainted oak on the front of the larder is a decorative detail that visually breaks up the unit, connects it to the worktops and adds interest.

The paintwork is a trio of Farrow & Ball shades: on the walls it’s String, while the units alternate between Cord and Stone White (the greenish-looking ones). ‘I always think it’s nice to do the island a different colour to the cupboard doors,’ says Jo. ‘And we painted the cupboards either side of the cream Aga in the greenish Stone White paint, just to add a bit of contrast.’

The flagstone-style floors are, in fact, travertine.

Walls painted in String; island and larder with wine rack painted in Stone White; smaller larder and base units painted in Cord, all Farrow & Ball.

Hill Farm Furniture Ltd

Just visible to the left of the larder unit is a little half-height end cupboard. ‘We always try to avoid a “blank end” – especially when you’ll see it as you enter the room – and the angled design softens the corner,’ explains Jo. ‘The owner wanted somewhere to sit her landline phone.’

Hill Farm Furniture Ltd

Inside the larder, Mike added little boxes to the insides of the doors to make essentials such as mugs a bit more accessible. ‘We do a lot of these,’ explains Jo, ‘and people use them for all sorts – in food cupboards they’re good for sauces, oils and bottles.’

Hill Farm Furniture Ltd

The cupboard and drawer knobs are cream ceramic. The Ashwins added drawers at the bottom of the larder to break up the design, so it isn’t a wall of cupboards.

Hill Farm Furniture Ltd

In this image, you can see one of the sections of wall, either side of the Aga, the owners had knocked through as part of the kitchen redesign.

‘Even though this is a classic country kitchen,’ says Jo, ‘you have generous proportions to play with because it’s in a Georgian house, so there are sash windows and high ceilings.’

Hill Farm Furniture Ltd

The larder cupboard the Ashwins designed to go here had to be extremely narrow so as not to obstruct the new walkway through to the snug room on the other side. As such, it’s just 25cm deep – though shallower in one section as it’s built around the structural pillar, just visible, behind it. Cleverly, the shelves are all adjustable, so space can be used most efficiently.

‘All our door mouldings are authentic,’ says Jo. ‘These ones were replicated from the interior doors in another Georgian house we worked on.’

Hill Farm Furniture Ltd

‘Some people think if you have a thin unit, it’s a waste of space, because you can’t fit much into it,’ says Jo, ‘but it’s great for food and you can get a lot of tins in.’

The inside of the cupboard is lined with thin oak tongue and groove panels – which took up a little more space. ‘But we always try to make sure cupboards look good inside, too,’ says Jo, ‘and we use the same wood inside and out, rather than only using oak for the doors and MDF inside.’

Get tips on how to maximise every inch of kitchen storage

Hill Farm Furniture Ltd

The mini island top is a thicker piece of oak than that used for the worktops. ‘This is to give it more of the look of a butcher’s block,’ explains Jo. The construction packs in some useful storage – though it’s not immediately obvious where. ‘The longest drawer, at the front, is real, as are the bottom two on either side, but the top side drawers are just for decoration.’

The sink area is angled in towards the window, and the Ashwins mirrored that with the design of the cupboards in this part of the room. ‘The window is sunk in, so we did the same with the sink beneath it, which also adds interest.’

French Farmhouse double sink, The Kitchen Sink Company. Provence lever handle tap, Perrin & Rowe.

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How to Create an Eclectic Look in Your Kitchen

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How to Create an Eclectic Look in Your Kitchen- A new kitchen is nearly always one of those big jobs on our wish lists in a new – and often old – home. And if you’re lucky, it’s a dream you’ve managed to make a reality. But beautiful as your spanking units, storage-filled island and swish new work surfaces may be, all-new kitchens can suffer from looking a little, well, new.

There are lots of ways to add a warm, lived-in look to your pristine cook space, and some eclectic styling is a winning way forwards if you are keen to inject personality, because this is a look that’s all about showing off what you love.

Clachan Wood

Mix, don’t match
Mixing colours, patterns, styles or materials is the easiest way to build an eclectic look in any room. You can focus purely on accessories if your kitchen is already in situ, but if you’re starting from scratch, you have the opportunity to get adventurous with colourful or vibrantly patterned flooring or splashback materials to inject a big dose of character into your kitchen.

Here, a colourful patchwork tile arrangement makes for a statement feature, especially contrasted with the white units and plain metro tiles.

Sweet William

Love your old kitchen
An eclectically styled kitchen can be a brilliant solution when you don’t have the budget for a total upgrade. It works perfectly with original units given a new lease of life with a paint job; highlight the non-pristine effect with a trio of mismatched lights.

Colour is easy to add without making major changes, too: spray an old chair a new, bright colour and dot splashes of other favourite shades elsewhere in small appliances, artwork and fresh flowers.

George Robinson Kitchens

Vary your zone styles
This elegant kitchen has three distinct zones: the washing-up and display area, the island, and the tall cupboard in the corner. Notice how each zone has its own look: sludgy blue and long handles for the island; cerulean blue for the wall cupboard, and white but heavily accessorised for the display and sink corner. Hello eclectic style…

To nail this approach, be sure to tie each element together. While this scheme might give the impression of being haphazardly beautiful, notice how bare wood features throughout, how the colours of the crockery tie in with the recipe books, linking the two ends of the room, and how chrome details pepper the scheme, from the handles to the taps to the elegant chandelier.

Get more inspiration for adding a bolt of blue to your home

Studio Stamp (formerly STAMP INTERIORS)

Blend it with your living space
A kitchen that feels more like a living room has a head start when it comes to creating a little eclecticism. So if you have an open-plan space with scope for an upgrade, think about both your cooking and your relaxing space with the same approach to colour, accessorising and character.

In this home, the owners have dotted red accessories across both parts of the room, while the aquamarine of the splashback tiles is picked out in the sofa cushions.

Although the kitchen itself remains ordered and functional, these touches help it to ‘borrow’ the busier style of the living area, with its coordinated mash-up of accessories, textiles, pattern and colour.

Explore more style ideas for open-plan living

Clermont Carpentry

Big up your fridge
It’s easy to choose appliances that blend into the background colourwise, get integrated into invisibility, or gleam powerfully in sleek steel, as if to announce their techy capabilities. But a large kitchen appliance can be the starting point for an eclectic kitchen scheme if you choose one that doesn’t match your units. A large black fridge-freezer works wonderfully in this kitchen by setting a stylish monochrome mood – picked up in the stools, clock, artwork, wall-lights and more.

Visible task lighting is another good tip for adding extra character to a kitchen, and there’s no need to fix wall lights like these, either. Simply choose an attractive desk or table lamp and tuck it into the corner of a worktop. You’ll be surprised at what a difference this tiny touch can make.

Harvey Jones Kitchens

Add a piece of art
So often, we reserve our favourite works of art for living rooms or bedrooms. But making a painting, print or vintage film poster the focal point of a kitchen will instantly add personality as well as mixing things up a little in this functional room.

An artwork can also inform the colour scheme of your accessories, as in this kitchen, where the industrial-style metal bar stools pick up hues from the canvas. Choosing black brick-style tiles for the unusual built-in fridge and cooker unit, and carrying the colour through to the window frames and shelf, adds another interesting detail.

Look at the sloped ceiling, too: those zigzags add interest without overpowering. As for the golden light fittings (and wall sockets and shelf spots – a nice design trio), what a lovely final flourish to the coordinated clash of this kitchen.

Architecture for London

Perfect pale and interesting
Here’s proof that eclectic doesn’t have to mean busy-looking. This incredibly sophisticated kitchen lightly taps into the look by mixing up a collection of vintage dining chairs.

In fact, this clean, pale, Scandinavian-style backdrop allows for almost any style to be created, simply by changing the look of the eating area: make it all white or blond wood and channel pared-back Danish elegance, or make each chair a different, bright colour and you have an alternative eclectic arrangement. The possibilities are endless.

Make one bold statement
Are you torn between loving the clean, pure lines of an unadorned and visibly functional kitchen, and the vibrance and interest of something a little quirkier? Have both!

This chunky reclaimed wood island, with its colourful, distressed paintwork, cherry red fridge and bright ceramics, adds a huge hit of personality to an otherwise clinical space. And the contrast is gorgeous. Notice how the softening effect of the coir floor runners and the clean and simple bare-bulb pendants visually connect the two different styles.

RDP Architects

Forgo fitted
Choosing a freestanding kitchen can make for a real commitment to eclecticism. By its very nature, a non-fitted kitchen is an easy way to mix and match. To really go for it, make up your units with antique cupboards and shelving that complement but don’t match each other. Paint them all in the same shade for an underlying coherence.

Having your possessions on display is a core component of the eclectic style and here the owners are showing off their kitchenalia with aplomb: the hanging copper pots, giant cutting board and old-fashioned sweet shop jars full of baking basics add oodles of charm.

The mix of materials is key, too: painted surfaces, raw wood, leather chairs and decorative tiles combine to build layers of interest, and create the sense that nothing is too ordered or rigid – the philosophy at the heart of eclectic style.

Ande Bunbury Architects

Let your units lead the eclectic charge
And here’s another way to make the most of kitchen units you may have inherited, or grown tired of. This 1980s-style colour-blocking is a bold approach to eclecticism that won’t be for everybody, but if you have the style confidence to pull it off, bravo!

It can be a fine line between eclectic and chaotic so, as in this kitchen, keep walls crisp white and accessories mainly contained within the area defined by your statement units, and let your cupboards take centre stage.

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Kitchen of the Week: A Sleek White Kitchen With a Surprising Twist

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Kitchen of the Week: A Sleek White Kitchen With a Surprising Twist- Designing this sophisticated and versatile kitchen in the Cotswolds was a collaborative experience. ‘The owner has an eye for detail and impeccable style,’ says Helen Norrvall of Hobsons Choice, who created the open-plan kitchen using Bulthaup cabinets.

Norrvall’s brief was to design a kitchen that would form the hub of this light-filled lakeside property. ‘The tricky thing when working with such a large open space,’ she says, ‘is to make it feel cosy and personal for the family when it’s just the three of them, but also to create a kitchen that works for larger groups when they have visitors over and want to entertain.’

Hobsons Choice

Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here A professional couple and their son
Location Near Lechlade, Gloucestershire
Size Approx 22 sq m, plus a 7 sq m pantry
Designer Helen Norrvall of Hobsons Choice

Slick and highly functional, this is a kitchen designed for keen cooks. ‘The couple had been living in Hong Kong, so their choice of high-spec appliances was informed by Asian cooking,’ explains Norrvall. ‘They wanted a range cooker that gave them the flexibility to use gas burners or a teppan-yaki plate. The six gas burners have two-tier flame ports, and the higher heat option is ideal for wok cooking, which is essential in Asian cuisine.’

Norrvall teamed the range cooker with white Bulthaup b3 laser-edge laminate cabinets for a slick look, then mixed in subtle industrial touches for added interest.

Giro bar stool, LaPalma. TV, Bang & Olufsen. Cabinets, b3 range by Bulthaup. Range cooker, Sub-Zero & Wolf.

Hobsons Choice

Before designing and installing the kitchen, Norrvall spent a lot of time with the owners talking about what they wanted from the space. ‘The beauty of spending time with them is that I was able to make sure the kitchen flowed,’ she explains. ‘We knew where everything was going – in every cupboard and every drawer. Only dedicated decorative items would be left on show.’

Norrvall chose a Corian worktop for the kitchen island. ‘The size of the island meant it wouldn’t be possible to use a natural stone due to the limitations of the slab size,’ she says. ‘With Corian, we were able to get a seamless surface.’

Sink, Franke. Tap, Dornbracht. Worktop, Corian. Ceiling pendant, sourced in Hong Kong.

Hobsons Choice

To the left of the kitchen is a neat pantry and prep room, which Norrvall designed in collaboration with the owner. ‘She was keen to have an area that could be closed off from the rest of the space,’ Norrvall says. ‘We used a reflective glass pocket door, so when the light is off inside, you can’t see through it to the pantry beyond. This is perfect for times when the family are entertaining, as any cooking mess can be contained.’

Projection clock, Karlsson. Engineered oak floor, Floorpol. Pantry pocket door, Rimadesio.

Explore more kitchen pantries fit for the 21st century

Hobsons Choice

‘The owners wanted a professional-style range cooker with a stainless steel finish that would make a statement as well as suiting the demands of a busy kitchen,’ says Norrvall. The glass spashback was made to order and back-painted in the same colour as the walls.

Gas hob and oven, Sub-Zero & Wolf. Aluminium wall track, Bulthaup. Walls painted in Oxford Stone, Farrow & Ball.

Hobsons Choice

This apparently neutral kitchen has a trick up its sleeve – coloured lighting that can be altered to suit any mood. ‘We fitted LED lighting under the island and around the tops of the wall cabinets,’ says Norrvall. ‘It has numerous settings, so the owners can change the mood depending on whether they want to create a party atmosphere or set soft lighting for an intimate dinner.

‘Flexibility is the key,’ she adds. ‘You need task lighting for cooking, but also want to be able to switch to ambient lighting for the evening.’

Hobsons Choice

Furniture designer Jonathan Field created the oak breakfast bar, which connects to the Corian-topped kitchen island. ‘He’s a genius with wood,’ says Norrvall. ‘The piece of oak is 90mm thick, while the island worktop is only 50mm. Jonathan created this unique finish with a cracking effect and a beautiful rounded edge.’

These organic elements provide a pleasing contrast to the sharp lines of the contemporary cabinetry.

Interested in fitting LED lighting? Check out this beginner’s guide

Hobsons Choice

Norrvall thought carefully about how to zone the room. ‘Big spaces can be more challenging than you might think,’ she says. ‘Although you have plenty of options, it’s important to create balance – you need the proportions to work with the rest of the scheme. It’s not about filling every inch of space.’

She chose long, thin wall cabinets for a neat look – plus they allow for the wash of coloured lighting above. ‘They help maintain the airy feel,’ she says. ‘There’s an extractor hidden in the middle cabinet, as we wanted to keep things streamlined.’

The kitchen is geared up for parties, with two wine fridges, plus an additional fridge in the pantry that has a versatile cool drawer with multiple-use settings.

Wine fridges, Sub-Zero & Wolf.

Hobsons Choice

The oak shelves slotted into the corner of the island were custom-made by Jonathan Field to match the breakfast bar. They were designed specifically to house the owners’ extensive collection of cookbooks and keep them within easy reach.

Hobsons Choice

Dinner guests are in for a treat, as the glass-fronted home has spectacular lakeside views.

Jonathan Field made the table for 12, which is ideal for large dinner parties, and it’s teamed with comfy leather chairs. ‘I think the wooden pieces and soft-textured light fittings work beautifully alongside the sleek, industrial kitchen,’ says Norrvall.

Cascadence pendant lights, Ango at Future Lighting. Curtains and blinds, Theia fabric from Nobilis. Artwork, Simon Birch. Dining chairs in Naturale 0442, Zanotta.

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http://www.houzz.co.uk/photos/kitchen