3 minute read
A kitchen made for entertaining
Style advice Three simple tricks to try in your own home
MAXIMISE STORAGE OPTIONS
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‘Although I wanted to avoid high-level wall units as they can make the room feel enclosed, I didn’t want to sacrifice storage. The solution was to build one side of the island from standard wall cupboards, and then fit the oak surface on top. I keep items I don’t use as much, such as large platters and extra tableware in here. The split-level style is really practical, and I’ve got the clear walls I wanted, without losing any precious cupboard space.’ SIMPLE IS SAVVY
‘We had a large space to work with so when we started talking to kitchen designers, we found the amount of choice available was almost overwhelming. We were shown various complicated layouts and design features that just weren’t what we wanted. It’s important to keep focused on what you actually need and will use, rather than getting distracted with gadgets and unnecessary extras, especially if you want to keep control of your spending.’
KEEP WOOD LOOKING GOOD
‘I was keen to have oak worktops but I was worried about how well they’d wear. I’m careful not to put hot pans down, and I dry spills up straight away to avoid staining. The supplier suggested applying several coats of worktop oil to start, and I’ve redone that since, from time to time, with two or three more coats. So far the simple steps have worked. They’ve kept their lovely colour and still look great.’
Emma’s dining table has two additional leaves so it can be extended for special family occasions, like Christmas Day. Her nifty mix of matching chairs and benches keep the seating flexible for adults and children. The Scandi-style wooden Christmas tree was a car-boot sale bargain
The cosy snug is connected to the kitchen-diner, adding a comfy spot for relaxing and watching TV. Emma and Sam had the old fireplace opened up and a wood-burner fitted, creating an inviting focal point
MY EXPERIENCE
We love entertaining and celebrating occasions, such as Christmas, with friends and family so we decided to knock the old-fashioned kitchen, dining area and snug into one multi-purpose room where we could all be together.
We had a simple, practical layout in mind and Sam and I gathered ideas from magazines and Pinterest, and sketched our own plan with cooking, eating and relaxing zones. Our builder suggested Howdens for the cabinets and work surfaces, and I chose a timeless modern farmhouse look with grey units, oak and quartz worktops and a rustic-style dining table. I wanted oak flooring too, to draw the different areas together, and we added industrial touches, such as the pendant lights.
The boys love joining in when I’m baking, so one of my musthaves was the Rangemaster cooker. The island was the other key element, incorporating the breakfast bar, sink and dishwasher, as well as lots of handy storage.
Work began just before lockdown started and we had to make do with a temporary kitchen and microwave in the front room for a while. The original timescale was 12 weeks, but pandemic delays meant it took closer to six months. Nevertheless, we couldn’t be more pleased with the results. It’s now the perfect place for Christmas entertaining.
My shopping list
● Fairford kitchen units in Dove Grey and Slate Grey, £8,000; Lamona Belfast sink, £177; Lamona Breggia Chrome mixer tap, £59; Square-Edge Solid Oak worktops, £1,040, all Howdens ● Silver White Glitter quartz worktop, £1,300, L&S Granite ● Rangemaster Classic Deluxe cooker, £2,299, AO.com ● Smeg canopy cooker hood, £180, Appliances Direct ● Metro Brick Flat White tiles, £10 per sq m, Tiles Direct ● Weathered Oak counter stool, £250 each, Cox & Cox ● Rustic shelf with lipped brackets, £58 each, Acumen Collection ● Milano Anthracite vertical radiator, £344.95 each, Best Heating ● Fatouh rug, £136.50, La Redoute ● Modern Farmhouse extending dining table, £579; Modern Farmhouse bench, £229; Modern Farmhouse dining chairs, £280 for two, all InsideOut Living ● COZZY Vintage ceiling pendant light fittings, £15.99 each, Amazon ● For a similar kitchen dresser, try the Bournemouth four-door three-drawer sideboard, £380, Habitat. Turn to p128 for stockist details
