Georgian house: kitchen
features: minimalist Leicht kitchen, jerusalem stone tiling, cork flooring, corian and soaped oak worktops, artemide lighting
Our client for this project had taken on a big challenge: to transform a quirky and landmark Georgian townhouse from its slightly tired state into a sensitively 'modern' home with enduring design qualities. Along with local architect Richard Twinch she undertook major restoration and renovation works, including building a ground floor extension with a fantastic oval light-well as shown below. We were commissioned to work on the kitchen and bathrooms, which were required to be high spec but understated and timeless.
Working with Martin Williamson from In-House Design, we designed a beautiful Leicht kitchen that makes use of all available space. The kitchen is subtle, minimal and practical; all distractions are removed with handle-free doors and built in or concealed appliances, lending it a feel more of furniture than many kitchens.
The doors are lacquered in soft matte olive and vanilla, with a cream corian worktop and built in appliances including a gaggenau extractor and induction hob. The kitchen opens up into the new extension space with its spectacular roof light, and double doors link through to the garden.
The island unit is designed as a stand alone piece of furniture, reminiscent of a trunk or chest with its soaped oak wrap-around worktop and finger joints.
The architectural lighting (fixed on what was once a support beam for a dentist's chair that was located in the room above) is a classic artemide design by Michele de Lucchi, and spots built in to the cupboards and shelves provide valuable task lightning. The pale laquered cork flooring compliments the soaped oak, and this other natural element ensures the space is warm with character despite its clean lines.
The corian sink is inconspicuously incorporated in the worktop, with a silk steel finished tap.
Our client chose Jerusalem stone, full of character and fossils for the splashback tiling. it is perfectly fitted from worktop to underside of wall cupboards, and a huge single piece makes up the splashback behind the hob. Flat spate brushed steel sockets are unobtrusively set into the stone. Two soaped oak shelves that match the island worktop lighten and add interest to an otherwise dark corner. On display are some of our clients' extensive collection of fine basket making by makers such as Jenny Crisp , Matthew Lewis, Molly Rathbone and Felicity Irons. For more details about beautiful baskets please visit the resource at Oxford's Pitt Rivers Museum or the wonderful Basketmakers Association.
Clean, timeless elegance and practicality.
