Kitchen Tour: Georgian Elegance is Retained in an Edinburgh Townhouse
Careful planning has enabled a new kitchen to fit perfectly into the classic proportions of a Georgian house
Amanda Pollard
20 October 2016
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors and architecture.
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors... More
When the owners of this Grade I-listed townhouse in Edinburgh’s New Town contacted kitchen designer Brian Minns, they were clear about their brief. “They wanted to install a kitchen that felt as if it was really part of this Georgian property, and that would last another 20 to 30 years,” he says.
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here A couple with one child
Location New Town, Edinburgh
Dimensions 5.2m x 6.1m; part of a Georgian townhouse
Designer Brian Minns of Sculleries of Stockbridge
Photos by Douglas Gibb
This family kitchen was designed to fit within the proportions of a beautiful Georgian space.
“When you’re working in a period property like this, there are fundamental rules you can’t break,” says Brian Minns. “For example, the fireplace absolutely cannot be moved.”
Traditional pale grey units and a mantel sit along the back wall, while an island in a contrasting dark grey forms the centrepiece of the room. “We hand-paint all our cabinets,” Minns says. “It means we can do it on-site and avoid damaging the paintwork while bringing it in. Also, you’re never sure what the colour will look like until you’ve seen it in the room, so hand-painting gives us more flexibility.”
Island painted in Down Pipe; units painted in Cornforth White; swivel stools painted in Pigeon, all Farrow & Ball.
Who lives here A couple with one child
Location New Town, Edinburgh
Dimensions 5.2m x 6.1m; part of a Georgian townhouse
Designer Brian Minns of Sculleries of Stockbridge
Photos by Douglas Gibb
This family kitchen was designed to fit within the proportions of a beautiful Georgian space.
“When you’re working in a period property like this, there are fundamental rules you can’t break,” says Brian Minns. “For example, the fireplace absolutely cannot be moved.”
Traditional pale grey units and a mantel sit along the back wall, while an island in a contrasting dark grey forms the centrepiece of the room. “We hand-paint all our cabinets,” Minns says. “It means we can do it on-site and avoid damaging the paintwork while bringing it in. Also, you’re never sure what the colour will look like until you’ve seen it in the room, so hand-painting gives us more flexibility.”
Island painted in Down Pipe; units painted in Cornforth White; swivel stools painted in Pigeon, all Farrow & Ball.
The island, which measures 2.3m by 1.3m, provides plenty of work surface, as well as a place for guests to perch.
A double Belfast sink with rinse and hot-water taps sits between a bin cupboard on the left and an integrated dishwasher on the right. The sink rests on top of a timber ledge, which matches the walnut of the cabinet interiors.
“Timber is great for longevity,” says Minns. “If you spill anything on it, it can be refinished.”
The leathered River Valley granite worktops have a matt finish. “They’re very tactile,” says Minns. “The leathering process enhances the natural elements in the material.”
G 6160 dishwasher, Miele. Classic double Belfast sink, Shaws. Ionian tap, Perrin & Rowe. GN1100 steaming hot-water tap, InSinkErator.
A double Belfast sink with rinse and hot-water taps sits between a bin cupboard on the left and an integrated dishwasher on the right. The sink rests on top of a timber ledge, which matches the walnut of the cabinet interiors.
“Timber is great for longevity,” says Minns. “If you spill anything on it, it can be refinished.”
The leathered River Valley granite worktops have a matt finish. “They’re very tactile,” says Minns. “The leathering process enhances the natural elements in the material.”
G 6160 dishwasher, Miele. Classic double Belfast sink, Shaws. Ionian tap, Perrin & Rowe. GN1100 steaming hot-water tap, InSinkErator.
On the seating side of the island, made-to-measure wicker baskets store children’s toys. A clever runner system forms a square frame around the baskets and allows them to be pulled out like drawers.
Planning a kitchen island? Read this expert advice
Planning a kitchen island? Read this expert advice
The mantel behind the island was designed in the style of a traditional Georgian basement kitchen. Minns wanted it to look like a piece of furniture that was part of the room, so he fitted skirting boards at the bottom rather than plinths.
A wine cooler is integrated into the units on the left, while plenty of storage is provided by wide drawers and cupboards.
Smoked mirror splashbacks are fitted in the recess and behind the range cooker. “The mirrors provide some reflection and prevent the wall of furniture from feeling too solid,” says Minns.
Cave 20 wine cooler, Norcool.
A wine cooler is integrated into the units on the left, while plenty of storage is provided by wide drawers and cupboards.
Smoked mirror splashbacks are fitted in the recess and behind the range cooker. “The mirrors provide some reflection and prevent the wall of furniture from feeling too solid,” says Minns.
Cave 20 wine cooler, Norcool.
To the right of the range cooker is a warming drawer, with a single compact oven and a coffee machine above.
The cooker hood is built into the mantel, as is lighting, which illuminates the cooking area and reflects off the mirrored splashback.
Roma 1200 range cooker, Ilve. Extractor, Westin. H 6200 BM combination oven; CVA 6431 Nespresso machine; ESW 6229 warming drawer, all Miele.
The cooker hood is built into the mantel, as is lighting, which illuminates the cooking area and reflects off the mirrored splashback.
Roma 1200 range cooker, Ilve. Extractor, Westin. H 6200 BM combination oven; CVA 6431 Nespresso machine; ESW 6229 warming drawer, all Miele.
Two single-door pantries are located either side of the large fridge-freezer. Each has shelves above two drawers and a work surface with plug sockets.
The right-hand cupboard, with its drawers labelled ‘Treats’ and ‘Snacks’, houses the food mixer, while the left-hand bread and pastry pantry stores a plugged-in toaster. A handy addition in both is door-activated LED strip lighting.
Discover how to organise the perfect pantry
The right-hand cupboard, with its drawers labelled ‘Treats’ and ‘Snacks’, houses the food mixer, while the left-hand bread and pastry pantry stores a plugged-in toaster. A handy addition in both is door-activated LED strip lighting.
Discover how to organise the perfect pantry
The mantel is completely symmetrical and aligns perfectly with the large window opposite.
“Georgian houses are 100% about symmetry, so when you put a mantel in a property like this, you must follow these rules,” Minns explains.
“Georgian houses are 100% about symmetry, so when you put a mantel in a property like this, you must follow these rules,” Minns explains.
The beautiful big window brings masses of light into the room.
A custom-made dresser in the corner provides additional storage for the dining table and features the smoked mirror used on the splashbacks.
A custom-made dresser in the corner provides additional storage for the dining table and features the smoked mirror used on the splashbacks.
Above the large integrated fridge-freezer is a practical wine rack, constructed from the same walnut that features inside the cabinets and under the sink.
RF540ADUSX4 fridge-freezer, Fisher & Paykel.
What’s your favourite part of this beautiful kitchen? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
RF540ADUSX4 fridge-freezer, Fisher & Paykel.
What’s your favourite part of this beautiful kitchen? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
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I think this kitchen is gorgeous. I would only change one thing: swap out the mirrored backsplash for a beautiful tile, perhaps marble. The mirror is impractical and drags down the aesthetics. I would love to cook and gather in this beautiful space steeped with history.
Beautiful! I usually don't like gray, but the silver-and-gray combination in this kitchen is absolutely wonderful -- a Winter Palace indeed. As for it being "too Victorian," the modern idea of kitchens as we understand them today is a Victorian invention, and England is so deeply influenced by the Victorian period that I think it's perfectly acceptable to see that influence in architecture and design. A period house can look more appropriate with additions made over the years than slavishly recreating what we think Georgian-era homeowners would have wanted in their kitchens (which probably wouldn't be recognizable as kitchens to us today). Lovely room!