Extended family home
East Grinstead
About This Project
Brief
This family was having a new kitchen as part of a bigger building project to create an open-plan kitchen-diner. They are a sociable family with grown-up kids and wanted the new space to host large gatherings and entertain friends.
The second aspect of this brief was to incorporate lots of storage into the design to help the family keep the new kitchen and island organised and clutter-free.
For the kitchen style, our clients previously had a shaker kitchen, but this time wanted something contemporary and easy to maintain.
Our bespoke kitchen design
We worked with our clients to guide them on design and colour scheme options before landing on a contrasting, two-tone scheme in Porcelain and Dry Rose. Keen to have a contrast from the start, the customer initially chose a dark red as the contrast colour. However, as we progressed through the design process, they felt less confident about the boldness of red and wanted something that would still provide a contrast but be slightly more muted and have a timeless quality. This Dry Rose colour on the island delivers right on brief. It has a lovely, timeless quality that adds colour, warmth, and the desired contrast without being too bold.
The clients were still keen to incorporate a bolder colour somewhere in the kitchen, so we recommended using the splashback area for a more vibrant or deeper shade. The colour chosen was a beautiful deep aubergine colour, which works so well with the whole palette. The benefit of using this space for a bolder colour choice is that it’s easy to change at any point without a whole-scale refurbishment.
During the design phase, we recommended placing the Bora hob on the island and the sink on the back wall. This set-up works really well in kitchens designed for entertaining, keeping dirty dishes out of sight and out of the ‘sociable’ zone. The hob is discreetly positioned, ready to be part of the action if you’re cooking and hosting, with no need for an overhead extractor fan. This was a topic of debate at the time, as our client was unsure at the outset if they would like that cooking position, feeling ’on show.’ But they trusted us, approved our design, and have since told us that they love the setup and are so glad they went for it.
The open shelves were another discussion point during the design phase. We had originally designed the shelves to be centrally positioned above the sink, but the client really wanted them to be off-centre, so we adapted the design to achieve their vision. They’re thrilled with the final result, and we love the aesthetic, too.
In addition to the Bora hob, this kitchen features a Quooker tap, Konigstone quartz worktop in Cotton Star, Crofts and Assinder handles in American Copper and NEFF dishwasher and ovens.
All in the detail
One of our favourite little details in this kitchen is the finish on the bookshelf in the island.
The carcass of the shelves is in oak, and the side panel of the island is in the Dry Rose, so we edged this panel in oak as well, by hand. This frames the whole bookshelf in oak, without having a break in the material for the end panel. Our most experienced fitter, Ned, undertook the task and did a fantastic job.
Feeling inspired?
About to embark on a home renovation and have lots of ideas for your new kitchen? Email us at info@kitchensbespoke.co.uk to book your design consultation. Don’t forget to browse our Projects home page for more inspiration.