This homeowner is planning on extending her property to create a family-friendly kitchen. However, she is unsure how to tackle this big project. So, we’ve asked two designers to come up with the best solution to her dilemma…

Daniela Iglesias, who works in an embassy, lives with her husband Alex, who works in banking, both 48, and their four children, Ines, 14, Tomy, 12, and twins Mateo and Tobias, six. Recently, they bought a property in south-west London, with the intention to extend it to the side and rear to create a family-friendly kitchen. However, they would like help with planning such a large space.

So, Daniela decided to take part in our Drawing Board feature where interiors experts come up with creative and transformative ideas for our readers’ renovations and design dilemmas. This time, KBB journo Rachel Ogden asked sales designer at RFK Kitchens, Thomas Sweeting, and Monika Clayton, a kitchen designer at Piqu, for help on planning an open-plan kitchen extension with a Scandi-style scheme.

Read on to see the plans come to life…

The space

The extension will be built both in a side return and to the rear of the property, replacing a conservatory. A drawing room behind the kitchen will have access into the new space. It will be divided into three areas, one of which is a utility. Once extended, the kitchen will measure around 10m deep and 6.5m wide. And, the utility will be home to laundry appliances, and the boiler.

The brief for the kitchen extension

• The renovation plans include a kitchen extension as well as converting the drawing room into a utility and boot room. The plans also include a pantry and cloakroom.
• Daniela’s ideal kitchen has space for a dining table and chairs. Plus, a lounge area with a TV and sofa, and room for the children to play or do their homework.
• The kitchen extension should include a large island where the family can eat, especially at breakfast. Daniela’s preferred look is Scandi.
• She likes white, handleless cabinetry , open shelving , concrete flooring with underfloor heating , and elements of timber.
• A new design will need effective mood lighting for evenings and task lighting for food preparation.

Designer one

Thomas Sweeting is a sales designer at RFK Kitchens in Warwick, having worked for the company for almost 11 years.

Solution one

“When creating this design, I was keen for it to be a light, airy space that accommodated the requirements of a young family. The result is a cosy, Scandi-inspired functional kitchen. I have chosen handleless furniture by Nobilia with extra height and shorter 10cm plinths to maximise storage capacity. The finish is anti-fingerprint Easytouch Alpine White with coordinating handle grips and end panels.

“To bring warmth and texture, there are accents of light wood throughout with Nobilia’s Sanremo oak shelving, breakfast bar and laminate worktop for the media wall units, as well as patinated brass taps. There are also some matt black accents for contrast, such as the shelf supports, which tie in with the black appliances. Pale Carrara quartz worktops and splashbacks complete the look.

“The layout in this room was important to maintain the spacious feel. For example, the tall units are separated to prevent the back wall feeling too blocky, while creating a symmetrical frame around the sink run. Shelves in place of wall units offer storage while maintaining the open look. The island serves as the primary food preparation area with three metres of drawer storage along the front and cupboard storage at the back. It also features a Neff venting induction hob, negating the need for an extractor overhead.

“I wanted to create a feature in the room, and a media wall offered the ideal opportunity. It’s clad with wood grain finish slat panelling, and a TV that can be viewed from the hob, as well as from the breakfast bar and dining table behind. Furthermore, there’s additional worktop space for a coffee machine, storage, a wine cooler easily accessed from the breakfast bar and, tucked in a corner, a tall larder cupboard for food storage.

“The utility and boot room have been designed to complement the kitchen. Their units are in the same finish, while laundry appliances have been integrated, ensuring that the room maintains a sleek look when viewed from the kitchen.”

Daniela’s verdict

“I like the proposed design in white and oak and the carrara quartz for the island and worktops. The description is very detailed and gives a very informative overview of the kitchen furniture. I like all the features included, especially the symmetrical units around the sink. Positioning the TV close to the island is a great idea. All the LED lights are strategically placed for ambience and convenience. The utility room is also lovely and I like the idea of a sleek space visible from the kitchen. This design is both very appealing and functional.”

Designer two

Monika Clayton is a kitchen designer at Piqu. She trained at the KLC School of Design in Chelsea. Then, she worked for two years as an interior designer before joining the kitchen industry.

Solution two

“My design clearly divides the space into three distinct zones: kitchen, dining area and lounge. A comfortable flow between the zones will allow the family to engage in activities together or separately. Daniela indicated a preference for a Scandi style, which I also love as it’s characterised by minimalism, functionality and an airy feel.

“The colour palette I’ve chosen focuses on soft whites, greys and earthy tones. Calming and versatile, it makes it easy to introduce textiles or a pop of colour to personalise the space. I opted for a combination of white cabinetry and handleless fronts from Ballerina, with Caesarstone porcelain worktops and splashback. The surfaces add natural pattern to the space, while the grey of the veins echoes the shade of the concrete floor.

“I felt an L-shaped layout with a large, three-metre island at its heart would be the most practical and aesthetically pleasing. It’s positioned so it overlooks the adjacent dining and lounge areas and provides lots of functional worktop space. There’s also seating, so the family can eat together for breakfast and casual dining. Beyond, floor-to-ceiling cabinets offer a huge amount of storage, ensuring that items on the work surface are kept to a minimum. This integrated storage, together with open shelving with curved edges and rounded corners for the island serve to soften the design.

“Gentle curves for the walkway arches that lead to the utility and boot rooms further accentuate the Scandinavian style, breaking up rigid lines to create an inviting atmosphere. The couple were keen to have a lounge area where everyone could hang out. The scheme I have designed has a large sofa plus a wall-mounted TV. It’s been positioned to be viewed from all areas of the space plus there are cabinets to provide additional storage.

“With a strong focus on functionality and lightness of form, I feel I have captured the essence of Scandinavian living that is perfectly suited for Daniela, Alex and their children.”

Daniela’s verdict

“I love the clean Scandi aesthetics of this kitchen design. Moreover, I like the idea of the three zones incorporated into the same room. However, I don’t like the bench very much. This looks fine for everyday gatherings but it feels too informal when it comes to entertaining. I do appreciate the inclusion of handleless furniture, as long as it’s not ‘push to open’ – a system which I don’t find very convenient. Other than that, I love the neutral colour palette, and I find this design to be practical and convenient.”

Got a design dilemma? For a chance to feature in Kitchens Bedrooms & Bathrooms magazine, submit your plans here

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