Konstantina

Tour this contemporary kitchen with chic period features

Posted on 25th April 2025

In this kitchen, modern minimalism meets ‘old world’ finesse, and a white-based palette sits in contrast with moody purple accents. We’ve got the lowdown…

If there’s anything to expect from a period house based in picturesque Alderley Edge, Cheshire, it’s that it brims with vintage charm. Yet the previous owner of this 1850s property – later converted into two apartments, with this being the downstairs one – stripped away a lot of the beautiful features of its era. This left current homeowner Maxine Sutton, who’s been living here with her Dalmatian for the past five years, craving that missing ‘old world’ appeal. And this was especially the case when it came to the kitchen.

Purple kitchen design with white cabinetry, an island, stained glass windows and herringbone flooring. — An all-white palette is interrupted by flashes of deep purple (Córdoba by Little Greene) and wood details which add warmth. Wine cooler, Caple; bouclé counter stools, Eichholtz; burnished Hockley pendant, From The Anvil. Photography: Jamie Thomson.

View of the cooking run with a plum-coloured extractor hood, veined surfaces and dark brass accents. — CRL Stone’s 30mm Palermo quartz surfaces give this contemporary kitchen a refined, delicate look.

The vision

Maxine had envisioned a space that felt contemporary, but which still honoured the home’s roots. Impressed by their sleek, handmade designs, she chose Todd James Handcrafted for the task. “She found us through Instagram,” says owner Todd Heywood. “The style of the kitchen is very much what we produce on a regular basis, so I suppose our Instagram page served as inspiration for her.”

Flanked by two large living areas, the kitchen sits at the front of the house, looking out to a lush private garden. To fulfil Maxine’s brief, the team got rid of the previous, overly modern scheme and, in the new design, aimed at restoring some of the home’s traditional elements that would be in keeping with its original style.

View of the white cabinetry with open shelves crafted from wood. — A tall double cupboard behind the island is surrounded by open wood shelves, perfect for storing baskets and pots. Handles by Armac Martin.

A contemporary kitchen with stained glass windows, a purple island with seating and storage. — The stained-glass window adds a quaint touch to the contemporary kitchen that feels in keeping with the origins of the house.

The design

The period essence of the property is now reflected in the Shaker cabinetry, dark herringbone flooring, open shelving, the bronze accents throughout, and a picture-perfect, stained-glass window – part of the original, Victorian property – which gracefully connects the present with the past.

At the same time, the glamorous, ochre-veined worktops and sophisticated white-and-purple palette reflect Maxine’s need for a contemporary aesthetic. “For the worktops, we used the stunning 30mm Palermo quartz from CRL which has been very popular lately,” says Todd.

Contemporary kitchen design with a mix of white and purple cabinetry, open shelving, brass lighting, and a matching brass tap. — Open shelves flank the statement extraction, displaying cookbooks and decorative items.

View of the cabinetry with brass handles, open shelving with cookbooks and veiny splashbacks. — The ‘Vivid Catania’ herringbone LVT flooring was supplied and installed by Todd James Handcrafted. It brings back some of the period, rustic elegance of the original house into the contemporary kitchen.

Meanwhile, the central island allows for plenty of walking space, while creating an ideal flow between the zones. For the rest of the layout, cabinetry hugs the four main walls of the kitchen, providing a variety of shapes, storage and statement looks.

The finished look

The result? A truly fresh, pared-back design that blends modern features with period charm. “We were given a great space to work with, which the previous kitchen didn’t take advantage of; so, we created a more beautiful one that really makes the most of it,” adds Todd. “There are always challenges to overcome, but this was a pretty straightforward replacement and the homeowner was lovely, too, which always makes the experience more pleasant.”

As for Maxine? Todd says, “She absolutely loves the new kitchen, as much as I do. Seeing it transform from what it was to what it is now is what makes it special.”