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Kitchen of the Week: A Light, Open-plan Space in a Victorian Terrace
Replacing a tired, Shaker-style kitchen with minimalist white units has brightened and visually expanded this open-plan living space
Only having windows to the front and back, the centre of a terraced home can feel a bit dark and, consequently, crowded. This Victorian property in southwest London benefited from a series of skylights over the side return extension, but the owners felt the old Shaker-style units crowded the room too much, did nothing to maximise the light flowing into the space and provided inadequate storage.
‘I was brought in to make the kitchen actually look less like a kitchen,’ says Charlie Borthwick, director and head designer at kitchen, lighting, furniture and interior design company Cue & Co of London.
‘I was brought in to make the kitchen actually look less like a kitchen,’ says Charlie Borthwick, director and head designer at kitchen, lighting, furniture and interior design company Cue & Co of London.
Borthwick started at the back of the room and designed a bank of floor-to-ceiling units to house the washing machine and other household equipment. A tall pantry and the built-in ovens were positioned alongside this and then linked to the main body of the kitchen, creating a seamless run. Bold accessories have then been used to punctuate this sleek, palest grey canvas with shots of bright colour.
The island unit offers ample space for preparing and serving meals and provides a breakfast bar area for informal dining. It’s been topped with polished concrete to match the work surface on the base units.
The owners had seen a polished concrete worktop in use elsewhere and really liked the look of it. ‘It adds a nice industrial twist to this modern scheme,’ says Borthwick, ‘and, like granite, it’s very hard-wearing, easy to clean and needs very little maintenance.’
Read expert advice on what to consider when choosing a kitchen worktop
The island unit offers ample space for preparing and serving meals and provides a breakfast bar area for informal dining. It’s been topped with polished concrete to match the work surface on the base units.
The owners had seen a polished concrete worktop in use elsewhere and really liked the look of it. ‘It adds a nice industrial twist to this modern scheme,’ says Borthwick, ‘and, like granite, it’s very hard-wearing, easy to clean and needs very little maintenance.’
Read expert advice on what to consider when choosing a kitchen worktop
The homeowners were keen to have engineered wooden flooring throughout the room. Borthwick specified the wood be coated with a very strong sealer to protect it from the high footfall it’s likely to experience.
The dining table and chairs have delicate legs to maximise the light flowing through the room and help to enhance the feeling of space.
Engineered wood flooring, supplied by Cue & Co of London.
The dining table and chairs have delicate legs to maximise the light flowing through the room and help to enhance the feeling of space.
Engineered wood flooring, supplied by Cue & Co of London.
Borthwick has created an eye-catching wine rack around the stainless steel fridge-freezer, so there’s not an inch of wasted space in this compact kitchen.
Browse more inspirational wine storage suggestions
Browse more inspirational wine storage suggestions
As there wasn’t enough room for a separate utility, Borthwick cleverly hid the washing machine and tumble dryer inside this bank of floor-to-ceiling units.
Check out these other laundry solutions for small homes
Check out these other laundry solutions for small homes
The tall units ensure all dry goods and cooking equipment can be kept out of sight.
Combination microwave oven C57M70; single oven B15E52, both Neff.
TELL US…
What’s your favourite detail in this airy, modern kitchen? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Combination microwave oven C57M70; single oven B15E52, both Neff.
TELL US…
What’s your favourite detail in this airy, modern kitchen? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Who lives here A couple and their two young children
Location Wimbledon, southwest London
Size 6.5m x 5m, part of a Victorian mid-terrace house
Designer Charlie Borthwick of Cue & Co of London
The handleless kitchen Charlie Borthwick chose is designed to look more like furniture than a traditional kitchen, which was key to the brief. ‘It was perfect for the owners’ requirements,’ he says.
Ladbroke kitchen units, Cue & Co of London. Units painted in Cornforth White, Farrow & Ball.