Lindsay has designed hundreds of kitchens throughout her time as a designer but we thought we’d narrow it down and ask her about one of her recently completed projects. It was in Pittville in Cheltenham, near our showroom and needed to tie in with the clients period property but also have a timeless feel. Lindsay’s clients wanted to be able to use their kitchen for both entertaining guests and for somewhere to set up their laptop when working from home. And, of course, provide plenty of practical storage solutions.
What products did you use and why? We went for a British-made kitchen, ‘Carnegie’ from Masterclass as this was ‘Classic’ and in-keeping with the style of the property but also offered luxurious oak effect interiors and contemporary pull out solutions for the modern lifestyle. Silestone worktops, for ease of cleaning and durability, coupled with Siemens appliances complimented the design perfectly. My clients could not decide between induction and gas hobs so I included a flex induction hob alongside a smaller gas domino hob, for the best of both worlds.
What colours did you use and why? I decided upon a sage green and ivory colour palette. This was a lovely fresh take on a classical kitchen. It pulled in the colours from the trees outside the window and kept the room bright and spacious. I’d suggested two different colour worktops to contrast with the mixed colour units which I feel works particularly well, especially as the island is a real feature.
Where there any hurdles to overcome? How did you do it? As this kitchen was on the first floor of a Georgian building, we overcame a number of considerations such as access, sound-proofing and out-of-square walls! We also decided against additional ceiling lighting as we didn’t want to cause damage to the lath and plaster. Instead we were clever with positioning of LEDs above the wall units to light up the beautiful cornice and offer some diffused lighting when using the kitchen in the evenings.
Why is your favourite thing about it? I love the size and shape of the island and in particular the low level table with solid oak central leg. It offers a traditional alternative to a breakfast bar or contemporary table and is also a very practical multi-purpose space, with a hidden socket for a nice decorative lamp, it gives the feel of a luxury dining area.
What do your clients say about it? They love it!