Before we started the renovation of this house (it used to be two flats) there had to be a huge change to the layout. The space that is now our kitchen was once a bedroom, bathroom, a much smaller kitchen and a bit of a garden. Now we have this big family space and dining area with a sofa nook.
The design came about quite organically. Our main concern was planning the right layout and flow, and ultimately it needed to work for a family so we could chat to the kids while making dinner and have enough space for everyone to join in cooking. We lived in the upstairs flat while work was happening, and being here during that time helped when making design decisions.
The two constants throughout were the quality of the cabinetry (hence us choosing British Standard), and our wish to reuse terracotta floor tiles salvaged from under old linoleum for the pantry floor.
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To stop the kitchen feeling too open we built a stud wall with an internal window to create a pantry – the ultimate luxury after 10 years of spinning shelves in a corner cupboard to find the pasta! We also wanted a space that we could entertain in, so the dishwasher, sink (and dirty dishes) are disguised behind the pantry wall.
The work surface is an off-the-shelf Diespeker resin terrazzo and the walls are painted in Farrow & Ball’s ‘Setting Plaster’, chosen to pick up on the pink in the terrazzo. Behind the units is ‘Templeton Pink’ in Modern Emulsion – a darker shade to add depth and a tougher finish to withstand spills from ‘enthusiastic’ cooking.
To lean into the relaxed feel, we selected tarnished brass taps and fittings from Perrin & Rowe. Wicker and scalloped lampshades by Matilda Goad x edit58 add a touch of personality. The artwork was largely pieces we already owned, including a vintage French poster and an original by Michael Angove. We also hung up a paint-splattered apron I found in the Farrow & Ball wallpaper factory.
From a very young age, my dad instilled in me an understanding of quality, so I love this kitchen’s fittings – I’ve never known a soft-close drawer like it. But the fact that it’s the perfect space for dancing with Bea and Raffi, my little girl and boy, is my favourite thing. farrow-ball.com; britishstandardcupboards.co.uk
