Find out why this open-plan kitchen-living-diner is perfect in any season, come rain or shine…
“Even on grey, rainy days, the space is now so uplifting, light and airy,” muses Emily who, along with husband Paul, three children, two cats, a hamster and a giant African millipede, now enjoys this beautiful open-plan kitchen.
The family lived in the Victorian detached property in Teddington for six years before moving out for a year to make way for a large renovation project that completely transformed the house.
The renovation
“Previously, it was divided into a few rooms downstairs and had a single-storey extension to the side,” explains Emily. “There was an existing single-storey side extension, which we knocked down and rebuilt as a double storey, adding a gym on the ground floor and a cinema room, bathroom and office on the first.”
“Then we extended and opened up the back to create a large open-plan kitchen-living-diner,” she continues. “We also split the second floor into three equal-sized double bedrooms and a bathroom, and reconfigured the first floor to create a large master suite with dressing room and a guest suite.”
The kitchen design
For the kitchen itself, Emily turned to Sola Kitchens for their contemporary yet classic style. “We wanted plenty of workspace around the island for food preparation and cooking, as well as lots of cupboard space. We also imagined a booth seating area for everyday eating and socialising.”
The final result is an impressive L-shaped run of floor-to-ceiling cabinetry, with inbuilt appliances and a breakfast cupboard which keeps the toaster, coffee machine, microwave, snacks and other daily bits and bobs hidden. The couple’s love of wine also called for a large wine display cupboard included within the layout.
Running parallel with the cabinetry is the L-shaped island, with cosy seating and a waterfall Perla Venata worktop. “The booth seating is ideal when we’re cooking while also supervising homework. It also breaks up the space between the kitchen and day room,” adds Emily.
As for the rest of the space, the couple chose Crittall steel-framed glazing, due to the size of their doors and large panes of glass, “which look beautiful both inside and outside and don’t obstruct the views out to the river Thames,” she says.
Finally, for the finishing touches, the living space ties into the kitchen with hints of brass, navy and wood; the perfect combination for this stylish, yet highly practical, space.
Photography: Anna Stathaki | Styling: Becca-Cullum Green
This house tour was featured in the March 2025 issue of Kitchens Bedrooms & Bathrooms magazine.
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