‘We bought our home on impulse. Steve saw it for sale at 9pm one night and had an offer accepted the next day. It was in a perfect location and had the potential for an extension. We then had to wait a couple of years for planning permission, as it’s in a conservation area.
We wanted to create a large space with character that would complement the existing building. So, although we love clean lines, the design and the materials are more organic than contemporary. The whole build cost £110,000 and took a year. Steve fitted the kitchen and laid the flooring himself. We bought oak carcasses and added bespoke cabinet doors. His DIY skills extend to every detail: he made the beautiful lighting by rolling metal into simple sculptural forms. We’ve since set up a website to sell his lighting online, called Arcform (studioarcform.com).’
WHAT WE’VE LEARNED “That we could create our dream kitchen on a budget by going to different suppliers for different parts. It’s been timeconsuming and hard work, but the end results are worth it!”
PAINTING THE CEILING TO MATCH THE WALLS CREATES AN IMMERSIVE FEEL CEILING SHADE
BELOW ‘WE SAW A CHARCOAL KITCHEN IN A MAGAZINE AND USED IT AS A STARTING POINT. WE LOVE BEING CREATIVE. IT WOULD HAVE FELT LIKE CHEATING SIMPLY TO BUY A KITCHEN!’ Similar kitchen, £12,000, Naked Kitchens. Dining chairs, £60 each, Mmilo. Sheepskins, £14.95 each, Wayfair
ABOVE ‘THE SINK AREA INCLUDES AN INTEGRATED DISHWASHER AND A HIDDEN WASTE AND RECYCLING SYSTEM.’ One-and-a-half bowl sink, £299, Franke. Industrial kitchen spray tap, £230,
Paini. Integrated Hotpoint
LTF 11M121 C dishwasher, £430, Appliances Direct
RIGHT ‘A GAS HOB WAS A MUST-HAVE AS WE ARE BOTH KEEN COOKS. THE BLACK WORKTOP IS A QUARTZ COMPOSITE CALLED CINZA LETANO BY UNISTONE.’ Series 6 PPQ7A6B90 gas hob, £450, Bosch. Cinza Letano worktop, £550 linear m, Unistone
ABOVE ‘THE LIGHTING HANGING OVER THE DINING TABLE, CREATED BY STEVE, IS A TAKE ON THE CLASSIC CYLINDER PENDANT. EACH ONE IS ROLLED FROM A SINGLE SHEET OF BRASS AND DESIGNED WITH A GENTLE SPIRAL, GIVING IT A UNIQUE LOOK.’ Cylinder pendant lights in brass, £125 each, Arcform