3 CLEVER DESIGN SOLUTIONS
1 WALK-IN PANTRY One of Sara and Adam’s smartest moves was to leave space for a separate walk-in pantry, which is accessed through an open doorway in the corner of the kitchen.
‘It’s tempting to knock out all the walls to get the biggest single room possible, but open-plan kitchens often work better with back-up – a dedicated place to shut away some of the bigger, less attractive kitchen essentials,’ says Julia. Here, open shelving makes it easy to see and grab contents and also provides a chic utilitarian look.
2 INDUSTRIAL EDGE
To give the classic Shaker cabinetry a fresh, modern twist, Sara chose solid bronze hardware with rugged knurled grips. ‘That’s the true beauty of Shaker design – it can be taken in a contemporary direction, without losing its authentic charm and classic craftsmanship,’ says Julia. ‘Going for the same dark paint colour on the island and orangery doors also feels more modern in this kitchen.’
3 RAISED ISLAND
Going for longer legs on an island unit, and forgoing traditional plinths, will lend a more freestanding look with the relaxed air of a classic cook’s table or butcher’s block. ‘Lifting the island off the floor is a great way to make it appear less dominating, too,’ says Julia. ‘This is particularly important if you’re going for a substantial island like this one, that could otherwise easily overpower the room.’ Here, Mowlem & Co installed plinths with a mirrored finish to cleverly conceal the sink connections.
Buster + Punch’s furniture knobs in smoked bronze add a robust, industrial accent