KITCHEN UPGRADE The latest

K I T C H E N U P G R A D E

G row your own

The Rattan K1 collection is new from Brookmans by Smallbone. You can customise the kitchen as you wish by choosing from modular painted, glazed and rattan-clad units and a selection of worksurfaces including ceramic and quartz. There’s even room for a herb garden in the island trough. From £25,000. (brookmans.co.uk)

Work of art

The Gallery collection by Shaws of Darwen includes seven decorative finishes on its butler, Shaker and double-bowl ceramic sinks. Organic abstract patterns and botanical motifs are applied to the surface as part of the glazing process so they will not taint or fade, and come in various blue, grey, gold and silver colourways. Prices start from £560.30 for a W595xD460x H255mm butler sink. (shawsofdarwen.com)

Taps on trial

Abode has launched a sample service so you can experiment with any of its 14 tap finishes at home. Visit the website to see details and images of the available styles, which include the Hex single lever pullout tap in brushed nickel and black, £434. Sample discs cost £2 and delivery is free. (abodedesigns.co.uk)

Hot proper t y

The Easy PRO vented induction hob by Novy has four cooking zones that can pair up for big pans, plus a quiet central extractor with sensors to regulate speed. Choose from an extraction or recirculation version, both of which have a removable, dishwasher-safe filter frame and grid. The surface- or flush-mounted hob measures W800xD520x H225mm. Priced from £2,599. (novy.co.uk)

K I T C H E N U P G R A D E

Ceramic style

The Mini Creamware wall light is new to Devol’s lighting collection. Handmade in its Leicestershire studio, the shades are cast in smooth, white earthenware clay, then handpainted using a cream glaze that will subtly craze over time. Finished with an aged brass lamp holder and swan-neck wall mount, each lamp costs £200. (devolkitchens.co.uk)

Sustainable approach

Sunlit Days is Silestone by Cosentino’s first carbon-neutral quartz surface collection. Made with renewable electricity and reused water, and with CO2 emissions offset against reforestation projects, it contains a minimum of 20 per cent recycled glass. Choose from five Mediterranean-inspired colours: Faro White, Cincel Grey, Arcilla Red, Cala Blue and Posidonia Green, from £450 per sqm. (silestone.co.uk)

Strong and stable

Robust enough to use as a desk for homeworking or for dining, the 1140 table was designed by Werner Aisslinger for Thonet using FSC-certified wood. Its round-edged oak legs and oak veneer top are attached with unobtrusive joints in polished or powder-coated grey aluminium. Measuring W100xH75cm, the table is available in lengths of 100cm, 200cm, 220cm, and 240cm, with prices starting from £1,815. (thonet.de)

Artisan appeal

Replicating the rustic finish of handcrafted Italian earthenware, Pottery is the latest collection from Ca’ Pietra. These glossy, glazed-porcelain designs can be used on walls and floors and are available in Kale Green, Khaki Smoke, Natural Cotton, Ocean Blue and Oatmeal. Choose from 75x200mm brick tiles, £69.53 per sqm, and 100x 100mm square tiles, £66 per sqm. (capietra.com)

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TILES

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Outdoor tiles20mm

We appreciate that your outdoor space is just as important to you as your home interior - that’s why at Crown Tiles we offer a wide and impressive variety of exterior tiles, all with amazing traits and stunning surface designs. Spanning from cool, contemporary stone effect tiles to more warm and classical designs, there is bound to be something for everyone in our range. Crown Tiles is committed to offering you the best value for money for the highest quality products, sourced from some of biggest tile manufactures in the world. We offer you the best possible choice of tiles, ranging from porcelain, ceramic, natural stone, inc. wood effect, everything to complete your project.

Any enquires freephone 0800 156 0756 www.crowntiles.co.uk

O F F TO A F R E S H S TA RT

One couple’s ambitious renovation project created much-needed space for their furniture – and family

LEFT Nigel and Clair’s Wren kitchen includes plenty of storage BELOW LEFT The couple enjoy a glass of wine ABOVE The C-shaped Infinity Plus island is a multipurpose feature ABOVE RIGHT Pendant lamps provide task lighting above the worksurface ‘It all began with a kitchen table that my partner Clair and I saw at Grand Designs Live,’ explains Nigel. ‘We fell in love with it and bought it on the spot. The only problem was that the table didn’t fit into either of our houses, so we decided to buy a home together that provided enough space to seat our children and grandchildren around it!’

So Nigel and Clair bought themselves a 1920s bungalow, which they have since transformed into a beautiful home blending contemporary and period design. The centrepiece is the huge kitchen bathed in natural light.

‘When we bought the house we’d only been together for two years. It represented a fresh start for us,’ says Clair, ‘But we also wanted somewhere big enough to enjoy with our family, who are always dropping in. We have six children between us and lots of grandchildren.’

Nigel is the director of an architectural metalwork firm, so he was able to use his skills to design the house and the kitchen. ‘I know what I want and it’s hard to change my mind, but Olivia from Wren Kitchens in Orpington was brilliant,’ he says. ‘She was very patient and an incredibly good guide, working with us for more than a year to refine and improve our plans until we had the perfect kitchen. Nothing was too much trouble.’

The standout feature is a substantial C-shaped Infinity Plus island with Autograph Elements incorporating a fully integrated Neff dishwasher and an under-counter wine cooler. The couple have found it a great space in which to relax and chat while preparing big family lunches.

Alongside the island sits Nigel and Clair’s prized family table, and the entire room is lit from above by four big skylights. Backing onto the island is the storage area, which is in Ultra Nero Satin. ‘I’m fanatical about storage, so it had to be just right,’ explains Clair. ‘What Wren did so well was the finishing touches, like the vertical Autograph Elements Copper Slate drawers that face out of the island. They’re a really lovely feature and very useful.’

Wren also installed a utility room, which incorporates an Ecuador stainless steel sink and an American-style fridge-freezer.

‘Buying that table was one of the best decisions we’ve ever made,’ says Nigel. Clair agrees. ‘From that starting point we’ve created something really special,’ she says. ‘I absolutely love my kitchen and so do my family. They often pop round, whether we like it or not!’

The centrepiece of the house is a huge family kitchen bathed in natural light

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