4 minute read
Colour crush... very berry
from Tcf
When Emma and her husband, Greg, knocked down a wall to open up the space in their galley kitchen, they asked their Wren designer to help them make the most of the sociable new layout with savvy storage solutions and stylish finishes
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Emma Morris and her husband, Greg, had visited a few kitchen companies in search of their dream design, but hadn’t found one that fitted their vision until they went to Wren’s Greenwich showroom. They bought their home knowing it would need a lot of work as it’s an old property, and renovating the kitchen was top of their to-do list. ‘We wanted a bright, timeless design,’ says Emma, ‘and as soon as we saw the Infinity Plus Shaker Chelsea Ermine kitchen in Sage Green Matt, we knew it was the one!’ she says.
DESIGNED FOR FAMILY
The couple’s existing kitchen had a cramped galley layout, but they wanted a more sociable space that would work for their busy family life with their two children, Millie, seven, and Olly, 11. Their Wren designer, Ali, helped them decide on a new layout. ‘We told him what we wanted, and he was very helpful when we wanted to make changes,’ says Emma.
They chose to knock down a wall so they could have a dining area, a utility room, and more cabinets. ‘In particular, Ali really helped us with the chimney design,’ explains Emma. ‘We weren’t happy with a big steel beam that was exposed after knocking down the wall. Ali suggested creating a fake chimney above the cooker, and we’ve also added a rustic shelf.’
GAME - CHANGING IDEAS
The new, open layout gave them plenty of space for a large island, so the couple ordered the biggest one possible, as they wanted an area where they could all cook and sit together. ‘It works really well! The children love to help us cook and bake, and to eat breakfast at the island, too,’ enthuses Emma.
Again, Ali’s design expertise proved to be invaluable when it came to maximising storage with lots of clever space-boosting solutions. He suggested installing the sink in the island, which gave the couple more worktop space – ‘that’s been a game-changer,’ says Emma – and also hiding away kitchen essentials in the island, including the bins and a dishwasher.
S CA N M E for more great wrenovations at wren kitchens.com
Emma has finally found her dream kitchen at Wren, with classic style and plenty of storage
For more inspiration, search For more inspiration, search # wrenovation
The modern Oceanus Chrome tap and Maisie Chrome knob handles add a contemporary twist to Emma’s scheme
In the extra cupboard space created by knocking down the wall, they added a six-shelf pantry tower and, next to that, a cupboard with built-in AEG Single Pyrolytic ovens with SteamBake and a microwave. ‘It’s a great space-
saver as everything is integrated,’ Emma points out. She also loves the deep cupboards. ‘I have so much storage now,’ she says.
BROUGHT TO LIFE
While the whole design process was a breeze from start to finish, Emma particularly appreciated being able to view the kitchen design using the Virtual Reality Experience. ‘This is what sold the design to us – we were able to walk around the kitchen and actually see it,’ she explains. The delivery went smoothly, too. ‘Wren were amazing and we had support when we needed it,’ Emma says.
With the practical bits taken care of by Wren, Emma and Greg could start bringing the look together with finishing touches to create the contemporary-meets-traditional kitchen they wanted. While Emma was keen on wooden worktops, Greg persuaded her to go for shiny Quartz Aspen Ice worktops, which not only give the kitchen a sleek finish to contrast with the more rustic elements, but also bounce light around the room for a brighter feel. The couple also added brick slips to one wall for a farmhouse kitchen look.
Knocking down a wall gave Emma ample space to add a large island for cooking, dining and socialising
HARMONIOUS HOME
The couple couldn’t be more pleased with how the final kitchen has turned out – in fact, they love it so much that it was their starting point when decorating the other rooms, as they wanted to capture the same feel throughout. ‘The kitchen has set the tone for the rest of the house – we’ve tried to keep it all tied in with the kitchen so everything flows,’ says Emma.
The kitchen has garnered praise from family and friends, alike, with visitors commenting on how homely and welcoming it is. Most importantly, though, it has completely transformed how Emma and her family use the room. ‘We all eat breakfast together on the weekends, we love the space, and the kitchen is now the heart of the home!’
Integrated appliances, including the AEG Ceramic 4-Zone hob in Black, ensure the kitchen feels sleek and uncluttered
