Emma Gains
Butler Interiors
We were commissioned to design a kitchen within a beautiful period property that has been tastefully extended over recent years. Despite the property’s considerable size and the kitchen’s Southeast facing windows, the kitchen was very dark with little natural light due to the window’s restrictive small glass panes.
However, a large modern sunroom adjacent to the rear of the kitchen had lots of natural light available. Our brief was to create a modern, usable kitchen, that was considerate of the property’s period features and countryside setting, and was ultimately light, airy and suitable to entertain friends. As keen cooks, appliance specification was also crucial to our clients, as well as having an adequate space to cook, prepare and dine. We proposed to remove the connecting wall between the kitchen and sunroom to provide as much natural light as possible, as well as open up the space significantly. We selected a next125 designer kitchen, the perfect combination of form and function, with a stunning island that was practical and great space to entertain. Appliances included Siemens’ single, compact steam and compact microwave ovens, a Franke sink, and Quooker Flex Tap. In design, we looked to balance the property’s rustic charm and original features, with a modern sleek style that our client desired. To reflect and bring nature inside, we kept elements as close to their natural appearances as possible, taking advantage of natural shape, grain, knots and imperfections for visual impact; incorporating a beautifully crafted Spekva Timber Breakfast Bar in Safari Brasilica.
We complemented this with Silestone Poble nou Suede worktops and a Sandine coloured glass splashback. Using clever door choices, we mixed Matt Velvet Cobalt Green to mirror the property’s country appeal, with Glass Matt Platinum Metallic fronts that help maximise the light within the room and finished both with Onyx Black grip ledge handles. The warm tones of the green and matt glass doors add a heritage colour palette to the distinctly modern kitchen design, as a subtle nod to the age of the property. Lighting in the kitchen was the main challenge for the space, considering both the natural light, as well as focused task lighting and soft accent lighting, as part of our overall design to tackle this issue. The kitchen’s original ceiling had exposed ceiling beams and a very low ceiling height, so we were conscious not to create a design that brought the ceiling lower. Instead, we created a bespoke built, white ceiling raft, which replicated the overall island size, that incorporated functional and ambient lighting. The ceiling raft also included the extractor and helped tie in the new kitchen to the very traditional fabric of the building. The design considerations have created a space that is beautifully subtle, soft with colour and light, and brings the countryside landscape into the room, whilst providing a contemporary, sleek, and functional high-end kitchen that is a dream space to cook and entertain in.
Project Cost: £55,000.00
