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Kitchen Tour: A Contemporary Shaker Kitchen for a Family Home
Take a tour of this light and airy family kitchen complete with a large central island and hidden TV
Opening up the original dark and old-fashioned kitchen to create a bright, family-sized kitchen-diner that looks over the beautiful walled garden was the top priority for the owners of this detached house in Norfolk. “They removed a wall and added a conservatory to create a big, open-plan space,’ explains kitchen designer Jayne Everett, who was in charge of creating the kitchen the owners wanted. “Our brief was to devise a family and entertaining space that would be the hub of the house.”
Although it’s a very large room, there are lots of doorways and windows, which gave Everett’s initial layout issues. “Namely, very little tall wall space to put the fridge against!” says Everett.
This lack of choice led Everett to include different cabinetry depths that completely mould to the room, allowing proper circulation space and ensuring the kitchen is interesting.
This lack of choice led Everett to include different cabinetry depths that completely mould to the room, allowing proper circulation space and ensuring the kitchen is interesting.
“There were some obvious choices for the layout, however, such as positioning the sink beneath the window and the AGA in the working part of the kitchen,” says Everett. “Once these were in place, the design really flowed.”
Taps and sink, Perrin & Rowe.
Taps and sink, Perrin & Rowe.
The island was positioned between the kitchen and dining zones to link them, but also to allow the cook to be part of the conversation in the dining area.
“The island also ensures the kitchen does not feel too cluttered; plus, it’s perfect for a social gathering – whether entertaining friends or having a casual supper with teenagers,” says Everett.
“The island also ensures the kitchen does not feel too cluttered; plus, it’s perfect for a social gathering – whether entertaining friends or having a casual supper with teenagers,” says Everett.
To keep the kitchen feeling relaxed and to reflect the surrounding coastal area, Farrow & Ball’s Hague Blue and Purbeck Stone were chosen for the cabinetry’s colour scheme, with beautiful oak used for the interiors of cabinets and drawers.
“The cabinets were painted with our sprayline paint system, which is incredibly hard-wearing and perfect for everyday family life,” says Everett.
“The cabinets were painted with our sprayline paint system, which is incredibly hard-wearing and perfect for everyday family life,” says Everett.
As for the style of the cabinetry, the owners were looking for a modern-Shaker design to give the largely traditional space a more contemporary feel. “All the cabinets were kept low-slung throughout the room as this works brilliantly in a relaxed country kitchen, keeping the space bright and open.”
Tall cabinets were styled more as dressers, with glass panels to keep the room as light as possible. The glazing also shows off the beautiful oak interiors and the owners’ prized tableware.
“V-grooves were used on the end panels and behind the AGA to fully embrace the relaxed style of the kitchen,” says Everett.
“Tray and chopping board storage keep the work surfaces uncluttered, and deep pan drawers flanking the AGA were added for easy access when cooking.”
The worktops were chosen with both looks and practicality in mind. “One side of the work surface next to the AGA is topped with end grain, as this defines the prep zone of the kitchen; on the other side of the AGA is a slab of Carrara marble, perfect for baking and pastry making.”
Total Control cooker in Pearl Ashes, AGA. Marble worktop, Design Stone Works.
“Tray and chopping board storage keep the work surfaces uncluttered, and deep pan drawers flanking the AGA were added for easy access when cooking.”
The worktops were chosen with both looks and practicality in mind. “One side of the work surface next to the AGA is topped with end grain, as this defines the prep zone of the kitchen; on the other side of the AGA is a slab of Carrara marble, perfect for baking and pastry making.”
Total Control cooker in Pearl Ashes, AGA. Marble worktop, Design Stone Works.
The kitchen is packed with lots of clever storage features. “The younger family members’ priority was to have a TV in the room, which the adults wanted hidden when it wasn’t in use. We built a TV cupboard with bifold doors opposite the island to accommodate it,” says Everett.
Bespoke cabinetry, Naked Kitchens. Handles, Finesse.
Bespoke cabinetry, Naked Kitchens. Handles, Finesse.
Naked Kitchens also incorporated appliances into the island, including a wine fridge (shown), a vintage AGA fridge and a cool drawer.
KWT6321UG wine fridge, Miele.
KWT6321UG wine fridge, Miele.
There is plenty of open shelving, too, which reveals the oak of the cabinet interiors, adding warmth and texture to the room, and heightening the relaxed look.
The wooden worktops are all finished with Norfolk Oak’s nano-coating finish to ensure a durable work surface.
The floor was given similar consideration. “The solid oak limed floor was chosen to keep the kitchen feeling light – however, it is very forgiving, which was important to the owners, as they lead busy country lives and it has to cope with muddy feet coming in from the beach,” says Everett.
Wooden worktops and flooring, both Norfolk Oak.
The floor was given similar consideration. “The solid oak limed floor was chosen to keep the kitchen feeling light – however, it is very forgiving, which was important to the owners, as they lead busy country lives and it has to cope with muddy feet coming in from the beach,” says Everett.
Wooden worktops and flooring, both Norfolk Oak.
The finished kitchen is bright and welcoming, perfect for a sociable family. “The glazed cabinets really open up the space, and the double doors leading from the kitchen into the rest of the house ensure the kitchen no longer feels like a closed-off, dark area,” says Everett. “There’s also plenty of cooking and prep space, room for entertaining and relaxing in front of the TV.” And, of course, there are now amazing views of the garden.
Table and chairs, all Norfolk Oak.
Table and chairs, all Norfolk Oak.
“The owners are absolutely delighted with the new kitchen, which is the focal point of the house where everyone gathers,” concludes Everett.
What style of kitchen do you dream of? Share your thoughts/photos in the Comments section.
What style of kitchen do you dream of? Share your thoughts/photos in the Comments section.
Who lives here A family of five
Location Norfolk
Property A detached house
Size Six bedrooms
Kitchen-diner dimensions 70sq m
Designer Jayne Everett of Naked Kitchens
“The narrow space of the original kitchen was kept as the working area for cooking and prepping food, while the beautiful, light conservatory, with views of the sky through the large windows, became the dining area,” says Everett.