The brief

The family had lived with their existing layout and cabinetry for many years.  As their family grew they found more and more activities happened in the kitchen or were accessed through the kitchen.

They needed the space for multiple people to work and pass through (think packing lunches, preparing breakfast, doing laundry, going in/out the back door to feed animals and a cello, 2 violas, and school backpacks passing through – often all happening at the same time!).

Building works like moving walls to change the footprint of the room were not on the agenda and the clients wanted to retain their existing floor and kitchen appliances.

And that pop of colour – throughout their home there were many references to their favourite turquoise colour and they wanted to bring it into the kitchen too.

Our approach 

As we chatted through all the activities and plotted the journeys around the room it became clear that there were traffic jams in some key spots and the tasks could be better organised to reduce traffic back and forth across the kitchen.

There were unused areas that could be maximized to increase storage whilst freeing up worktop space to create separate work stations.

Using bespoke cabinetry (supplied by Christiana Cabinetry) meant the depth of some cabinets could be reduced to create wider walkways.

The layout remained very similar to the original but small changes made a big impact!

Storage

An under stair cupboard was converted into a spacious walk in pantry. Doors that tucked neatly against the wall were fitted with with floor to ceiling racks providing a large amount of storage.  The walls were clad with maple matching the interior of the other cabinetry.

Narrowing some drawer units opened up the walkway to the back door yet were still deep enough to store plates and bowls.  The area above was perfect for a decorative bookshelf a place to store favourite cookbooks.  Running the worktops into the window sills increased the work space and compensated for shortening the breakfast bar.

Laundry

Previously the washing machine was tucked under the breakfast bar by the back door and the dryer was in the playroom.  A new stackable Miele washer and dryer fit neatly in a tall cupboard with room in front to place a basket when loading and emptying.

Separate work areas

The swivel tap was put in a position so that someone working to the right of the sink could quickly access it even while someone was doing the washing up.  The breakfast bar and area next to the bookshelf were also great spots to work.

A pop of colour

We matched the turquoise and used it for the panel under the breakfast bar as well as in the glass splashback that runs around the room brightening up the entire space.

What the client said

“Just after our project was completed we had a dinner party for 12. Four of us prepared the meal and we couldn’t believe how easy it was to all be in the kitchen at the same time without getting in each other’s way. Even when our guests arrived there was space.  Somehow the room which we didn’t expand seemed twice as big.

The changes made achieve everything we wanted and we couldn’t love our new kitchen more.”