Anthony de Wynter
KC Design House Ltd
This is an energy efficient new build. This house is for a multi-generational family of five.
Father, mother, two children aged five and eight years old and grandma who lives with the family. Like most people the parents live a hectic life combining work with home and childcare. The children love to cook and bake with grandma. These past two years have presented families with the challenge of working from home, home schooling and a space for family time spent together. Cooking together, eating together, watching TV, and often working together. Our clients want this entire space to be cohesive and meet all the above criteria. Cooking, dining, area to relax and watch TV, entertainment/cocktail area, desk/office space which can be hidden away once done and space for the children to do their homework etc.
A contemporary and cohesive broken plan kitchen, dining, living, and study space for a design conscious and spirited multi-generational family. A hectic lifestyle dictates that certain areas can be opened up allowing for functional use, but which can also be closed off for a more relaxed environment in which to kick back in the evenings.
The arrangement of the floorplan has been zoned in such a way as to consider day to day living and make the best possible use of space, factoring in all the activities that go on throughout the day and evening, yet as a whole the entire space will be perfect for entertaining and spilling out into the garden during the summer months.
Being able to keep an eye on the children was an essential part of the brief and where appropriate door and windows have been repositioned to benefit the space.
Premium and versatile SieMatic German furniture was deemed appropriate given all the internal accessories and multi-matic tracking to aid organization, along with matt velvet anti print finishes (easily cleaned). 12mm sintered stone worktops were proposed as opposed to quartz, for aesthetics, practicality and hard wearing properties.
Fitted furniture specifically designed for the family’s needs include a substantial baking cabinet, out of the way of the main cook and behind pocket doors, with a low level shelf (socket attached) for granny and the children to use a hand food mixer / stand mixer comfortably. A similarly designed breakfasting/ drinks cabinet was included to keep everyone out of the way of the main cook during busy periods. This is located near the fridge and sink for convenience and will house a worktop coffee machine, toaster etc.
A home study for the children is located behind pocket bi-fold doors in the main kitchen space and within easy view from the kitchen island, it also doubles up as an office for running the house. All phones and gadgets are located in one space in a drawer in the study / office. Children’s activity calendars located above desktop computers and chairs can be parked behind the doors and the school bags can be kept in the adjacent tall cabinet.
Moving into the living / dining area, a cocktail bar and multiple tall storage cabinets for toys and day to day items have been specified and to separate the areas an asymmetric screen divides the area, for a cozier feel in the evening, yet the children are visible if they are watching TV / gaming. The TV is wall mounted above a low console for media equipment.
Clean lines and flat surfaces throughout ensure everywhere is easy to clean and easy to maintain and a carefully chosen, yet a restricted palette of materials ensures the overall concept will stand the test of time and considered lighting will bring it all to life and create differing moods.
Overall the scheme will ensure the family can live together harmoniously, comfortably and happily as they go about their lives.
Appliances
- Liebherr tall integrated wine climate cabinet
- Liebherr Tall integrated freezer, plumbed with ice
- Liebherr integrated refrigeration
- 2 Miele XXL dishwashers due to amount of usage
- Miele full size main fan oven (Miele proposed for temperature accuracy)
- Miele compact combination steam oven, plumbed
- Miele 29cm sous chef (warming drawer)
- BORA cooktop (Quiet convenient cooking at the island combined with extraction efficiency)
- BLANCO large under mount sink (The sink has been swapped for a larger bowl single sink given the family bake a lot, and to ensure large baking trays / sheets can be washed easily)
- QUOOKER Fusion tap, square, black matt
- SBOX rise and fall socket for power to island
