‘Our kitchen is now the heart of our family home’
A small, impractical room has been turned into a smart, sociable space
Why did you make the changes? With two small children, we wanted to make the house as family-friendly as possible, and that meant having an open-plan layout downstairs where I could cook and still be able to watch the children. The work took about six months from start to finish – it was pricy but we think it was worth every penny.
How did you find the tradespeople?
Our builders were recommended by friends and we were really pleased with them. In fact, they were fantastic. The job did overrun, but they explained every step of the way when there was a problem.
What was the starting point of the scheme and how did it develop?
As I was dealing with an open-plan space, I had to consider the downstairs area as a whole. The flooring needed to be functional and timeless. For the kitchen, I had my sights set on classic, Shakerstyle doors, and had them painted in Pavilion Gray by Farrow & Ball. The marble-effect worktop elevates the kitchen to another level. It’s scratchproof, heat-resistant and so easy to clean.
Tell us how you chose the look…
We wanted the room to be a pale and neutral base, to which we could add plenty of interest with materials such as the Neolith worktop, which features a gorgeous veining throughout, tan leather bar stools and a herringbone wooden floor. We chose a European engineered rustic oak for the whole of the downstairs. It has been fumed and tumbled, creating an aged look so now it won’t show up any marks or scratches.
Did you splash out on anything?
The biggest expenses were the floor, units and worktop. They make up such a huge part of the space, so we felt they had to be excellent quality and great design. We made up for it by saving on the accessories, lights and bar stools, which were an ebay bargain.