A subtle update turns a summery kitchen into an all-seasons, family kitchen-dining space.
You may recognise Jess and Ash’s spacious Cornish kitchen from a few years ago when we featured their Snow-painted Henley kitchen with its beachy Hamptons’ vibe.
In the intervening years, Jess and Ash have grown familiar with the versatility of Neptune kitchens, installing four in their luxury Cornish holiday homes, Atlanta Trevone Bay. But in their own property, the couple felt that while the white-on-white kitchen was fantastic in summer, it lacked warmth and character in winter.
‘It was a great summer kitchen, a big open, airy space,’ says Jess. ‘But in winter it didn’t feel cosy. We are a family of four so unless there are twenty people here for a barbecue, we’d find ourselves drifting around in the space. The dining table seated twelve but on a normal family night it felt rather lonely when there were just four of us.’
That said, the couple were very happy with the existing, five-year-old Henley kitchen, seeing no reason to change it. ‘It has held up incredibly well and has a good wipe-clean finish which is essential with lots of little sticky fingers.’ They were also happy with the Snow shade they’d originally chosen, noting it is a great canvas for everything going on in the kitchen, ‘from everyday life with our two boys to a backdrop for hanging art’. But they acknowledged the space lacked texture, depth and warmth, particularly when it wasn’t a Hamptons-like sunny day outside.
The solution was to keep the wall cabinets in Snow but change the colour of the island to something that would introduce subtle colour without being dominant, bring pattern in on the cooker splashback and update the brassware to a softer finish. The old dining table was moved outside, and a Buckland banquette was built into one corner of the room, accompanied by a six-seater, circular Balmoral table and woven Tilbury dining chairs. The original snug area switched spaces with the dining area, offering a better sea view through the French doors from the relaxing sofa.
Jess and Ash opted for our new shade, Polenta, for the island, a creamy pale yellow with a hint of black for depth and sophistication. ‘Although the island is huge, the colour is subtle,’ says Jess. ‘And it sits well with the new Warwick brass handles.’ Behind the AGA, the couple replaced the exposed red brick backdrop with Marlborough Tiles’ classic blue Delft tiles, featuring hand painted Cornish references like fish pies and cowslip flowers. ‘The soft blue and cream of the tiles balances the Polenta island perfectly,’ adds Ash. ‘As the tiles are handmade, they are all slightly irregular and the light above picks up on the textures giving them real character.’
The Buckland banquette has also transformed the family’s dining experience. ‘I actually like sitting here and eating my cereal now,’ says Ash, ‘previously I’d stand by the island to eat breakfast.’ Dressed with cushions and café-style curtains, the space is big enough for family and guests but intimate at other times. Finally, the snug area benefited from the additional of the laidback Long Island sofa, two leather Casey armchairs and an Ophelia footstool upholstered in a bespoke blue denim fabric.
‘I can’t believe the difference a few changes have made,’ says Ash. And Jess agrees: ‘We’d been thinking about updating the space for so long, but I didn’t expect it to look this good. I’m so glad we went for it.’ From that summery Hamptons-like space, thanks to a few easy updates, the couple now have a warm, welcoming kitchen-dining space that they, and their family, can enjoy all year round.
To begin your kitchen journey, book your free design consultation today or visit your nearest store.