New build, modern extension, each provide that blank canvas to make your mark. But where to start? For Katarina, owner of lifestyle store Kiki & Bow, and her husband Matt, it was defining the space and understanding what they would need to do structurally to achieve a cosy kitchen filled with character.

The couple bought the brand new property back in the winter of 2022 and started the renovation process shortly after. ‘The whole back of the house was an aluminium concertina door, which did lend itself to an awful lot of natural light, but it restricted us with wall space and layout,’ explains Katarina. The answer was to divide the space up with a set of French doors and windows with a custom-built window seat. It still provides an outlook to the garden and welcomes in natural light, but created designated nooks within the large kitchen. 

After spending over seventeen years living together, Katarina and Matt knew how they best used a kitchen space and what would be utilised more often and suit their lifestyle. ‘We divided up the back of the house with a slightly controversial wall (which we love!) as this created a kitchen-dining space and then a little snug TV room at the other end.’ This division meant that they were able to achieve a cosy feel in a large functional space.  

Katarina was no stranger to her choice of kitchen for their new home. ‘We’ve had a Chichester kitchen before and we just love the traditional look and the timeless cabinetry. I hate clutter, so having lots of enclosed storage and deep drawers to one side of the cooker and a tall larder cupboard that hides a multitude of sins was a must,’ says Katarina. Christina Parsons, kitchen designer at Neptune Reading, recalls her initial conversations with the couple, working together for a second time. ‘When we began making plans for the new kitchen’s colour scheme I remembered that I had spotted a few Neptune furniture pieces painted in Honed Slate in Katarina’s previous home and it has this lovely antique feel, so I suggested colour tones that would complement furniture in the dining area (and throughout the house), opting for Shell for the painted cabinetry, Limestone tumbled flooring, light Quartz worktops and an elegant tiled herringbone splashback in shades of beige’. Matt adds with a smile, ‘Katarina has a very tight colour palette. Well, it’s just neutrals.’ And when it came to layout there was one key theme: symmetry. ‘We were looking for the perfect balance. The island (with a sink and equal workspace either side) is centred opposite the large range cooker (complete with an ornate cooker surround). It meant compromising on a functional 900mm walkway beside the window bench, but achieved the symmetry that Katarina was looking for,’ says Christina.  

While this kitchen is similar to the one in their previous home, Katarina and Matt had a couple of new requests. ‘I shared my vision of a calm country kitchen with Christina and she magically bought it to life, while Glenn, our installer, made the fitting process seamless. Working together previously to add character to our smaller new-build property meant we felt comfortable being really open with Christina about any of our ideas,’ says Katarina. A preference for modern country style and timeless furniture tied in beautifully with the ornate detailing and classic features of the Chichester kitchen. ‘I suggested bronze hardware and hinges this time for their cabinetry to work in harmony with the existing hardware and lighting fixtures in the house. I also recommended that Glenn create an architectural cooker surround to create the illusion of a traditional country fireplace,’ says Christina. This time the couple also opted for a slightly bigger island which has additional storage, plus a specially designed window seat. ‘It is a little treat to sit there with a morning coffee looking out on to the garden. I love that I can dress it and accessorise it through the seasons.’ 

For many the kitchen is more than just a place to cook dinner. Katarina agrees, ‘It’s where we eat, where we entertain, where we relax. I spend time working from the dining room table. However cliché it is, it is the heart of our home.’  

Katarina’s tips for adding a characterful kitchen to a modern extension