INSIDE STORY
THE PROPERTY A detached Thirties house in Barnes, southwest London.
THE PROJECT Owners Jacey and Jules
Topham bought the house with a view to extending as they wanted to create a relaxed, open-plan kitchen-diner/living space for family life with their four young daughters.
THE DESIGNER Amy Chan at Kitchen Architecture. KITCHEN SIZE 5.8x5.8m.
DESIGN BRIEF ‘Jacey had thought a lot about the finishes and overall feel of the space before starting the project,’ says Amy. ‘Her ideas ran along the lines of industrial, although she wanted the pared-back space to also feel homely. The flooring was a major influence – Jacey chose it before she met us and wanted to bring oak into the cabinetry to create a link. We were mindful of the view as you enter the room, from opposite the island unit and from the kitchen and breakfast bar to the dining area and garden beyond,’ Amy adds.
FURNITURE The island worktop is 10mm-thick graphite laminate, which gives a modern modular look, enhanced by drawers that run to the floor at the front of the island in favour of a more traditional plinth base. Setting the bar at an angle helps to break the flat runs of cabinetry and creates a natural division between the cooking and dining spaces.
SURFACES As Jacey wanted a marble-effect surface rather than real stone in the same matt finish as the cabinetry, Amy opted for a Neolith Estatuario sintered porcelain worktop. This material is virtually bulletproof, so is a good choice with four children in the house. ‘As it comes in wide slabs, we were able to slice one piece lengthways and run it up the wall, so the veining follows through neatly,’ says Amy.
APPLIANCES ‘We chose appliances by Miele and Gaggenau, which are great quality and have the right modern look for the space,’ says Amy. ‘For the integrated appliances, we opted for Siemens, another very good brand that will last. People can get a bit obsessed about hiding the extraction above island units, but a simple steel hood such as this one does a great job and is barely noticeable. We install island hoods 180cm off the floor so that they won’t obstruct the view.’
STYLE TAKEAWAY Accents of copper create pockets of warmth and character. ‘The copper taps we came across were very expensive, so we sent a chrome tap to our specialist finish company to be plated for a fraction of the price,’ says Amy. Metallic tones are also picked up in the pendant lights and accessories. ‘We’re beginning to think of the marble, grey, copper look as a timeless style rather than a fleeting trend,’ says Amy.
‘This kitchen isn’t going to date any time soon.’