RECIPE FOR SUCCESS
Restaurateurs Caroline and George Dodds cooked up a stunning renovation of their Victorian terrace by the sea
The stunning kitchen extension at the heart of this Kent terrace has all the ingredients for busy family life and entertaining
Caroline and George Dodds were living in a fisherman’s cottage on the East Kent coast when they decided they needed to find a larger family home. ‘We saw this house online while we were on holiday and as soon as we got home, we arranged to view it,’ says Caroline. ‘It was in a terrible condition, overrun with cats and hadn’t been touched since the Fifties.’ Nonetheless, they loved it so much they put a bid in, which was accepted.
The couple had recently welcomed their son Henry and knew they needed more space. To help make the most of their new home, they worked with architect Ellis Designs. ‘We really wanted a modern, light-filled kitchen extension at the rear of the house, designed to complement the age of the property,’ says Caroline. ‘And we wasted no time – work began on the very day we got the keys.’
This was to be no ordinary kitchen – as a chef George needed the design to be functional and to incorporate a large number of appliances. Finding the right balance between a professional and family kitchen was important. ‘We had to compromise on the number of units in order to accommodate all the appliances,’ says Caroline. The grey Shaker-style cabinets and marble surfaces have a traditional feel, while the polished concrete floor adds a contemporary note.
Having previously lived with a small dark kitchen, the couple were keen to incorporate both functional and ambient
lighting. ‘We have spotlights and LED strips, but we could have done with even more,’ says Caroline. ‘The polished concrete floor is a real showstopper; we love its tactility. In fact, the whole kitchen is a huge success – it’s the heart of our house and is our main entertaining space.’
At the front of the property the pair opted to keep the sitting room and family room as separate areas instead of knocking through. Both are designed neutrally in order to allow the couple’s art and furniture to shine. ‘We were keen to continue the theme of period style with a modern twist throughout the rest of the house,’ says Caroline. This is especially true in the family bathroom, where a traditional roll-top bath sits on hexagonal tiles. ‘The poor tiler felt quite dizzy installing them,’ says Caroline.
For a secluded feel, Caroline and George decided to have the master bedroom in the loft. ‘We wanted to create a calming retreat with a luxurious, hotel-style wet room,’ says Caroline. The colour scheme of soft greys and pinks gives the room a peaceful, serene air and the marble and brass in the wet room exude opulence. ‘We originally wanted to have a bath under the eaves, but the architect persuaded us to install a wet room and I’m so glad we did,’ she says. ‘We’ve been conscious not to fill the room with furniture and accessories to keep the space feeling calm, and as a result it really does feel like our own little oasis.’
INSPIRATION‘ I did lots of design research leading up to the project– Google Images was actually a great source of ideas’