Andreya Popova

Through small stylistic changes they wanted to modernize the space and have it reflecting their minimalistic personal taste. The brief described their wish to create a bright contemporary space, neutral in colour and simple in shapes with earthy natural tones throughout. A family of four, with two teenage boys, they take their time cooking healthy meals in the weekend, but also lead busy lives that require quick fixes during the week. All of them are incredibly social and frequently have their friends and family over for dinner, so a flexible space was required.

The client wanted to remove one of the internal walls, get rid of the heavy barn doors, replace them with glass panels and replace the old-fashioned French doors with fully glazed double doors and windows dropped to the floor. They wished for a Scandi feel with heaps of natural light and an island with seating, that encourages interaction while cooking and prepping.

To keep the kitchen as bright as possible, I used a white super-matt door, and for that classic Scandi atmosphere – Halifax Oak features. I brought the kitchen out into the main room area, closer to the back doors and snug. To ensure continuity and simplicity, we made the profiles from the same panels in the same oak finish and seemingly randomized the decorative panelling for a more natural, relaxed feel instead of an overmatching structure. Expanding the kitchen created ample worksurface and storage space, including a pantry inside the old chimney, where all small appliances and unsightly cooking bits can be hidden away.

The clients insisted on a clear island for preparation, so we made sure to create a beautiful feature of the hob area and continuity with the colour of the tiles and walls.

The long table went through many transformations – but finally we decided keeping the space flexible will be the best for a family with such a busy social calendar. We created a matching table that fits flush to the back panel of the island and can be moved around ensuring maximum capacity at big dinner parties. On the back wall, I found fitting to place a little designated bar area close to the snug, tying the whole room together and utilizing an otherwise often overlooked space and beautifully contrasting the traditional exposed brick above the fireplace.

Project cost: £63,960.00

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