Warm tones and an easy sense of flow combine to create an inviting purple kitchen at the heart of this sociable family home. KBB journo Amelia Thorpe has the lowdown…
Built about 30 years ago, this seven-bedroom detached house needed some love to update its interior and make it better suited to modern family life with young children. When the new owners began a major project to remodel the entire property, they contacted Snug Kitchens to begin work on the ground floor, as managing director Nick McColgan recalls.
“We were brought in to create a versatile kitchen to serve as the home’s social hub,” he says. “They love cooking and enjoy entertaining family and friends.”
The layout
Working closely with The Hive Interior Design Studio and Absolute Architecture, Nick began to develop the proposals for a more open-plan layout. “By removing the wall between the kitchen and dining room, we could create a better sense of flow and a more spacious and family-friendly feel to the whole space,” he explains.
The expanded room meant that it was possible to include a large island with casual seating as the focal point of the design, and zones around the space for specific tasks and efficient preparation.
“Designated areas for storing food, chopping vegetables, cooking and serving mean that the couple can be preparing a meal together without falling over each other, whilst chatting to their children or friends on the stools at the island,” he says.
“There’s even an extra-large area of worktop on the island specifically for preparing game, which the owners love to cook.” While the Aga is a homely centrepiece, the island also includes an induction hob with integrated extraction. Plus, the built-in oven at the end of the sink run, provides flexible cooking options when a crowd is expected.
Kitchen storage
As the owners particularly wanted a walk-in pantry in the kitchen, Nick considered the possibilities, which were limited by the position of the doors and windows in the room. Then he had a brainwave. “I spotted a cupboard under the stairs in the entrance hall and realised that we could create an opening into it from the kitchen, at the same time as closing the access from the hall,” he explains.
“Lined with shelves and drawers, the space became a practical pantry with plenty of storage for dry foods. And, there’s even a countertop for coffee machines and a toaster, to keep clutter out of the main kitchen.”
Design elements
Opting for traditionally built, bespoke five-piece panelled doors, the owners settled on a rich damson colour for the cabinetry. They teamed this with a walnut island tabletop and pantry. Solid antique brass handles add to the warm effect.
To create a modern balance, the worktops are a striking marble-effect porcelain. “As a material, it is superbly practical in a busy kitchen,” explains Nick. “It is durable, heatproof and almost impossible to scratch or stain. It’s also available in showstopping designs that mimic the effect of natural stone so effectively. It creates real impact.”
To enhance the multi-functional capabilities of the room, the former dining room has become an open-plan snug. It is used as a play area for the children, easily visible from the cooking zone of the room. An under-used area leading off from the purple kitchen has become the couple’s whisky room, somewhere they can relax together in the evening when the children are asleep.
“We created joinery for these spaces, giving each area a different feel – cosy and inviting for the snug, dark and elegant for the whisky room,” continues Nick.
The living area
To complete the project, Snug Kitchens produced custom-made joinery for the living area, to store books and media equipment, and designed a multi-functional utility room. This was created by removing an internal wall between the existing tiny utility space and an adjacent storage room.
“With a growing family, the utility needed plenty of storage, enough countertop for folding laundry and a pull-out shelf for resting a basket while loading and unloading the washing machine and dryer,” says Nick. “We also managed to include a dog shower and a nook for the dog crate, so it is well designed for all the family.”
As originally told to: Amelia Thorpe | Photography: Darren Chung
This house tour was featured in the December 2024 issue of Kitchens Bedrooms & Bathrooms magazine.
Enjoyed this post? Click here to tour this restored Victorian kitchen with a statement range cooker
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