Kitchen Tour: Bright Colour and Warm Oak in a 1960s Bungalow
A bold purple cabinet adds a splash of drama to this wood and granite kitchen in a Wiltshire home
Jo Simmons
31 December 2016
Houzz UK Contributor. I have been an interiors journalist since 1995, writing several books on design and numerous features for glossy homes mags over the years. For Houzz, I cover decorating ideas and trends and interview designers and professionals for their insights. My favourite pieces to write, though, are Houzz Tours, as I love exploring and learning about real homes. Call me curious — or nosy!
Houzz UK Contributor. I have been an interiors journalist since 1995, writing several... More
Crafted from oak and incorporating a dramatic, purple-painted cabinet, this kitchen is an antidote to all the white and grey designs around. “I like colour and enjoy putting some into my kitchens,” says Stephen Graver, who designed this striking scheme. “There are a lot of grey kitchens out there!”
The bright purple cabinet adds a theatrical touch to this kitchen, which is part of a 1960s bungalow in Malmesbury, Wiltshire. Graver and his team extensively modernised the property, moving the kitchen to the heart of the home before they began designing it.
When it came to creating a look for the kitchen, the owners began by selecting a large, professional range cooker. Graver then worked with them to build a scheme around the range that’s modern, unique and just a tiny bit surprising.
The bright purple cabinet adds a theatrical touch to this kitchen, which is part of a 1960s bungalow in Malmesbury, Wiltshire. Graver and his team extensively modernised the property, moving the kitchen to the heart of the home before they began designing it.
When it came to creating a look for the kitchen, the owners began by selecting a large, professional range cooker. Graver then worked with them to build a scheme around the range that’s modern, unique and just a tiny bit surprising.
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here A young professional couple
Location Malmesbury, Wiltshire
Size The room is 7.6m wide and 5.4m at its deepest point; the kitchen and dining room together form a squat L-shape; part of a 1960s detached bungalow
Designer Stephen Graver of Stephen Graver
Photos by Marc Wilson Photography
Stephen Graver and his building team had already made major alterations to other parts of the house. “The kitchen was the final job,” he says. It sits in what was once the living room, which has been moved elsewhere, while the original kitchen has been converted into a pantry and utility room. “The idea was to bring the kitchen into the centre of the home,” says Graver.
Want to define an open-plan dining space? Check out these clever ideas
Who lives here A young professional couple
Location Malmesbury, Wiltshire
Size The room is 7.6m wide and 5.4m at its deepest point; the kitchen and dining room together form a squat L-shape; part of a 1960s detached bungalow
Designer Stephen Graver of Stephen Graver
Photos by Marc Wilson Photography
Stephen Graver and his building team had already made major alterations to other parts of the house. “The kitchen was the final job,” he says. It sits in what was once the living room, which has been moved elsewhere, while the original kitchen has been converted into a pantry and utility room. “The idea was to bring the kitchen into the centre of the home,” says Graver.
Want to define an open-plan dining space? Check out these clever ideas
The owners decided on the professional-style range cooker early on, having seen one at Graver’s studio. Its substantial size dictated the kitchen design to some degree. “It’s not a huge room, but it did have the benefit of having a utility area off it with a pantry, which took some pressure off,” says Graver. “We ended up blocking up a window where the range is now. We were running out of wall space, but luckily there was already enough light coming in.”
ICBDF486C range cooker, Wolf.
ICBDF486C range cooker, Wolf.
The cabinets have solid oak frames with solid veneer panels made from cluster oak, which is beautifully patterned. “Cluster oak is like a halfway house between regular oak and burr oak,” explains Graver. “There are burr elements in it.”
Graver made a prototype door and frame for the owners initially, to help them visualise the design. “It’s quite a contemporary style with a simple framework,” he says. Long, stainless-steel handles finish the doors and mirror the sleek steel of the range cooker.
The door seen on the right leads into the living room.
Graver made a prototype door and frame for the owners initially, to help them visualise the design. “It’s quite a contemporary style with a simple framework,” he says. Long, stainless-steel handles finish the doors and mirror the sleek steel of the range cooker.
The door seen on the right leads into the living room.
At first, the owners didn’t really have a brief for the style of kitchen they wanted. “So we just started talking and I asked some questions,” says Graver. “What do you like? Do you like colour? A lot of people don’t like colour or are afraid of it. Then I asked, what’s your favourite colour? This bright pinkish-purple shade came forward. Does it go with the oak? Yes, it does. Does it work with the granite worktop? That has purple tones running through it, so yes. We just pieced it all together.”
The bright shade is a bespoke paint colour. The double cupboard of larder storage is flanked by a glass-fronted one with glass shelves. “It’s painted inside and lit,” says Graver. “The owners wanted somewhere to store glasses and to have some display space, too.”
The bright shade is a bespoke paint colour. The double cupboard of larder storage is flanked by a glass-fronted one with glass shelves. “It’s painted inside and lit,” says Graver. “The owners wanted somewhere to store glasses and to have some display space, too.”
These bold lights bring a slightly industrial feel to the space, which ties in well with the range. “I recommended that the owners look for something unusual,” says Graver. “We buy a lot of stuff in from the USA. These lights were from Restoration Hardware. They look as if they could be salvaged, but they’re actually new and really different.”
An appliance garage with a stainless-steel tambour door houses the mixer, when it’s not in use, and contains sockets inside. It adds another cheffy, professional touch to the space. “It goes with the range, handles and lights,” says Graver. “The space all hangs together.”
Worktop in Coromandel granite, Windsmere Stone & Granite. Mixer, KitchenAid.
An appliance garage with a stainless-steel tambour door houses the mixer, when it’s not in use, and contains sockets inside. It adds another cheffy, professional touch to the space. “It goes with the range, handles and lights,” says Graver. “The space all hangs together.”
Worktop in Coromandel granite, Windsmere Stone & Granite. Mixer, KitchenAid.
The sink run contains a bin on one side and a dishwasher on the other. The door to the left leads to the pantry, study and utility area. Much of the storage in this kitchen is drawers. On one side, the drawers hold the cutlery, cookware and pans, while the drawers on the other side of the peninsula contain everything needed for dining, such as placemats and napkins.
A simple granite upstand is topped off with clear glass splashbacks by the range and sink, which are clean and discreet. The flooring is burnt oak engineered boards, which complement the oak units.
Oak flooring, Pietra Wood & Stone. Vela tap with pull-out hose, MGS.
Keen on a quirky style of tap? Take a look at these cool copper piping designs
What do you like about this unique kitchen? Add your thoughts to the Comments below.
A simple granite upstand is topped off with clear glass splashbacks by the range and sink, which are clean and discreet. The flooring is burnt oak engineered boards, which complement the oak units.
Oak flooring, Pietra Wood & Stone. Vela tap with pull-out hose, MGS.
Keen on a quirky style of tap? Take a look at these cool copper piping designs
What do you like about this unique kitchen? Add your thoughts to the Comments below.
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What a fabulous kitchen! Great layout and, it's got color. So nice to not see white.
Love seeing any color but gray and white. Beautiful purple, lovely counter tops and cabinet wood choices. Great lay out. Though I wouldn't want to spend that much care and thought on my kitchen and still end up with my sink facing essentially a blank wall and a door. No matter how fancy the kitchen, most of the action happens at the sink. Is there a second one I don't see somewhere? Just feel sorry for the person who ends up doing all the washing up :)