Kitchen Tour: A Spacious, Sociable Kitchen with Super Storage
A beautiful pantry built under the stairs helps this handsome family kitchen look great and work hard, too
With a growing family, the owners of this home in Lewes, East Sussex, had a list of essentials for their new kitchen. They wanted a good-sized sink, an American-style fridge-freezer, a hob on the island, and lots of storage.
The kitchen was part of an extensive renovation of the whole house and included a rear and side return extension. A large open-plan kitchen-diner and seating area in the newly extended area takes in space that had previously been occupied by four separate rooms.
The owners were already working with interior designer Lizzie Green on the whole project, and she handed Robert Nye of Herringbone Kitchens her checklist. His finished design has given the family plenty of prep space and storage as well as room to socialise.
The kitchen was part of an extensive renovation of the whole house and included a rear and side return extension. A large open-plan kitchen-diner and seating area in the newly extended area takes in space that had previously been occupied by four separate rooms.
The owners were already working with interior designer Lizzie Green on the whole project, and she handed Robert Nye of Herringbone Kitchens her checklist. His finished design has given the family plenty of prep space and storage as well as room to socialise.
The evolving design saw this wine storage added above the fridge and shelves fitted over the sink, against those lovely, sunny yellow tiles, which really emphasise the brightness of the room.
The position of the fridge was tweaked, too. Early designs had it next to the entrance to the room, which the owners were concerned about, so Robert moved it to the left, taking care to preserve plenty of space either side of the sink.
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The position of the fridge was tweaked, too. Early designs had it next to the entrance to the room, which the owners were concerned about, so Robert moved it to the left, taking care to preserve plenty of space either side of the sink.
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A walk-in pantry and breakfast/baking station, plus large storage cupboards either side, lie behind three sets of double doors, with the pantry extending back under the staircase. The doors are fitted with reeded glass to keep a sense of space while obscuring the contents.
The cabinets were created and designed by Robert to hide away an existing storage area, built around the stairs, and help it flow with the design of the kitchen. “The owners wanted to make good use of this semi-awkward space,” he says.
The cabinets were created and designed by Robert to hide away an existing storage area, built around the stairs, and help it flow with the design of the kitchen. “The owners wanted to make good use of this semi-awkward space,” he says.
The open-plan room has three distinct areas: the kitchen, the dining space (just seen beyond the island), and a cosy window seat/banquette (see second-to-last image).
“This room is the centre of the home and our job was to increase the owners’ quality of life when they are in it,” Robert says. “We wanted it so that, if you’re cooking or prepping food, you can see the banquette, and you can see the dining area off to your right. It’s a design that means you’re part of the entire room and don’t feel boxed in or stuck out of the way.”
The large and sociable island, measuring 3m x 1.3m, is a central feature, providing a relaxed place to sit. It contains the hob plus ample worktop space. It also has plenty of storage below, including deep drawers that can safely and easily store away plates and bowls, plus a wine fridge.
Miami Vena polished 30mm worktop, Silestone. Induction hob with built-in downdraft extractor, Bora.
“This room is the centre of the home and our job was to increase the owners’ quality of life when they are in it,” Robert says. “We wanted it so that, if you’re cooking or prepping food, you can see the banquette, and you can see the dining area off to your right. It’s a design that means you’re part of the entire room and don’t feel boxed in or stuck out of the way.”
The large and sociable island, measuring 3m x 1.3m, is a central feature, providing a relaxed place to sit. It contains the hob plus ample worktop space. It also has plenty of storage below, including deep drawers that can safely and easily store away plates and bowls, plus a wine fridge.
Miami Vena polished 30mm worktop, Silestone. Induction hob with built-in downdraft extractor, Bora.
The cabinets are Herringbone Kitchens’ Westminster design. “This classic Shaker style is two or three hundred years old,” Robert says.
The perimeter cabinets have been painted in Cathedral Stone, which is a warm off-white with a touch of violet, to boost the sense of light, while the island is in dark Jersey Blue to anchor the space. Both colours are from the Herringbone Paints range.
The pantry doors are painted in the same Cathedral Stone colour as the main kitchen run.
The pantry doors are painted in the same Cathedral Stone colour as the main kitchen run.
The owners were happy to invest in a kitchen that would stand the test of time. “They wanted a quality kitchen with solid oak drawers and dovetail joints,” Robert says.
It’s packed with useful storage features, including these internal drawers.
Bakes handles in aged brass finish, Armac Martin.
It’s packed with useful storage features, including these internal drawers.
Bakes handles in aged brass finish, Armac Martin.
Gleaming yellow zellige tiles line the wall behind the double Belfast sink and stand out against the soft off-white of the cabinets. The boiling-water tap is in an aged brass finish to match the cabinet handles.
Pro3 Classic Fusion Round tap in Patinated Brass, Quooker.
More: 7 Gorgeous Zellige Tile Ideas for Your Kitchen
Pro3 Classic Fusion Round tap in Patinated Brass, Quooker.
More: 7 Gorgeous Zellige Tile Ideas for Your Kitchen
This is an in-frame kitchen, with each door hung off a solid wood frame attached to the unit. This strong construction means the doors can be guaranteed to last for 20 years.
“Standard chrome lay-on hinges can come loose after five or so years,” Robert says. “An in-frame kitchen is a quality jump.”
“Standard chrome lay-on hinges can come loose after five or so years,” Robert says. “An in-frame kitchen is a quality jump.”
“As the units are Shaker style, you might typically add in Shaker panels to the island,” Robert says, “but the owners wanted a more traditional tongue-and-groove panel, which brings in that verticality.”
Shelves built into the side of the island create useful storage for cookery books.
Shelves built into the side of the island create useful storage for cookery books.
The generous storage means everything, right down to spice jars, is stored neatly and to hand.
Tell us…
What do you think of this elegant family kitchen and its pantry? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Tell us…
What do you think of this elegant family kitchen and its pantry? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
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Who lives here? A couple and their three children
Location Lewes, East Sussex
Property A detached Arts and Crafts house
Room dimensions The entire room measures approx 7.4m x 6.5m, excluding the bay window seating area
Kitchen designer Robert Nye of Herringbone Kitchens
Interior designer Lizzie Green
Project year 2022
Photos by Herringbone Kitchens
Thanks to its generous dimensions, there were no tricky challenges when it came to designing this kitchen. Originally, there was a supporting beam in the centre of the room, against which Robert had planned to fit the island. “Eventually, though, the owners decided to lose it and add a larger steel beam across the back of the house, which was great,” he says.
To give you a sense of scale, this run of wall units measures 4.2m long.