Page 114 - homes & gardens

H&G DESIGN dream KITCHeN

that handles instantly made the cabinets look more
kitchen-like, broke up the horizontal lines and added
an unnecessary detail. Many of the design decisions
evolved through being tested in a CAD rendering. The
same thing happened when we chose the cabinet
doors, which are all Shaker-style but in a more modern
lay-on installation, rather than the traditional in-frame
option. The drawers, which are all in the island, are
fat-fronted to make the cabinetry a bit more interesting.
We tried the island with Shaker drawers and it just
looked wrong. It’s often easier to see what you don’t
like and then use it to establish what you do.
WHY DID YOU LOWER PARt Of tHE CEILING? We
wanted to install a fush-ftting extractor fan that
wouldn’t compete for attention with the elegant
pendant shade above the breakfast bar. Typically,
this requires the whole ceiling to be dropped to
accommodate the appliance and ducting but, as this
period property has low ceilings, we couldn’t afford to
lose any more height. Installing a small bulkhead that
mirrors the shape of the island provided space for a
fush extractor fan and we also ftted spotlights for extra
task lighting. Painted in the same bright white as the
ceiling, it doesn’t impact on the sense of height, but
does help to anchor the island unit in the room.

WHAt IS tHE KEY tO tHIS KItCHEN’S SUCCESS? This
is an elegant, multifunctional living space that has
become a natural destination in the hub of the home.
The fnishes and materials are not kitchen specifc, ABOVE Positioning the induction hob and steamer in the island helps make cooking a sociable
event, while the tall cupboards have plenty of space for food and drink. BELOW A bespoke
which means the room can be enjoyed throughout the
leather bench provides an extra seating area and leads the way into the formal dining room.
day, not just when cooking or eating. In some cases,
luxurious materials can cause a kitchen to be unft for
purpose, but this one is equipped for serious cooking,
with a great ergonomic relationship between the
preparation areas, fridge and sink. l

sources
Bespoke cabinets, around worktops, around £8,000,
£40,000; Gaggenau BM TNC Granite, 0800 195
454 combi microwave 9836, tncgranite.co.uk.
oven, £2,350; BO 450 Cabinets in London Stone,
single oven, £2,200; Estate Eggshell, £53 for 2.5
WS462 110 warming litres, Farrow & Ball, 01202
drawer, £750; VI 260 876141, farrow-ball.com.
induction cooktop, Similar wall clock, King’s
£1,700; VK 230 steamer, Cross Station clock, £150,
£1,250; 400 Series Newgate, 01691 679994,
fridge-freezer RB492301, newgateclocks.com.
£4,750; DF 260162 Similar pendant light,
integrated dishwasher, Sorrento six-arm ceiling
£875; Blanco Claron pendant, £140, Laura
700-U sink, £600; Ashley, 0871 983 5999,
Dornbracht Tara Classic lauraashley.com. Similar feature Linda CLayton PhotograPhs niChoLas yarsLey
tap, £850; all Holloways bar stools, Flint bar stools,
of Ludlow, 020 7371 1787, from £270 each, Andy
hollowayskitchens.com. Thornton, 01422 376000,
White Macaubas quartzite andythornton.com.

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114 | H&G | SEPTEMBER 2015