Kitchen Tour: A Classic White Kitchen With a Hidden Utility Room
Fitting everything the owners wanted into this modest space – and on a budget – called for some ingenious solutions
How to squeeze a utility room, downstairs loo, airy dining spot and lots of storage for a family of five into a relatively modest space? That was the question the owners of this Victorian terrace posed to Jacqui Gordon of Ian Dunn Woodwork & Design. Cue much discussion.
Luckily, the couple had called in the kitchen designers before their side return extension plans had been finalised, so the layout could be tailored to their needs – and an ingenious solution found.
Luckily, the couple had called in the kitchen designers before their side return extension plans had been finalised, so the layout could be tailored to their needs – and an ingenious solution found.
“The owners had a good eye for design and a good idea of the style and colours they wanted,” Jacqui says.
They already had the blue fridge-freezer, so that was the starting point for the colour scheme. The deep blue wall behind forms a rich backdrop, while the pendant lights over the island match the fridge.
“The island is painted in palest blue, while the main units are almost white, but with a hint of blue that tones perfectly,” Jacqui says.
Island painted in Lead I; perimeter units painted in Lead lV; both Paint & Paper Library. Wall painted in Hicks’ Blue, Little Greene. Pendant lights, Industville. Fridge-freezer, Smeg.
They already had the blue fridge-freezer, so that was the starting point for the colour scheme. The deep blue wall behind forms a rich backdrop, while the pendant lights over the island match the fridge.
“The island is painted in palest blue, while the main units are almost white, but with a hint of blue that tones perfectly,” Jacqui says.
Island painted in Lead I; perimeter units painted in Lead lV; both Paint & Paper Library. Wall painted in Hicks’ Blue, Little Greene. Pendant lights, Industville. Fridge-freezer, Smeg.
The drawers are all made to measure, which is particularly handy when it comes to cutlery and utensils. “The owners let us know what they wanted to put in the drawers and we made the dividers to suit,” Jacqui says.
The worktop on this run of units is hardwearing iroko, which brings warm colour to the cooking zone.
Five burner gas hob, Bosch.
The worktop on this run of units is hardwearing iroko, which brings warm colour to the cooking zone.
Five burner gas hob, Bosch.
The biggest challenge of the whole project was the layout, especially how to fit in a utility and a cloakroom. The answer was to combine them.
“There was a lot of discussion about how big the utility was going to be, what we needed to fit in there, plus the owners wanted a downstairs toilet, so we worked with them to design the most effective space for the whole extension,” Jacqui says.
The resulting room sits in a slim space between the kitchen and living room, with an entrance at the back on the right (take a look at the floorplan at the end of the story).
The wide panel of glass seen above the ovens unit brings natural light into the small room, helping it to feel less enclosed.
“There was a lot of discussion about how big the utility was going to be, what we needed to fit in there, plus the owners wanted a downstairs toilet, so we worked with them to design the most effective space for the whole extension,” Jacqui says.
The resulting room sits in a slim space between the kitchen and living room, with an entrance at the back on the right (take a look at the floorplan at the end of the story).
The wide panel of glass seen above the ovens unit brings natural light into the small room, helping it to feel less enclosed.
Combining a utility room and cloakroom is a great use of space. “The sink can double up as a wash-hand basin,” Jacqui says.
The Shaker-style units and iroko worktop of the perimeter units have been repeated in here for a harmonious design.
The Shaker-style units and iroko worktop of the perimeter units have been repeated in here for a harmonious design.
Bifold doors and a flush deck mean the family can open up the room on warmer days. “They wanted everything to flow into the garden so it becomes an extension of the kitchen,” Jacqui says.
When the layout was being discussed, the couple were clear they wanted room for a big dining table. “They have three children, they like to entertain, and they wanted a lot of light and space in the kitchen.”
The table legs take the blue theme over to the other side of the room to link the cooking and dining zones. The table, which was from a shop that has since closed, was plain wood, but the owners had the legs sprayed in Capri Blue RAL 5019.
The island unit is packed with storage. The kitchen side has a dishwasher and bin cabinet flanking the sink, plus four dinky drawers that keep clutter at bay.
“We tried to maximise the storage with as many usable drawers as possible,” Jacqui says. “We squeezed these four into the island for things such as kitchen rolls and tea towels.”
Eames DSW side chairs and DAW armchairs, available from Heal’s.
The table legs take the blue theme over to the other side of the room to link the cooking and dining zones. The table, which was from a shop that has since closed, was plain wood, but the owners had the legs sprayed in Capri Blue RAL 5019.
The island unit is packed with storage. The kitchen side has a dishwasher and bin cabinet flanking the sink, plus four dinky drawers that keep clutter at bay.
“We tried to maximise the storage with as many usable drawers as possible,” Jacqui says. “We squeezed these four into the island for things such as kitchen rolls and tea towels.”
Eames DSW side chairs and DAW armchairs, available from Heal’s.
Symmetry was important to the owners, so the team balanced the cupboards in the oven wall carefully, even though they aren’t all the same size.
The large larder cupboard on the right is panelled to reflect the two cupboards on the left, while the microwave and warming drawer have a small drawer underneath to balance the double oven.
Having a larder cupboard was less expensive than a pull-out system. “The kitchen was quite cost-effective,” Jacqui says.
Ovens, Bosch.
The large larder cupboard on the right is panelled to reflect the two cupboards on the left, while the microwave and warming drawer have a small drawer underneath to balance the double oven.
Having a larder cupboard was less expensive than a pull-out system. “The kitchen was quite cost-effective,” Jacqui says.
Ovens, Bosch.
The low cupboards on either side of the oven wall maintain the symmetry. “We needed to keep that balance, so there’s a wine rack on the left and a matching cupboard on the right,” Jacqui says.
There are entrances to the kitchen on both sides. The area to the left is slightly larger and there was some talk of having units on the side wall, but this was dismissed.
“The owners were keen to keep the view open, so when you’re standing in the living room, you don’t have anything blocking your sightline through to the garden,” Jacqui explains.
Underfloor heating and an engineered timber floor run throughout the extension.
There are entrances to the kitchen on both sides. The area to the left is slightly larger and there was some talk of having units on the side wall, but this was dismissed.
“The owners were keen to keep the view open, so when you’re standing in the living room, you don’t have anything blocking your sightline through to the garden,” Jacqui explains.
Underfloor heating and an engineered timber floor run throughout the extension.
The off-white Silestone worktop, with integrated drainage grooves, and the under-mounted ceramic sink look almost seamless. The tap fits with the classic design of the cabinetry.
Worktop in Yukon, Silestone. Ceramic sink, Villeroy & Boch. Tap, Perrin & Rowe.
Worktop in Yukon, Silestone. Ceramic sink, Villeroy & Boch. Tap, Perrin & Rowe.
The design team found several ways to keep the cost down. “The drawers are solid, dovetailed oak and the doors are timber, but the rest of the carcasses are a pre-finished white melamine,” Jacqui says.
The door in the dining area wall – also the subject of much debate at the planning stage – leads out to a side passage that would have been inaccessible once the extension wall had been built.
“There’s no way into the alleyway from the garden and they still wanted to maintain some access,” Jacqui explains.
Find clocks of all styles in the Houzz Shop
“There’s no way into the alleyway from the garden and they still wanted to maintain some access,” Jacqui explains.
Find clocks of all styles in the Houzz Shop
The clean-lined symmetry is in evidence again in the wall cupboards, with lower units on either side.
The three cupboards are then echoed in the three-drawer stacks in the base units and the three drawers and cupboards in the island.
The three cupboards are then echoed in the three-drawer stacks in the base units and the three drawers and cupboards in the island.
The floorplan shows how the utility/cloakroom tucks neatly behind the kitchen.
Tell us…
What do you like about this kitchen and utility room? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
Tell us…
What do you like about this kitchen and utility room? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
Who lives here A professional couple with three young children
Location Herne Hill, southeast London
Property A Victorian end of terrace
Dimensions Kitchen: 32.3 sq m; utility room: 3.9 sq m
Designer Jacqui Gordon of Ian Dunn Woodwork & Design
Creating a classic, high-functioning design while keeping costs down was the central theme of this project. Being in at the start made the process easier for the designers.
“We got involved at quite an early stage,” Jacqui says, “so it was almost as if the kitchen plans and the extension plans came together, because some of the layout of the kitchen then informed how the extension was going to be.”