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‘Wren made the stylish, sociable kitchen of our dreams become a reality’

Ben Edge and Heidi Baran were brimming with ideas for their new open-plan kitchen, but they weren’t sure how to put it all together until their Wren designer came up with a personalised scheme to tick all of their boxes

Quality family time for Ben, Heidi and their two children, Phoebe and Zachary, is now spent around their new island

No matter whether you have a few colours and styles in mind for your kitchen, or you feel a little overwhelmed by the options available, it can be tricky to bring both practical and aesthetic features together into one design. That’s where the experts at Wren come in – the knowledgeable designers work collaboratively with you to put together a kitchen that’s as individual as you are, suggesting storage solutions and colour combinations you may never have thought of yourself. Here, as part of the #wrenovation series, which shines a spotlight on real customer kitchen renovations, Ben Edge and Heidi Baran share how Wren helped them to create a kitchen that combined their ideal elements into one wow-worthy look.

MAKE IT PERSONAL When they moved into their modern newbuild three and a half years ago with their two children, Ben and Heidi immediately knew they wanted to renovate the kitchen, which was small and old-fashioned in comparison with the rest of the house. They lived with it until the lockdown gave them the motivation they needed to finally create the stylish, sociable space they had imagined when they first moved in.

First, the couple knocked down the wall between the kitchen and dining room to create an open-plan room that would work both for family life with their children, Phoebe, nine, and Zachary, five, as well as for spending time with friends. ‘We quite like to entertain and have a lot of people over,’ explains Heidi, ‘and we had this vision of an open-plan kitchen where we could all sit around the island.’

Although changing the layout was an easy decision, choosing the kitchen itself proved For more inspiration, search #wrenovation

Ben and Heidi’s Infinity Plus Milano Shaker kitchen is packed with clever storage – there’s even an American-style fridge-freezer hidden behind stylish doors

to be more difficult. The couple didn’t have a clear vision of exactly what they wanted, so they went to Wren in the hope that the designer could help them bring everything together into a show-stopping kitchen. ‘We had ideas, but none of them were definite, so with the help of the designer, Rehman, we went through stage by stage until we found something we were really happy with; he helped us realise what we wanted.’ Thanks to Rehman’s guidance, Ben and Heidi decided on a traditional, Shaker-look kitchen, but with a few modern twists to add their personal touch. KITCHENS WITH CONFIDENCE With the style of the kitchen picked out, there were still many choices left to make – and, once again, Rehman was on hand to help. Selecting a colour palette was a struggle for the pair, so Rehman made suggestions and gave them samples to take home and see how the colours worked in the actual space. ‘It was really helpful seeing the colours in the natural light at home,’ recalls Ben.

They settled on a two-tone kitchen, with wall units in Ceramic Matt and the island in Forest Green, two of their favourites from the many colours available at Wren. They also wanted to give their kitchen a rustic twist, so the designer suggested adding a wooden breakfast bar to the island. The gold accents add a luxury element – ‘it makes it one of those kitchens that people walk into and are in awe of,’ says Ben. The couple love the final design’s mix of classic charm and modern finishes, which Rehman gave them the confidence to combine for an individual look.

SAVVY SOLUTIONS The couple’s Wren designer took care of all the practical details, too. To help them visualise the kitchen, Rehman gave them 3D renders with multiple versions of the design. As Ben mentions, ‘it was our Bible for a while!’

Rehman also proposed clever solutions to include all the appliances Ben and Heidi wanted, which the couple never would have thought of: they dreamed of having a big, American-style fridge-freezer, but believed it would be too bulky for the space until Rehman suggested integrating it into the cupboards. They added a built-in NEFF microwave too, which the couple love as it looks sleek and has a touch screen.

Storage was also a priority for the family of four, and Rehman included all the cupboards they could need; the couple’s favourites are the pull-out corner cupboard and the larder unit. ‘It’s a really good utilisation of space,’ says Ben.

EASY AT EVERY STEP The delivery and installation of the kitchen was a similarly smooth and enjoyable process; Wren managed the installation, and Ben and Heidi were pleased with the speed at which the project was completed. ‘The designer and fitter coordinated everything. We were informed at every step and felt at ease with the whole process,’ explains Heidi.

The couple are thrilled with their new kitchen, and their overall Wren experience. ‘The design is beyond our expectations, and the process was really exciting and seamless,’ says Ben. Most importantly, the new kitchen has made a huge difference to their day-to-day family life: ‘We never used to eat together as we didn’t have the space, but now we’re able to sit down as family, which is lovely.’

A farmhouse sink paired with a chic gold tap gives Ben and Heidi the mix of classic and modern they love Feature Michelle Grady