3 CLEVER DESIGN SOLUTIONS
1 COOK’S TABLE
‘In a slender space, a narrow island tends to look stingy and as if it might topple over,’ explains Drew Forsyth & Co designer Leigh Topping. ‘A cook’s table, however, with light passing through its base, looks much more balanced.’ Finished with chunky, traditional-style legs, this sturdy table has a granite top to offer preparation and serving space. It also includes drawers, a fitted oak chopping board and tray, with a slatted base for baskets and pots. ‘It makes a fantastic, multi-functional centrepiece in the room,’ says Wendy.
2 COLOUR
‘I went to the stone yard to pick the granite for the worktops as my starting point,’ says Wendy, who chose a stone to complement the limestone floor. She echoed the granite’s flecks of deep purple and burgundy in the colours she chose to paint the cabinetry, working with Leigh to create a balance of hues in the space. ‘I didn’t want to play it safe,’ she explains. ‘It is our family home, so why not choose something as wild and personal as we want?’ The rich colours enhance the inviting feel of the room, offset by a soft, warm neutral used for the walls.
3 BREAKFAST AREA
The old kitchen didn’t include space for the family to gather for meals, something that Wendy and Thomas wanted to resolve. ‘Given the age, character and listed status of the house, we couldn’t enlarge the room,’ explains Wendy. Instead, they were able to include a bespoke circular table underneath the new window to make a light-filled spot, complete with fitted booth seating. The seats can be lifted to reveal storage, while open shelves at each end are perfect for recipe books.
THE DETAILS
CABINETRY
Bespoke Classic Chamfer kitchen with bespoke dining table and bench seating. Kitchen cabinetry, from £20,000, Drew Forsyth & Co; in Preference Red and Paean Black estate eggshell, £64 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball
SURFACES
Similar Seagrass granite worktops and upstands, from £5,000; similar antiqued mirror splashback, from £500; both Drew Forsyth & Co. Bayonne Provence limestone floor tiles, from £70.80m sq, Mandarin Stone, are a match. Walls in Jitney modern emulsion, £49.95 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball
APPLIANCES
Elise 110 dual fuel range cooker in Black, £2,449; FM900 built-in extractor, £695, is similar, both Rangemaster. RS90A1 integrated French door fridge-freezer, £3,435, Fisher & Paykel. WS19SDX wine cooler, £49, Montpellier. S513G60X0G fully integrated dishwasher, £518, Neff. RHFM2363S microwave, £125, Russell Hobbs, is similar
SINKS & TAPS
Pronteau Prostyle 3-in-1 tap, £749, Abode. Kubus Fraganite undermounted sink, £416, Franke
ACCESSORIES
Vinny bar stool, £99, Cult Furniture, is a match. Evedal pendant light (above cook’s table), £115, Ikea. Garcia pendant light (above breakfast table), £96.10, Manomano