We designed this cosy grey family kitchen with reclaimed timber and elegant brass finishes, to work better with our clients’ style of living. We created this new space by knocking down an internal wall, to greatly improve the flow between the two rooms. Our clients came to us with the vision of creating a better functioning kitchen with more storage for their growing family. We were challenged to design a more cost-effective space after the clients received some architectural plans which they thought were unnecessary. Storage and open space were at the forefront of this design. Previously, this space was two rooms, separated by a wall. We knocked through to open up the kitchen and create a more communal family living area. Additionally, we knocked through into the area under the stairs to make room for an integrated fridge freezer. The kitchen features reclaimed iroko timber throughout. The wood is reclaimed from old school lab benches, with the graffiti sanded away to reveal the beautiful grain underneath. It’s exciting when a kitchen has a story to tell. This unique timber unites the two zones, and is seen in the worktops, homework desk and shelving. Our clients had two growing children and wanted a space for them to sit and do their homework. As a result of the lack of space in the previous room, we designed a homework bench to fit between two bespoke units. Due to lockdown, the clients children had spent most of the year in the dining room completing their school work. They lacked space and had limited storage for the children’s belongings. By creating a homework bench, we gave the family back their dining area, and the units on either side are valuable storage space. Additionally, the clients are now able to help their children with their work whilst cooking at the same time. This is a hugely important benefit of this multi-functional space. The beautiful tiled splashback is the focal point of the kitchen. The combination of the teal and vibrant yellow into the muted colour palette brightens the room and ties together all of the brass accessories. Golden tones combined with the dark timber give the kitchen a cosy ambiance, creating a relaxing family space. The end result is a beautiful new family kitchen-diner. The transformation made by knocking through has been enormous, with the reclaimed timber and elegant brass elements the stars of the kitchen. We hope that it will provide the family with a warm and homely space for many years to come.

Keith McInnes Photography
Design ideas for a medium sized urban kitchen/dining room in Sydney with beige walls and brown floors.

The Brief Designer Aron was tasked with creating the most of a wrap-around space in this Brighton property. For the project an on-trend theme was required, with traditional elements to suit the required style of the kitchen area. Every inch of space was to be used to fit all kitchen amenities, with plenty of storage and new flooring to be incorporated as part of the works. Design Elements To match the trendy style of this property, and the Classic theme required by this client, designer Aron has condured a traditional theme of sage green and oak. The sage green finish brings subtle colour to this project, with oak accents used in the window framing, wall unit cabinetry and built-in dresser storage. The layout is cleverly designed to fit the space, whilst including all required elements. Selected appliances were included in the specification of this project, with a reliable Neff Slide & Hide oven, built-in microwave and dishwasher. This client’s own Smeg refrigerator is a nice design element, with an integrated washing machine also fitted behind furniture. Another stylistic element is the vanilla noir quartz work surfaces that have been used in this space. These are manufactured by supplier Caesarstone and add a further allure to this kitchen space. Special Inclusions To add to the theme of the kitchen a number of feature units have been included in the design. Above the oven area an exposed wall unit provides space for cook books, with another special inclusion the furniture that frames the window. To enhance this feature Aron has incorporated downlights into the furniture for ambient light. Throughout these inclusions, highlights of oak add a nice warmth to the kitchen space. Beneath the stairs in this property an enhancement to storage was also incorporated in the form of wine bottle storage and cabinetry. Classic oak flooring has been used throughout the kitchen, outdoor conservatory and hallway. Project Highlight The highlight of this project is the well-designed dresser cabinet that has been custom made to fit this space. Designer Aron has included glass fronted cabinetry, drawer and cupboard storage in this area which adds important storage to this kitchen space. For ambience downlights are fitted into the cabinetry. The End Result The outcome of this project is a great on-trend kitchen that makes the most of every inch of space, yet remaining spacious at the same time. In this project Aron has included fantastic flooring and lighting improvements, whilst also undertaking a bathroom renovation at the property. If you have a similar home project, consult our expert designers to see how we can design your dream space. Arrange an appointment by visiting a showroom or booking an appointment online.

The Brief Designer Aron was tasked with creating the most of a wrap-around space in this Brighton property. For the project an on-trend theme was required, with traditional elements to suit the required style of the kitchen area. Every inch of space was to be used to fit all kitchen amenities, with plenty of storage and new flooring to be incorporated as part of the works. Design Elements To match the trendy style of this property, and the Classic theme required by this client, designer Aron has condured a traditional theme of sage green and oak. The sage green finish brings subtle colour to this project, with oak accents used in the window framing, wall unit cabinetry and built-in dresser storage. The layout is cleverly designed to fit the space, whilst including all required elements. Selected appliances were included in the specification of this project, with a reliable Neff Slide & Hide oven, built-in microwave and dishwasher. This client’s own Smeg refrigerator is a nice design element, with an integrated washing machine also fitted behind furniture. Another stylistic element is the vanilla noir quartz work surfaces that have been used in this space. These are manufactured by supplier Caesarstone and add a further allure to this kitchen space. Special Inclusions To add to the theme of the kitchen a number of feature units have been included in the design. Above the oven area an exposed wall unit provides space for cook books, with another special inclusion the furniture that frames the window. To enhance this feature Aron has incorporated downlights into the furniture for ambient light. Throughout these inclusions, highlights of oak add a nice warmth to the kitchen space. Beneath the stairs in this property an enhancement to storage was also incorporated in the form of wine bottle storage and cabinetry. Classic oak flooring has been used throughout the kitchen, outdoor conservatory and hallway. Project Highlight The highlight of this project is the well-designed dresser cabinet that has been custom made to fit this space. Designer Aron has included glass fronted cabinetry, drawer and cupboard storage in this area which adds important storage to this kitchen space. For ambience downlights are fitted into the cabinetry. The End Result The outcome of this project is a great on-trend kitchen that makes the most of every inch of space, yet remaining spacious at the same time. In this project Aron has included fantastic flooring and lighting improvements, whilst also undertaking a bathroom renovation at the property. If you have a similar home project, consult our expert designers to see how we can design your dream space. Arrange an appointment by visiting a showroom or booking an appointment online.

The Brief Designer Aron was tasked with creating the most of a wrap-around space in this Brighton property. For the project an on-trend theme was required, with traditional elements to suit the required style of the kitchen area. Every inch of space was to be used to fit all kitchen amenities, with plenty of storage and new flooring to be incorporated as part of the works. Design Elements To match the trendy style of this property, and the Classic theme required by this client, designer Aron has condured a traditional theme of sage green and oak. The sage green finish brings subtle colour to this project, with oak accents used in the window framing, wall unit cabinetry and built-in dresser storage. The layout is cleverly designed to fit the space, whilst including all required elements. Selected appliances were included in the specification of this project, with a reliable Neff Slide & Hide oven, built-in microwave and dishwasher. This client’s own Smeg refrigerator is a nice design element, with an integrated washing machine also fitted behind furniture. Another stylistic element is the vanilla noir quartz work surfaces that have been used in this space. These are manufactured by supplier Caesarstone and add a further allure to this kitchen space. Special Inclusions To add to the theme of the kitchen a number of feature units have been included in the design. Above the oven area an exposed wall unit provides space for cook books, with another special inclusion the furniture that frames the window. To enhance this feature Aron has incorporated downlights into the furniture for ambient light. Throughout these inclusions, highlights of oak add a nice warmth to the kitchen space. Beneath the stairs in this property an enhancement to storage was also incorporated in the form of wine bottle storage and cabinetry. Classic oak flooring has been used throughout the kitchen, outdoor conservatory and hallway. Project Highlight The highlight of this project is the well-designed dresser cabinet that has been custom made to fit this space. Designer Aron has included glass fronted cabinetry, drawer and cupboard storage in this area which adds important storage to this kitchen space. For ambience downlights are fitted into the cabinetry. The End Result The outcome of this project is a great on-trend kitchen that makes the most of every inch of space, yet remaining spacious at the same time. In this project Aron has included fantastic flooring and lighting improvements, whilst also undertaking a bathroom renovation at the property. If you have a similar home project, consult our expert designers to see how we can design your dream space. Arrange an appointment by visiting a showroom or booking an appointment online.

Inspiration for a medium sized contemporary l-shaped kitchen/diner in Essex with a single-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, wood worktops, grey splashback, metal splashback, stainless steel appliances, porcelain flooring and a breakfast bar.

A bright green kitchen renovation in the heart of London. Using Granada Green, Dulux shade for the kitchen run paired with sugar pink walls. The open plan kitchen diner houses a central island with bar stools for a breakfast bar and social space. The checkerboard flooring sits next to reclaimed retrovious flooring with the perfect blend of old and new. The open larder dresser has wallpapered backing for a bespoke and unique kitchen.

The Royal Mile Kitchen perfects the collaboration between contemporary & character features in this beautiful, historic home. The kitchen uses a clean and fresh colour scheme with White Quartz worktops and Inchyra Blue painted handleless cabinets throughout. The ultra-sleek large island provides a stunning centrepiece and makes a statement with its wraparound worktop. A convenient seating area is cleverly created around the island, allowing the perfect space for informal dining.

A classic and timeless shaker style light grey kitchen with a stone blue kitchen island. Here at Broadway Kitchens, we can plan, design, build, and install your beautiful dream kitchen that will last several decades. Request your free brochure or visit one of our luxury showrooms in Essex or The Midlands.

In brief Location, location, location When looking for your perfect home where you can put down your grass roots and start a family there are many ‘must haves’ that we all have on our wish lists. The obvious contenders are price and location with many other niceties, like the number of bedrooms, layout and decor taking a back seat. As we all know, location can sell a home to those who strive to be in the right area, for transport links, local amenities and the all-important school catchment areas. Like many other families throughout the UK our clients chose their house for its excellent location. Just ten minutes from the centre of Stafford by car, our client’s house is in a popular and sought-after suburb of the town for couples and families alike. They have always loved the location of their house for its easy access to work, schools, leisure facilities and social connections, but they were becoming increasingly frustrated with the layout of the ground floor of their home. It’s inevitable that families will evolve and our needs from our properties will change too. Since the young family of four moved to their large four-bedroom detached house a few years ago, their property has been unable to meet their lifestyle needs and living patterns. Although their property has adequate bedroom space for them and their two children, the layout of the downstairs living area was not functional and it obstructed their everyday life, making entertaining and family gatherings difficult. Our First Meeting Upon our initial consultation with our clients it was clear from the outset why they sought to make changes to the layout of their house. The property had been extended to create extra space by the previous owners, but unfortunately the design and build hadn’t been executed well at all. The rooms and layout were awkward in size and shape and it didn’t allow the family to come together and enjoy their home. They had the floor space, but it was sectioned off into separate rooms, some without a purpose. The garden surrounds the house on all three sides and is of a good size in its entirety with different areas on each aspect. We could clearly see that the house itself didn’t address any particular aspect of the garden in any way. Moving to a new house wasn’t an option, the family were happy with the location and size of the property. What they wanted was a modern, functional, stylish space for everyday family life, with the flexibility to accommodate their large extended family when needed and to ultimately add value to their property. We were appointed by our clients to create a design solution to redesign the ground floor living area with a modern, light filled, open plan space that connects with the garden. It was clear from outset that our design intention was to break down the room barriers and to respond to the needs of the family, supporting their lifestyle now and for the future, bringing them together and creating a house they could call a home. Delivering a project on time and within our client’s budget are always a top priority for our team. The family decided to stay in their house during construction, therefore it was even more essential to minimise the level of disruption to their daily lifestyle with a young family living on site. The family needed help from our team at Croft Architecture to swiftly and successfully acquire Building Control Approval for their project to progress rapidly, ensuring project completion on time and to their determined budget. Our Approach Surveying the site The client’s home is located on the entrance to a quiet cul-de-sac on a mature, leafy, suburban housing estate. Their home nestles into its well-established site, with ample space between the neighbouring properties and has considerable garden space to the rear and both sides. During our initial visit we spent a long time with the family observing the existing layout, talking about how they currently live in the property, their annoyances with the house in its current form, how they would like to be able to live in their family home and how they aspired it to feel, look and live. We walked through the house and it was clear that the existing layout didn’t work downstairs. The house had been extended onto before they had bought the property and the space hadn’t been well thought through in terms of how it would be used effectively. The rooms directly to the left off the hallway, didn’t really have a proper function. The previously extended space had resulted in the house with too many rooms and subsequently this had led to a series of impractical spaces. The long and narrow extension was home to a small U-shaped kitchen at the front of the house, which led onto the dining area and then onto a small room at the back of the extension. For the size of the house the kitchen and dining room in a much smaller and narrower area, leaving larger living areas to the rear of property with copious amounts of dead space. The small kitchen was tucked away at the front of the property which made life difficult for our clients to observe their children playing safely in the garden whilst preparing food and carrying out work in the kitchen. On the opposite side of the property there was another old extension which had a step down into it. This living area had a tiled floor and large glazed windows on all sides which made it feel almost like a conservatory.This area was rarely used by the family as it had no real function, plus it was hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It had become an under utilised space. We walked around the property and it was clear that the house itself didn’t address their private garden space to any particular aspect in any way, meaning that the garden space was under used because of the poor connections. The family wanted a combined kitchen, dining, lounge space for daily life and also for entertaining their family. Design Approach The size of the property presented the opportunity to substantially reconfigure the family home to create a series of dynamic living spaces oriented towards the large, south-facing garden. Our team suggested removing the little kitchen from the front of the property and re positioning it within the unused glazed space at the back of the house. The glazed room had internal French doors with a step down into the space separating it from the lounge. We proposed to remove the French doors, level the floor and make it into one room with the existing lounge. To connect the new open plan kitchen and living space to the rear and side garden sliding and folding doors were the solution, extending the family’s usable living space by creating a seamless indoor-outdoor flow. There was already a patio area there and it made sense for the kitchen to move to the rear of the house to be close to the patio for easy outside dining. It was therefore logical to retain the existing living space in it's current location next to the new kitchen, maintaining the natural flow of the house for the family after eating and entertaining in the kitchen. When making decisions regarding the kitchen design, we worked closely with the family. They thoroughly enjoy spending time cooking and entertaining with their large extended family. To assist with their culinary preparations our clients had aspired to have an induction hob within their new kitchen. As they were working through the design with us, they weren’t sure about an induction hob because of different cooking methods required for certain meals that they like to produce. They particularly like making chapatis which require a round pan and a gas hob. We didn’t see this as a problem and suggested having a single gas burner for purely this purpose whilst still installing an induction hob. They decided to go ahead with our idea, choosing a single gas burner and an induction hob, and it looks great! The existing lounge space had a corner aspect at the rear property that protruded into the garden. Positioned next to the kitchen and dining space it seemed logical to us for the living area to also open out onto the patio, thus connecting the garden to the house on a wider aspect. To enhance the connection between the garden and the living room we thought that a corner door would work extremely well to really open up this space. The clients really liked the design concept to create a feature of the corner with glazed sliding doors that would completely open the house up to the garden. They were excited about the prospect of the allowing huge amounts of natural light into their home and the flexible access it would provide to the garden. Once the new kitchen, dining and living space had been concluded, we then had to consider what the previous kitchen and dining area was going to be used for within the small, long side extension. We talked with our clients about a few possible uses. We noticed that the family have a piano and few other musical instruments. It made sense for this space to become a quiet part of the house for them to escape to, play music, read and generally relax in a snug area. To shorten the length of the new music room and make an additional feature in the newly created open plan kitchen, dining and living area, we reclaimed some of the space from the back of the side extension and opened it up to the main open-plan space, thus creating another new snug. We added an additional design feature within the snug by creating a timber window seat. Not only does it provide extra seating, but it’s also created a snug within a snug, a haven for reading, napping and gazing out into the garden. As part of their brief our clients also wanted a to incorporate a log burner into their newly remodelled home. To connect the new music room and snug to the living space we proposed to position a two-way log burner where the existing gas fire was located. By retaining a fire in the original location it would minimise the disruption and work required to install the wood burner. However, the theory didn’t turn into reality and the new fire resulted in being quite a task to get it to work. When the contractor began to strip back the existing fireplace, they discovered that fitting the pipe within the building was going to be more challenging than they anticipated because of the poorly constructed extension. It was difficult to execute but it was ultimately achieved. What lies beneath? It’s not until you uncover the fabric of the building that you fully understand what’s going on underneath. When the contractor exposed the structure of the house, we found out that the property had been poorly constructed, and they uncovered a lot of poor workmanship from the original builders. As the build progressed the inner skin of the extended structure was exposed, we found that it wasn’t actually strong enough and we needed to make it safe in order to proceed. Going forwards we ensured that the structure was safe, and all issues were identified and immediately rectified. The previous extensions to the house also presented further challenges as the build progressed. We found that the floors between rooms were not level. We wanted to create the appearance of one space rather than lots of chopped up areas. To do so we needed to alter the floor and ceilings to ensure that they were flush right through the new open plan living space. Also, after removing the internal French doors, the down-stand beam where the doors had previously been were subsequently left prominent down from the ceiling. The design required careful planning and attention to detail to achieve the best looking finished results for the client. For us, in principle our clients’ scheme at the outset was quite a simple project but when the strip out commenced there was actually a more going on underneath that needed attention before the project could start to take shape. A lot of things needed to be considered to make it work structurally and properly for the family. When the carpet was initially lifted, we found a parquet floor underneath. The family and our team were extremely excited at the prospect of having a traditional parquet floor that could be sanded down and made good. However, when ‘all’ of the carpet was removed only half of the living room had been covered in parquet flooring and the other half was actually a solid concrete floor. Unfortunately, we couldn’t proceed with the flooring and our clients chose another floor finish. Making connections Our team at Croft Architecture have created a new, sleek, spacious family ‘hub’ that’s light with clean lines. The open plan space unites the family of four whilst providing the ability to gather the wider family and seamlessly connecting their home with the garden through the new full length sliding doors. Although they now have plenty of space to gather with the family, they also have areas of seclusion to spread out and escape to when needed. A strong working relationship between our team, the client and Building Control enabled us to gain the necessary permissions promptly. We enjoyed working with the project team and we’re extremely pleased to successfully deliver the completed project. Although it wasn't in accordance with our client’s timescales with the discovery of hidden structural challenges, we spent the time carefully resolving the issues to unsure that our clients home was not only safe, but also looks great and functions perfectly.

Ultramodern British Kitchen in Ferring, West Sussex Sea Green handleless furniture from our British supplier and wonderful Corian surfaces combine in this coastal kitchen. The Brief This Ferring project required a kitchen rethink in terms of theme and layout. In a relatively compact space, the challenge for designer Aron was to incorporate all usual amenities whilst keeping a spacious and light feel in the room. Corian work surfaces were a key desirable for this project, with the client also favouring a nod to the coastal setting of the property within the kitchen theme. Design Elements The layout of the final design makes the most of an L-shape run to maximise space, with appliances built-in and integrated to allow the theme of the kitchen to take centre-stage. The theme itself delivers on the coastal design element required with the use of Sea Green furniture. During the design phase a handleless kitchen became the preferred choice for this client, with the design utilising the Segreto option from British supplier Mereway – also chosen because of the vast colour options. Aron has used furniture around an American fridge freezer, whilst incorporating a nice drinks area, complete with wine bottle storage and glazed black feature door fronts. Lighting improvements have also been made as part of the project in the form of undercabinet lighting, downlights in the ceiling and integrated lighting in the feature cupboard. Special Inclusions As a keen cook, appliance choices were an important part of this project for the client. For this reason, high-performance Neff appliances have been utilised with features like Pyrolytic cleaning included in both the Slide & Hide single oven and compact oven. An intuitive Neff induction hob also features in this project. Again, to maintain the theme appliances have been integrated where possible. A dishwasher and telescopic extractor hood are fitted behind Sea Green doors for this reason. Project Highlight Corian work surfaces were a key requirement for this project, with the client enjoying them in their previous kitchen. A subtle light ash option has been chosen for this project, which has also been expertly fabricated in to a seamless 1.5 bowl sink area complete with drainer grooves. The End Result The end result is a wonderful kitchen design that delivers on all the key requirements of the project. Corian surfaces, high-performance appliances and a Sea Green theme tick all the boxes of this project brief. If you have a similar home project, consult our expert designers to see how we can design your dream space. To arrange a free design consultation visit a showroom or book an appointment now.

Ultramodern British Kitchen in Ferring, West Sussex Sea Green handleless furniture from our British supplier and wonderful Corian surfaces combine in this coastal kitchen. The Brief This Ferring project required a kitchen rethink in terms of theme and layout. In a relatively compact space, the challenge for designer Aron was to incorporate all usual amenities whilst keeping a spacious and light feel in the room. Corian work surfaces were a key desirable for this project, with the client also favouring a nod to the coastal setting of the property within the kitchen theme. Design Elements The layout of the final design makes the most of an L-shape run to maximise space, with appliances built-in and integrated to allow the theme of the kitchen to take centre-stage. The theme itself delivers on the coastal design element required with the use of Sea Green furniture. During the design phase a handleless kitchen became the preferred choice for this client, with the design utilising the Segreto option from British supplier Mereway – also chosen because of the vast colour options. Aron has used furniture around an American fridge freezer, whilst incorporating a nice drinks area, complete with wine bottle storage and glazed black feature door fronts. Lighting improvements have also been made as part of the project in the form of undercabinet lighting, downlights in the ceiling and integrated lighting in the feature cupboard. Special Inclusions As a keen cook, appliance choices were an important part of this project for the client. For this reason, high-performance Neff appliances have been utilised with features like Pyrolytic cleaning included in both the Slide & Hide single oven and compact oven. An intuitive Neff induction hob also features in this project. Again, to maintain the theme appliances have been integrated where possible. A dishwasher and telescopic extractor hood are fitted behind Sea Green doors for this reason. Project Highlight Corian work surfaces were a key requirement for this project, with the client enjoying them in their previous kitchen. A subtle light ash option has been chosen for this project, which has also been expertly fabricated in to a seamless 1.5 bowl sink area complete with drainer grooves. The End Result The end result is a wonderful kitchen design that delivers on all the key requirements of the project. Corian surfaces, high-performance appliances and a Sea Green theme tick all the boxes of this project brief. If you have a similar home project, consult our expert designers to see how we can design your dream space. To arrange a free design consultation visit a showroom or book an appointment now.

After moving into their home three years ago, Mr and Mrs C left their kitchen to last as part of their home renovations. “We knew of Ream from the large showroom on the Gillingham Business Park and we had seen the Vans in our area.” says Mrs C. “We’ve moved twice already and each time our kitchen renovation has been questionable. We hoped we would be third time lucky? This time we opted for the whole kitchen renovation including the kitchen flooring, lighting and installation.” The Ream showroom in Gillingham is bright and inviting. It is a large space, as it took us over one hour to browse round all the displays. Meeting Lara at the showroom before hand, helped to put our ideas of want we wanted with Lara’s design expertise. From the initial kitchen consultation, Lara then came to measure our existing kitchen. Lara, Ream’s Kitchen Designer, was able to design Mr and Mrs C’s kitchen which came to life on the 3D software Ream uses for kitchen design. When it came to selecting the kitchen, Lara is an expert, she was thorough and an incredibly knowledgeable kitchen designer. We were never rushed in our decision; she listened to what we wanted. It was refreshing as our experience of other companies was not so pleasant. Ream has a very good range to choose from which brought our kitchen to life. The kitchen design had ingenious with clever storage ideas which ensured our kitchen was better organised. We were surprised with how much storage was possible especially as before I had only one drawer and a huge fridge freezer which reduced our worktop space. The installation was quick too. The team were considerate of our needs and asked if they had permission to park on our driveway. There was no dust or mess to come back to each evening and the rubbish was all collected too. Within two weeks the kitchen was complete. Reams customer service was prompt and outstanding. When things did go wrong, Ream was quick to rectify and communicate with us what was going on. One was the delivery of three doors which were drilled wrong and the other was the extractor. Emma, Ream’s Project Coordinator apologised and updated us on what was happening through calls and emails. “It’s the best kitchen we have ever had!” Mr & Mrs C say, we are so happy with it.

Ultramodern British Kitchen in Ferring, West Sussex Sea Green handleless furniture from our British supplier and wonderful Corian surfaces combine in this coastal kitchen. The Brief This Ferring project required a kitchen rethink in terms of theme and layout. In a relatively compact space, the challenge for designer Aron was to incorporate all usual amenities whilst keeping a spacious and light feel in the room. Corian work surfaces were a key desirable for this project, with the client also favouring a nod to the coastal setting of the property within the kitchen theme. Design Elements The layout of the final design makes the most of an L-shape run to maximise space, with appliances built-in and integrated to allow the theme of the kitchen to take centre-stage. The theme itself delivers on the coastal design element required with the use of Sea Green furniture. During the design phase a handleless kitchen became the preferred choice for this client, with the design utilising the Segreto option from British supplier Mereway – also chosen because of the vast colour options. Aron has used furniture around an American fridge freezer, whilst incorporating a nice drinks area, complete with wine bottle storage and glazed black feature door fronts. Lighting improvements have also been made as part of the project in the form of undercabinet lighting, downlights in the ceiling and integrated lighting in the feature cupboard. Special Inclusions As a keen cook, appliance choices were an important part of this project for the client. For this reason, high-performance Neff appliances have been utilised with features like Pyrolytic cleaning included in both the Slide & Hide single oven and compact oven. An intuitive Neff induction hob also features in this project. Again, to maintain the theme appliances have been integrated where possible. A dishwasher and telescopic extractor hood are fitted behind Sea Green doors for this reason. Project Highlight Corian work surfaces were a key requirement for this project, with the client enjoying them in their previous kitchen. A subtle light ash option has been chosen for this project, which has also been expertly fabricated in to a seamless 1.5 bowl sink area complete with drainer grooves. The End Result The end result is a wonderful kitchen design that delivers on all the key requirements of the project. Corian surfaces, high-performance appliances and a Sea Green theme tick all the boxes of this project brief. If you have a similar home project, consult our expert designers to see how we can design your dream space. To arrange a free design consultation visit a showroom or book an appointment now.

After moving into their home three years ago, Mr and Mrs C left their kitchen to last as part of their home renovations. “We knew of Ream from the large showroom on the Gillingham Business Park and we had seen the Vans in our area.” says Mrs C. “We’ve moved twice already and each time our kitchen renovation has been questionable. We hoped we would be third time lucky? This time we opted for the whole kitchen renovation including the kitchen flooring, lighting and installation.” The Ream showroom in Gillingham is bright and inviting. It is a large space, as it took us over one hour to browse round all the displays. Meeting Lara at the showroom before hand, helped to put our ideas of want we wanted with Lara’s design expertise. From the initial kitchen consultation, Lara then came to measure our existing kitchen. Lara, Ream’s Kitchen Designer, was able to design Mr and Mrs C’s kitchen which came to life on the 3D software Ream uses for kitchen design. When it came to selecting the kitchen, Lara is an expert, she was thorough and an incredibly knowledgeable kitchen designer. We were never rushed in our decision; she listened to what we wanted. It was refreshing as our experience of other companies was not so pleasant. Ream has a very good range to choose from which brought our kitchen to life. The kitchen design had ingenious with clever storage ideas which ensured our kitchen was better organised. We were surprised with how much storage was possible especially as before I had only one drawer and a huge fridge freezer which reduced our worktop space. The installation was quick too. The team were considerate of our needs and asked if they had permission to park on our driveway. There was no dust or mess to come back to each evening and the rubbish was all collected too. Within two weeks the kitchen was complete. Reams customer service was prompt and outstanding. When things did go wrong, Ream was quick to rectify and communicate with us what was going on. One was the delivery of three doors which were drilled wrong and the other was the extractor. Emma, Ream’s Project Coordinator apologised and updated us on what was happening through calls and emails. “It’s the best kitchen we have ever had!” Mr & Mrs C say, we are so happy with it.

After moving into their home three years ago, Mr and Mrs C left their kitchen to last as part of their home renovations. “We knew of Ream from the large showroom on the Gillingham Business Park and we had seen the Vans in our area.” says Mrs C. “We’ve moved twice already and each time our kitchen renovation has been questionable. We hoped we would be third time lucky? This time we opted for the whole kitchen renovation including the kitchen flooring, lighting and installation.” The Ream showroom in Gillingham is bright and inviting. It is a large space, as it took us over one hour to browse round all the displays. Meeting Lara at the showroom before hand, helped to put our ideas of want we wanted with Lara’s design expertise. From the initial kitchen consultation, Lara then came to measure our existing kitchen. Lara, Ream’s Kitchen Designer, was able to design Mr and Mrs C’s kitchen which came to life on the 3D software Ream uses for kitchen design. When it came to selecting the kitchen, Lara is an expert, she was thorough and an incredibly knowledgeable kitchen designer. We were never rushed in our decision; she listened to what we wanted. It was refreshing as our experience of other companies was not so pleasant. Ream has a very good range to choose from which brought our kitchen to life. The kitchen design had ingenious with clever storage ideas which ensured our kitchen was better organised. We were surprised with how much storage was possible especially as before I had only one drawer and a huge fridge freezer which reduced our worktop space. The installation was quick too. The team were considerate of our needs and asked if they had permission to park on our driveway. There was no dust or mess to come back to each evening and the rubbish was all collected too. Within two weeks the kitchen was complete. Reams customer service was prompt and outstanding. When things did go wrong, Ream was quick to rectify and communicate with us what was going on. One was the delivery of three doors which were drilled wrong and the other was the extractor. Emma, Ream’s Project Coordinator apologised and updated us on what was happening through calls and emails. “It’s the best kitchen we have ever had!” Mr & Mrs C say, we are so happy with it.

In brief Location, location, location When looking for your perfect home where you can put down your grass roots and start a family there are many ‘must haves’ that we all have on our wish lists. The obvious contenders are price and location with many other niceties, like the number of bedrooms, layout and decor taking a back seat. As we all know, location can sell a home to those who strive to be in the right area, for transport links, local amenities and the all-important school catchment areas. Like many other families throughout the UK our clients chose their house for its excellent location. Just ten minutes from the centre of Stafford by car, our client’s house is in a popular and sought-after suburb of the town for couples and families alike. They have always loved the location of their house for its easy access to work, schools, leisure facilities and social connections, but they were becoming increasingly frustrated with the layout of the ground floor of their home. It’s inevitable that families will evolve and our needs from our properties will change too. Since the young family of four moved to their large four-bedroom detached house a few years ago, their property has been unable to meet their lifestyle needs and living patterns. Although their property has adequate bedroom space for them and their two children, the layout of the downstairs living area was not functional and it obstructed their everyday life, making entertaining and family gatherings difficult. Our First Meeting Upon our initial consultation with our clients it was clear from the outset why they sought to make changes to the layout of their house. The property had been extended to create extra space by the previous owners, but unfortunately the design and build hadn’t been executed well at all. The rooms and layout were awkward in size and shape and it didn’t allow the family to come together and enjoy their home. They had the floor space, but it was sectioned off into separate rooms, some without a purpose. The garden surrounds the house on all three sides and is of a good size in its entirety with different areas on each aspect. We could clearly see that the house itself didn’t address any particular aspect of the garden in any way. Moving to a new house wasn’t an option, the family were happy with the location and size of the property. What they wanted was a modern, functional, stylish space for everyday family life, with the flexibility to accommodate their large extended family when needed and to ultimately add value to their property. We were appointed by our clients to create a design solution to redesign the ground floor living area with a modern, light filled, open plan space that connects with the garden. It was clear from outset that our design intention was to break down the room barriers and to respond to the needs of the family, supporting their lifestyle now and for the future, bringing them together and creating a house they could call a home. Delivering a project on time and within our client’s budget are always a top priority for our team. The family decided to stay in their house during construction, therefore it was even more essential to minimise the level of disruption to their daily lifestyle with a young family living on site. The family needed help from our team at Croft Architecture to swiftly and successfully acquire Building Control Approval for their project to progress rapidly, ensuring project completion on time and to their determined budget. Our Approach Surveying the site The client’s home is located on the entrance to a quiet cul-de-sac on a mature, leafy, suburban housing estate. Their home nestles into its well-established site, with ample space between the neighbouring properties and has considerable garden space to the rear and both sides. During our initial visit we spent a long time with the family observing the existing layout, talking about how they currently live in the property, their annoyances with the house in its current form, how they would like to be able to live in their family home and how they aspired it to feel, look and live. We walked through the house and it was clear that the existing layout didn’t work downstairs. The house had been extended onto before they had bought the property and the space hadn’t been well thought through in terms of how it would be used effectively. The rooms directly to the left off the hallway, didn’t really have a proper function. The previously extended space had resulted in the house with too many rooms and subsequently this had led to a series of impractical spaces. The long and narrow extension was home to a small U-shaped kitchen at the front of the house, which led onto the dining area and then onto a small room at the back of the extension. For the size of the house the kitchen and dining room in a much smaller and narrower area, leaving larger living areas to the rear of property with copious amounts of dead space. The small kitchen was tucked away at the front of the property which made life difficult for our clients to observe their children playing safely in the garden whilst preparing food and carrying out work in the kitchen. On the opposite side of the property there was another old extension which had a step down into it. This living area had a tiled floor and large glazed windows on all sides which made it feel almost like a conservatory.This area was rarely used by the family as it had no real function, plus it was hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It had become an under utilised space. We walked around the property and it was clear that the house itself didn’t address their private garden space to any particular aspect in any way, meaning that the garden space was under used because of the poor connections. The family wanted a combined kitchen, dining, lounge space for daily life and also for entertaining their family. Design Approach The size of the property presented the opportunity to substantially reconfigure the family home to create a series of dynamic living spaces oriented towards the large, south-facing garden. Our team suggested removing the little kitchen from the front of the property and re positioning it within the unused glazed space at the back of the house. The glazed room had internal French doors with a step down into the space separating it from the lounge. We proposed to remove the French doors, level the floor and make it into one room with the existing lounge. To connect the new open plan kitchen and living space to the rear and side garden sliding and folding doors were the solution, extending the family’s usable living space by creating a seamless indoor-outdoor flow. There was already a patio area there and it made sense for the kitchen to move to the rear of the house to be close to the patio for easy outside dining. It was therefore logical to retain the existing living space in it's current location next to the new kitchen, maintaining the natural flow of the house for the family after eating and entertaining in the kitchen. When making decisions regarding the kitchen design, we worked closely with the family. They thoroughly enjoy spending time cooking and entertaining with their large extended family. To assist with their culinary preparations our clients had aspired to have an induction hob within their new kitchen. As they were working through the design with us, they weren’t sure about an induction hob because of different cooking methods required for certain meals that they like to produce. They particularly like making chapatis which require a round pan and a gas hob. We didn’t see this as a problem and suggested having a single gas burner for purely this purpose whilst still installing an induction hob. They decided to go ahead with our idea, choosing a single gas burner and an induction hob, and it looks great! The existing lounge space had a corner aspect at the rear property that protruded into the garden. Positioned next to the kitchen and dining space it seemed logical to us for the living area to also open out onto the patio, thus connecting the garden to the house on a wider aspect. To enhance the connection between the garden and the living room we thought that a corner door would work extremely well to really open up this space. The clients really liked the design concept to create a feature of the corner with glazed sliding doors that would completely open the house up to the garden. They were excited about the prospect of the allowing huge amounts of natural light into their home and the flexible access it would provide to the garden. Once the new kitchen, dining and living space had been concluded, we then had to consider what the previous kitchen and dining area was going to be used for within the small, long side extension. We talked with our clients about a few possible uses. We noticed that the family have a piano and few other musical instruments. It made sense for this space to become a quiet part of the house for them to escape to, play music, read and generally relax in a snug area. To shorten the length of the new music room and make an additional feature in the newly created open plan kitchen, dining and living area, we reclaimed some of the space from the back of the side extension and opened it up to the main open-plan space, thus creating another new snug. We added an additional design feature within the snug by creating a timber window seat. Not only does it provide extra seating, but it’s also created a snug within a snug, a haven for reading, napping and gazing out into the garden. As part of their brief our clients also wanted a to incorporate a log burner into their newly remodelled home. To connect the new music room and snug to the living space we proposed to position a two-way log burner where the existing gas fire was located. By retaining a fire in the original location it would minimise the disruption and work required to install the wood burner. However, the theory didn’t turn into reality and the new fire resulted in being quite a task to get it to work. When the contractor began to strip back the existing fireplace, they discovered that fitting the pipe within the building was going to be more challenging than they anticipated because of the poorly constructed extension. It was difficult to execute but it was ultimately achieved. What lies beneath? It’s not until you uncover the fabric of the building that you fully understand what’s going on underneath. When the contractor exposed the structure of the house, we found out that the property had been poorly constructed, and they uncovered a lot of poor workmanship from the original builders. As the build progressed the inner skin of the extended structure was exposed, we found that it wasn’t actually strong enough and we needed to make it safe in order to proceed. Going forwards we ensured that the structure was safe, and all issues were identified and immediately rectified. The previous extensions to the house also presented further challenges as the build progressed. We found that the floors between rooms were not level. We wanted to create the appearance of one space rather than lots of chopped up areas. To do so we needed to alter the floor and ceilings to ensure that they were flush right through the new open plan living space. Also, after removing the internal French doors, the down-stand beam where the doors had previously been were subsequently left prominent down from the ceiling. The design required careful planning and attention to detail to achieve the best looking finished results for the client. For us, in principle our clients’ scheme at the outset was quite a simple project but when the strip out commenced there was actually a more going on underneath that needed attention before the project could start to take shape. A lot of things needed to be considered to make it work structurally and properly for the family. When the carpet was initially lifted, we found a parquet floor underneath. The family and our team were extremely excited at the prospect of having a traditional parquet floor that could be sanded down and made good. However, when ‘all’ of the carpet was removed only half of the living room had been covered in parquet flooring and the other half was actually a solid concrete floor. Unfortunately, we couldn’t proceed with the flooring and our clients chose another floor finish. Making connections Our team at Croft Architecture have created a new, sleek, spacious family ‘hub’ that’s light with clean lines. The open plan space unites the family of four whilst providing the ability to gather the wider family and seamlessly connecting their home with the garden through the new full length sliding doors. Although they now have plenty of space to gather with the family, they also have areas of seclusion to spread out and escape to when needed. A strong working relationship between our team, the client and Building Control enabled us to gain the necessary permissions promptly. We enjoyed working with the project team and we’re extremely pleased to successfully deliver the completed project. Although it wasn't in accordance with our client’s timescales with the discovery of hidden structural challenges, we spent the time carefully resolving the issues to unsure that our clients home was not only safe, but also looks great and functions perfectly.

A bright green kitchen renovation in the heart of London. Using Granada Green, Dulux shade for the kitchen run paired with sugar pink walls. The open plan kitchen diner houses a central island with bar stools for a breakfast bar and social space. The checkerboard flooring sits next to reclaimed retrovious flooring with the perfect blend of old and new. The open larder dresser has wallpapered backing for a bespoke and unique kitchen.

A bright green kitchen renovation in the heart of London. Using Granada Green, Dulux shade for the kitchen run paired with sugar pink walls. The open plan kitchen diner houses a central island with bar stools for a breakfast bar and social space. The checkerboard flooring sits next to reclaimed retrovious flooring with the perfect blend of old and new. The open larder dresser has wallpapered backing for a bespoke and unique kitchen.