This project is quite simply L–shape kitchen perfection. As with so many of our projects in older houses, the design aesthetic must always be led by the architecture of the room. A re-imagining of the existing dark and cluttered kitchen led to this design which has the dining table positioned in the centre and acts almost as a prep table. The brief from our clients was to create a kitchen that had a classic English look at its heart but that provided all of the modern conveniences we have to come to know and love. As you enter the kitchen from the main hallway, the Miele integrated fridge freezer is positioned just to the left hand side which essentially allows the kitchen to flow seamlessly as you walk in. Just to the right hand side opposite the main cooking run is a walk in crockery store and walk in larder that provide masses of essential storage.

The clients wanted a traditional range cooker but not necessarily something that would dominate the room. The choice to specify the small but mighty Lacanche Cormatin range cooker ensures that the kitchen design achieves the desired look and feel, but also crucially provides fantastic cooking functionality particularly with the easy-to-clean induction hob. The false chimney above conceals the excellent Westin extraction, meanwhile the antique effect mirror splashback allows the light to bounce back across the room.

To the left of the Lacanche is a breakfast countertop cupboard with a bi-fold door that opens to reveal worktop space for preparing hot drinks with space to put away the freestanding Nespresso coffee machine, whilst shelving above is used to store a microwave and crockery. What’s really great about a countertop cupboard is that it not only provides essential storage space but you can keep it open when in use, and then neatly shut everything away keeping the worktop free of unwanted clutter.

We will always think about the zoning of a kitchen design and an essential part of that is food preparation. The area in between the Lacanche and the sink area has been left deliberately clear to allow plenty of worktop space for getting on with food prep. In the top drawer of the three door chest is a bespoke cutlery and knife insert so that everything you need is easily to hand. Then just along a little further is the sink run with a Villeroy & Boch butler sink, Perrin & Rowe Ionian tap and Parthian instant hot tap, both finished in aged brass to match the surrounding hardware. A Miele dishwasher is located under the counter to the left of the sink which helps to make clearing away after meals at the nearby dining table super quick and easy.

In order to really capture that classic English look, we wanted to keep the colours in the kitchen very simple but not too neutral. The choice to paint all of the cabinetry in Top Hat with our Tailored Grey emulsion on the walls has created a really perfect balance of classic and contemporary that suits the heritage of this lovely Grade II listed house exceptionally well. Aged brass hardware used throughout just looks absolutely spot on against the charcoal/ graphite tone of the Top Hat paint colour.