DREAM KITCHEN Classic English country style with glamorous touches thrown in for an elegant look
FILLED WITH NATURAL MATERIALS AND CALMING COLOUR, THIS COUNTRY COOK SPACE IS A VISUAL AND TACTILE TREAT
DESIGNER Tamara Magel, director, Tamara Magel, 001 917 628 086, tamaramagel.com.
THE PROPERTY A six-bedroom, farmhouse-style new build in the Hamptons, New York.
DESIGN BRIEF This is Tamara’s own kitchen in the home, nestled within woodlands, she shares with her artist husband. The look she was channelling has English country kitchen origins but with a little of her signature elegance and glamour thrown in to keep it from being too ‘farmy’. DIMENSIONS 7.5x9m
LAYOUT
The layout began not with the traditional ‘working triangle’, although it is duly observed, but by considering the outward views. ‘For me, the view from the sink is everything,’ says Tamara. ‘I gave up doors opening directly onto the garden here because I wanted a decent view of guests around the pool and the woodland when standing at the sink.’ The design and position of the island was also about views, or rather sight lines – there’s space for bar stools on three sides so friends can chat while Tamara is cooking.
CABINETRY
Designed by Tamara and made by a local cabinetmaker, the main kitchen units are a mix of modern slab and classical Shaker. ‘I like the fresher look of plain fronts on drawers but bigger doors, like the fridge fronts need a bit of detail otherwise the modernity gets too much,’ she explains. The painted finish is in Tamara’s go-to white, White Dove by Benjamin Moore, which she finds less harsh than bright whites.
ISLAND
A separate commission made by a woodworker friend, the striking oak and marble island unit is based on the traditional farmhouse table and lends a relaxed, gather-around vibe. Tall legs leave more of the beautiful white oak plank flooring on show, contributing to the room’s overall airiness. ‘There are drawers on the cooking side so it’s still practical storage-wise, but I wanted lots of legroom to ensure comfortable seating at the bar stools,’ says Tamara.
SURFACES
Tamara is obsessed with texture and even more obsessed with →