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Kitchen Tour: An Elegant Design for an Open-plan Room
Opening up this period home called for a kitchen that looks classic while sitting nicely within a modern, sociable space
A strict division between cooking and dining areas used to be the rule in Victorian and Edwardian houses, but the owners of this period property gave their home a radical revamp to create an open floorplan better suited to today’s less-formal living.
The home’s history wasn’t forgotten, though, and Jayne Everett of Naked Kitchens gave the couple a room that complements its age, too.
The home’s history wasn’t forgotten, though, and Jayne Everett of Naked Kitchens gave the couple a room that complements its age, too.
The open-plan cooking-dining-living space doesn’t lack natural light, with large windows alongside the dining table and a big window above the sink. Jayne still chose to maximise daylight, though. “Using pale cabinetry and worktops reflects a lot of light, and helps keep it open, airy and welcoming,” she says.
The couple chose two tables for their room rather than one extendable version. A large solid oak dining table is centre stage, and there’s a smaller console of the same design (just seen at the end of the room), which can be added to the large table when the occasion demands it. Arranged together, they look all of a piece. “The woodgrain flows through,” Jayne says.
On the right of the room, floor cabinets create a boundary between the kitchen and sitting area, and are the place the owners wanted for setting down items such as keys and phones as they come into the room.
Tables, Norfolk Oak.
The couple chose two tables for their room rather than one extendable version. A large solid oak dining table is centre stage, and there’s a smaller console of the same design (just seen at the end of the room), which can be added to the large table when the occasion demands it. Arranged together, they look all of a piece. “The woodgrain flows through,” Jayne says.
On the right of the room, floor cabinets create a boundary between the kitchen and sitting area, and are the place the owners wanted for setting down items such as keys and phones as they come into the room.
Tables, Norfolk Oak.
The room’s cabinetry was inspired by the couple’s visit to Naked Kitchens. “They saw the showroom kitchen and fell in love with it,” Jayne says. The bespoke design features Shaker panels for a relaxed country note.
Stools at the end of the island allow guests to sit within the cooking space and close to the chef without intruding on the preparation.
The kitchen’s colour scheme is consistent with the rest of the home. “It’s gentle – the whole palette of the house is neutral,” Jayne says.
Cabinets painted in Slaked Lime; walls painted in Joanna, both Little Greene.
Discover the range of pendant lights in the Houzz Shop.
Stools at the end of the island allow guests to sit within the cooking space and close to the chef without intruding on the preparation.
The kitchen’s colour scheme is consistent with the rest of the home. “It’s gentle – the whole palette of the house is neutral,” Jayne says.
Cabinets painted in Slaked Lime; walls painted in Joanna, both Little Greene.
Discover the range of pendant lights in the Houzz Shop.
The worktop on the island and around the room is Silestone. “It has a Carrara marble-type effect, but it’s more durable,” Jayne says.
It was used as a splashback behind the range cooker, too, and forms a simple upstand at the back of the worktop.
The material also permitted a seamless finish. “The island is large and Silestone comes in jumbo sheets, so it could be used without a join,” Jayne says.
Read reviews of tilers and worktop professionals in your area.
It was used as a splashback behind the range cooker, too, and forms a simple upstand at the back of the worktop.
The material also permitted a seamless finish. “The island is large and Silestone comes in jumbo sheets, so it could be used without a join,” Jayne says.
Read reviews of tilers and worktop professionals in your area.
Glass-fronted wall cabinetry was hung either side of the cooker. “It frames the range and the canopy over it,” Jayne says. “A painted door would look too solid, and this allows the homeowners to display items but keep them covered.”
The extractor above the range is concealed by slim wall cabinets. In front is a plate rack for storing large platters.
Extractor, Fisher & Paykel.
The extractor above the range is concealed by slim wall cabinets. In front is a plate rack for storing large platters.
Extractor, Fisher & Paykel.
Engineered oak flooring – with underfloor heating that’s a hit with all the room’s occupants – repeats the oak detailing throughout the kitchen. “It adds to the earthiness and grounds the scheme,” Jayne says.
The interior of all the cabinetry is oak veneer, and makes both the glass-fronted cupboards and open shelving look extra appealing.
The base of the dresser-like shelving is Silestone, however. “It’s a preparation area used for making coffees, helping to zone the kitchen,” Jayne says.
The kitchen’s storage is generous, and includes plenty of drawers in the island finished with comfortable-to-use cup handles.
Handles and knobs, Crofts & Assinder.
The base of the dresser-like shelving is Silestone, however. “It’s a preparation area used for making coffees, helping to zone the kitchen,” Jayne says.
The kitchen’s storage is generous, and includes plenty of drawers in the island finished with comfortable-to-use cup handles.
Handles and knobs, Crofts & Assinder.
Trays were designed into the island. “There are two smaller ones and one full-size butler’s tray,” Jayne says. “They break up the dense cabinetry and are functional and beautiful.”
The kitchen is highly practical as well as elegant. An end-grain chopping board that fits the width of the island creates the chopping zone, with the bin located underneath.
Tell us…
What do you think of this elegant kitchen? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
Tell us…
What do you think of this elegant kitchen? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
Who lives here? A couple
Location Hertfordshire
Property An early 20th century detached house
Kitchen dimensions 7 x 10m
Designer Jayne Everett of Naked Kitchens
Photos by Malcolm Menzies
“The room is very open-plan,” says Jayne. “The dining space is the house’s sole eating area, and it’s open to a sitting room.” The whole space therefore had to flow seamlessly and the kitchen needed to be beautiful to look at.
A stainless-steel fridge-freezer was built into the design. It’s flanked by two larder cupboards, creating a zone for both fresh and dry ingredients. “It’s a kitchen, so the fridge-freezer’s not totally disguised, but it blends in,” Jayne says.
Fridge-freezer, Fisher & Paykel. Lansdown glass pendant lights, Jim Lawrence.