A London kitchen which is an exercise in design flexibility.

Proof of the versatility of our kitchen collections is the elegant, painted and oak kitchen in Rosanna and Kydd’s Primrose Hill home. Successfully combining two kitchen collections – Suffolk cabinetry wrapping around the walls with a Henley oak island – the kitchen is an essay in harmony, from the mellow colour palette to the fine details and proportions. And, to test the theory further, the couple added a Chichester laundry and boot room off their new kitchen.

When Rosanna and Kydd decided to amalgamate the lower garden level into their upper-storey Victorian terrace, it was a no brainer to turn the space into a large, welcoming kitchen that connected directly with the garden, free-flowing into a playroom for three-year-old Kasper and baby Paloma, a utility room and boot room. It was also an obvious decision to opt for a Neptune kitchen: the couple had already installed a Chichester kitchen in the original flat, so they were familiar with the collections – and their flexibility. Indeed, the former kitchen space on the first floor was turned into a study and the existing Chichester cabinetry was overhauled to become smart and useful office storage.

But back to the new kitchen. The vision was clear: ‘It needed to marry beauty with function,’ says Rosanna. ‘We wanted it to be the heart of the family home. A place for adults to cook and entertain in, but also for our children to play in and feel welcome. A place where Kasper could pull up his wooden standing ‘tower’ and happily make food alongside me.’

The connection with the garden was also important. During the early renovation, working with architect Reginald Verspreeuwen, building team K2 Interiors and design studio Little Mellows, the couple installed full length windows overlooking the garden to ‘breathe light into a shady basement’. The windows’ strong lines drew the eye vertically to take in the impressive ceiling heights and this became an important factor in the kitchen design process. Tall worktop units with slim bi-fold doors (one is now a coffee and breakfast station) were designed to sit either side of the Lacanche range to emphasise the elongated lines of the room. On the other side of the room, a high, glazed countertop cabinet was bespoked to fit neatly under the stair well.

Central to the kitchen, though is the Henley island. Working with kitchen designer Nerine Vacher from Neptune Fulham, the couple configured the island to create a deep and comfortable breakfast bar area. ‘We went through a lot of design options and Nerine was amazingly patient,’ recalls Rosanna. ‘No idea was silly, and nothing was too much trouble to draw up. In the end, I love how the modern functionality of the Suffolk cabinetry frames the room and allows the exposed oak of the island to bring an organic warmth into the space and connect us with the garden.’

‘We needed to be flexible with the design process,’ adds Nerine, ‘as it was an evolving renovation project with complexities like the under-stair area. But it all came together well. We treated the Henley island like a separate piece of furniture which complemented the rest of the space.’  

With finishing touches like the robust Caesarstone worktop, the patinated brass Quooker tap and antiqued brass Armac Martin handles adding depth to walls painted in Salt, cabinetry painted in Suffolk’s standard Driftwood shade and the utility cabinetry accented in French Grey, the space feels cohesive and complete. Just as Rosanna and Kydd envisioned it.

Rosanna’s top tips for a kitchen renovation

1.

It’s tempting in the design phase to romanticise aesthetics, but domestic joy also comes from practicality. We toyed with having a marble worktop, but with so much activity around the island, we’re grateful we chose a durable composite instead.

2.

Consider how you like to socialise. For us, sharing a glass of wine while cooking family meals was key, which gave us the confidence to choose an oversized island and a smaller kitchen table. The opposite choice might make more sense for families who love sitting down for a full three-course meal.

3.

Don’t be afraid to be particular. Aside from our home itself, the kitchen is our biggest investment, so we had many discussions with Nerine on the design. We were met with flexibility and quality — we couldn’t be happier with the result.

To begin your kitchen journey, book your free design consultation today or visit your nearest store.