Luxury materials meet clever design in this stylish family home

Featuring beautiful metallic accents and secret workspaces, this glamorous kitchen reworked by Laura and James Brightman is more than the sum of its parts

When Laura and James Brightman moved into their period London villa, they knew they had a big project on their hands. ‘We embarked on a full gut and renovation of the property, more or less back to the brick,’ says James. So when it came to their new kitchen, the Brightmans had the freedom to craft a timeless design that artfully blended form and function to showstopping effect.

THE BRIEF

‘We wanted a multifunctional space that would be timeless yet inviting,’ says James. To help them realise their dream design, the couple took inspiration from the handcrafted kitchens on display in the Roundhouse showroom. ‘We loved the bold use of brass and marble,’ says James. The wish list also included formal and informal dining areas, a breakfast bar, a home office space and generous storage.

DESIGN SOLUTIONS

To create the smart look that the Brightmans were after, the Roundhouse design team suggested an impressive run of white floor-to-ceiling cabinets to house the fridge, freezer and a pocket-door breakfast bar, which can be hidden from sight when not in use. Under-counter units were chosen for the opposite wall, while a prep sink, storage drawers and built-in microwave are housed in the island. At the opposite end of the room, a cleverly disguised home office was built to match the tall white cabinets, and Crittall windows were installed to link the lower ground floor to the garden and flood the kitchen with light.

MATERIALS USED

To soften the kitchen’s pure-white look, eye-catching slabs of beautiful grey-veined Arabescato marble were used for the splashback and island top, while glamorous brass accents were introduced to create the wow factor the Brightmans wanted. ‘The stainless-steel counters and smooth pouredconcrete flooring have a great industrial feel and work well with the marble,’ says James. They also provide a subtle backdrop for the ‘antique’ brass on the island and extractor hood, which were given an acid wash to help them take on a natural patina with the passage of time.

FINISHING TOUCHES

‘Attention to detail is what gives this kitchen its star quality,’ says James. In particular, a sound system was built into the wall cladding, with grooves cut into the furniture plinths to allow for the very best conduction of sound. There is even a charging area for a handheld vacuum cleaner built into one of the tall cabinets.

LESSONS LEARNT

‘I think we’ve come to appreciate the importance of a coordinated team,’ says James. ‘Because everything is linked and sequencing can be challenging, having an architect and a builder who work well together is essential.’