In brief Location, location, location When looking for your perfect home where you can put down your grass roots and start a family there are many ‘must haves’ that we all have on our wish lists. The obvious contenders are price and location with many other niceties, like the number of bedrooms, layout and decor taking a back seat. As we all know, location can sell a home to those who strive to be in the right area, for transport links, local amenities and the all-important school catchment areas. Like many other families throughout the UK our clients chose their house for its excellent location. Just ten minutes from the centre of Stafford by car, our client’s house is in a popular and sought-after suburb of the town for couples and families alike. They have always loved the location of their house for its easy access to work, schools, leisure facilities and social connections, but they were becoming increasingly frustrated with the layout of the ground floor of their home. It’s inevitable that families will evolve and our needs from our properties will change too. Since the young family of four moved to their large four-bedroom detached house a few years ago, their property has been unable to meet their lifestyle needs and living patterns. Although their property has adequate bedroom space for them and their two children, the layout of the downstairs living area was not functional and it obstructed their everyday life, making entertaining and family gatherings difficult. Our First Meeting Upon our initial consultation with our clients it was clear from the outset why they sought to make changes to the layout of their house. The property had been extended to create extra space by the previous owners, but unfortunately the design and build hadn’t been executed well at all. The rooms and layout were awkward in size and shape and it didn’t allow the family to come together and enjoy their home. They had the floor space, but it was sectioned off into separate rooms, some without a purpose. The garden surrounds the house on all three sides and is of a good size in its entirety with different areas on each aspect. We could clearly see that the house itself didn’t address any particular aspect of the garden in any way. Moving to a new house wasn’t an option, the family were happy with the location and size of the property. What they wanted was a modern, functional, stylish space for everyday family life, with the flexibility to accommodate their large extended family when needed and to ultimately add value to their property. We were appointed by our clients to create a design solution to redesign the ground floor living area with a modern, light filled, open plan space that connects with the garden. It was clear from outset that our design intention was to break down the room barriers and to respond to the needs of the family, supporting their lifestyle now and for the future, bringing them together and creating a house they could call a home. Delivering a project on time and within our client’s budget are always a top priority for our team. The family decided to stay in their house during construction, therefore it was even more essential to minimise the level of disruption to their daily lifestyle with a young family living on site. The family needed help from our team at Croft Architecture to swiftly and successfully acquire Building Control Approval for their project to progress rapidly, ensuring project completion on time and to their determined budget. Our Approach Surveying the site The client’s home is located on the entrance to a quiet cul-de-sac on a mature, leafy, suburban housing estate. Their home nestles into its well-established site, with ample space between the neighbouring properties and has considerable garden space to the rear and both sides. During our initial visit we spent a long time with the family observing the existing layout, talking about how they currently live in the property, their annoyances with the house in its current form, how they would like to be able to live in their family home and how they aspired it to feel, look and live. We walked through the house and it was clear that the existing layout didn’t work downstairs. The house had been extended onto before they had bought the property and the space hadn’t been well thought through in terms of how it would be used effectively. The rooms directly to the left off the hallway, didn’t really have a proper function. The previously extended space had resulted in the house with too many rooms and subsequently this had led to a series of impractical spaces. The long and narrow extension was home to a small U-shaped kitchen at the front of the house, which led onto the dining area and then onto a small room at the back of the extension. For the size of the house the kitchen and dining room in a much smaller and narrower area, leaving larger living areas to the rear of property with copious amounts of dead space. The small kitchen was tucked away at the front of the property which made life difficult for our clients to observe their children playing safely in the garden whilst preparing food and carrying out work in the kitchen. On the opposite side of the property there was another old extension which had a step down into it. This living area had a tiled floor and large glazed windows on all sides which made it feel almost like a conservatory.This area was rarely used by the family as it had no real function, plus it was hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It had become an under utilised space. We walked around the property and it was clear that the house itself didn’t address their private garden space to any particular aspect in any way, meaning that the garden space was under used because of the poor connections. The family wanted a combined kitchen, dining, lounge space for daily life and also for entertaining their family. Design Approach The size of the property presented the opportunity to substantially reconfigure the family home to create a series of dynamic living spaces oriented towards the large, south-facing garden. Our team suggested removing the little kitchen from the front of the property and re positioning it within the unused glazed space at the back of the house. The glazed room had internal French doors with a step down into the space separating it from the lounge. We proposed to remove the French doors, level the floor and make it into one room with the existing lounge. To connect the new open plan kitchen and living space to the rear and side garden sliding and folding doors were the solution, extending the family’s usable living space by creating a seamless indoor-outdoor flow. There was already a patio area there and it made sense for the kitchen to move to the rear of the house to be close to the patio for easy outside dining. It was therefore logical to retain the existing living space in it's current location next to the new kitchen, maintaining the natural flow of the house for the family after eating and entertaining in the kitchen. When making decisions regarding the kitchen design, we worked closely with the family. They thoroughly enjoy spending time cooking and entertaining with their large extended family. To assist with their culinary preparations our clients had aspired to have an induction hob within their new kitchen. As they were working through the design with us, they weren’t sure about an induction hob because of different cooking methods required for certain meals that they like to produce. They particularly like making chapatis which require a round pan and a gas hob. We didn’t see this as a problem and suggested having a single gas burner for purely this purpose whilst still installing an induction hob. They decided to go ahead with our idea, choosing a single gas burner and an induction hob, and it looks great! The existing lounge space had a corner aspect at the rear property that protruded into the garden. Positioned next to the kitchen and dining space it seemed logical to us for the living area to also open out onto the patio, thus connecting the garden to the house on a wider aspect. To enhance the connection between the garden and the living room we thought that a corner door would work extremely well to really open up this space. The clients really liked the design concept to create a feature of the corner with glazed sliding doors that would completely open the house up to the garden. They were excited about the prospect of the allowing huge amounts of natural light into their home and the flexible access it would provide to the garden. Once the new kitchen, dining and living space had been concluded, we then had to consider what the previous kitchen and dining area was going to be used for within the small, long side extension. We talked with our clients about a few possible uses. We noticed that the family have a piano and few other musical instruments. It made sense for this space to become a quiet part of the house for them to escape to, play music, read and generally relax in a snug area. To shorten the length of the new music room and make an additional feature in the newly created open plan kitchen, dining and living area, we reclaimed some of the space from the back of the side extension and opened it up to the main open-plan space, thus creating another new snug. We added an additional design feature within the snug by creating a timber window seat. Not only does it provide extra seating, but it’s also created a snug within a snug, a haven for reading, napping and gazing out into the garden. As part of their brief our clients also wanted a to incorporate a log burner into their newly remodelled home. To connect the new music room and snug to the living space we proposed to position a two-way log burner where the existing gas fire was located. By retaining a fire in the original location it would minimise the disruption and work required to install the wood burner. However, the theory didn’t turn into reality and the new fire resulted in being quite a task to get it to work. When the contractor began to strip back the existing fireplace, they discovered that fitting the pipe within the building was going to be more challenging than they anticipated because of the poorly constructed extension. It was difficult to execute but it was ultimately achieved. What lies beneath? It’s not until you uncover the fabric of the building that you fully understand what’s going on underneath. When the contractor exposed the structure of the house, we found out that the property had been poorly constructed, and they uncovered a lot of poor workmanship from the original builders. As the build progressed the inner skin of the extended structure was exposed, we found that it wasn’t actually strong enough and we needed to make it safe in order to proceed. Going forwards we ensured that the structure was safe, and all issues were identified and immediately rectified. The previous extensions to the house also presented further challenges as the build progressed. We found that the floors between rooms were not level. We wanted to create the appearance of one space rather than lots of chopped up areas. To do so we needed to alter the floor and ceilings to ensure that they were flush right through the new open plan living space. Also, after removing the internal French doors, the down-stand beam where the doors had previously been were subsequently left prominent down from the ceiling. The design required careful planning and attention to detail to achieve the best looking finished results for the client. For us, in principle our clients’ scheme at the outset was quite a simple project but when the strip out commenced there was actually a more going on underneath that needed attention before the project could start to take shape. A lot of things needed to be considered to make it work structurally and properly for the family. When the carpet was initially lifted, we found a parquet floor underneath. The family and our team were extremely excited at the prospect of having a traditional parquet floor that could be sanded down and made good. However, when ‘all’ of the carpet was removed only half of the living room had been covered in parquet flooring and the other half was actually a solid concrete floor. Unfortunately, we couldn’t proceed with the flooring and our clients chose another floor finish. Making connections Our team at Croft Architecture have created a new, sleek, spacious family ‘hub’ that’s light with clean lines. The open plan space unites the family of four whilst providing the ability to gather the wider family and seamlessly connecting their home with the garden through the new full length sliding doors. Although they now have plenty of space to gather with the family, they also have areas of seclusion to spread out and escape to when needed. A strong working relationship between our team, the client and Building Control enabled us to gain the necessary permissions promptly. We enjoyed working with the project team and we’re extremely pleased to successfully deliver the completed project. Although it wasn't in accordance with our client’s timescales with the discovery of hidden structural challenges, we spent the time carefully resolving the issues to unsure that our clients home was not only safe, but also looks great and functions perfectly.

The tapered hood, subway tile and suspended shelves are all elements that make up this modern farmhouse design.

This project is a new 5,900 sf. primary residence for a couple with three children. The site is slightly elevated above the residential street and enjoys winter views of the Potomac River. The family’s requirements included five bedrooms, five full baths, a powder room, family room, dining room, eat-in kitchen, walk-in pantry, mudroom, lower level recreation room, exercise room, media room and numerous storage spaces. Also included was the request for an outdoor terrace and adequate outdoor storage, including provision for the storage of bikes and kayaks. The family needed a home that would have two entrances, the primary entrance, and a mudroom entry that would provide generous storage spaces for the family’s active lifestyle. Due to the small lot size, the challenge was to accommodate the family’s requirements, while remaining sympathetic to the scale of neighboring homes. The residence employs a “T” shaped plan to aid in minimizing the massing visible from the street, while organizing interior spaces around a private outdoor terrace space accessible from the living and dining spaces. A generous front porch and a gambrel roof diminish the home’s scale, providing a welcoming view along the street front. A path along the right side of the residence leads to the family entrance and a small outbuilding that provides ready access to the bikes and kayaks while shielding the rear terrace from view of neighboring homes. The two entrances join a central stair hall that leads to the eat-in kitchen overlooking the great room. Window seats and a custom built banquette provide gathering spaces, while the French doors connect the great room to the terrace where the arbor transitions to the garden. A first floor guest suite, separate from the family areas of the home, affords privacy for both guests and hosts alike. The second floor Master Suite enjoys views of the Potomac River through a second floor arched balcony visible from the front. The exterior is composed of a board and batten first floor with a cedar shingled second floor and gambrel roof. These two contrasting materials and the inclusion of a partially recessed front porch contribute to the perceived diminution of the home’s scale relative to its smaller neighbors. The overall intention was to create a close fit between the residence and the neighboring context, both built and natural. Builder: E.H. Johnstone Builders Anice Hoachlander Photography

Audrey McEwen - Architectural Designer and Photographer

Stunning bookmatch walnut veneer panels in the entrance hall

This total redevelopment renovation of this fabulous large country home meant the whole house was taken back to the external walls and roof rafters and all suspended floors dug up. All new Interior layout and two large extensions. 2 months of gutting the property before any building works commenced. This part of the house was in fact an old ballroom and one of the new extensions formed a beautiful new entrance hallway with stunning helical staircase. Our own design handmade and painted kitchen with Miele appliances. Painted in a gorgeous soft grey and with a fabulous 3.5 x 1 metre solid wood dovetailed breakfast bar and surround with led lighting. Stunning stone effect porcelain tiles which were for most of the ground floor, all with under floor heating. Skyframe openings on the ground and first floor giving uninterrupted views of the glorious open countryside. Lutron lighting throughout the whole of the property and Crestron Home Automation. A glass firebox fire was built into this room. for clients ease, giving a secondary heat source, but more for visual effect. 4KTV with plastered in the wall speakers, the wall to the right of the TV is only temporary as this will soon be an entrance and view to the large swimming pool extension with sliding Skyframe window system and all glass walkway. Still much more for this amazing project with stunnnig furniture and lighting, but already a beautiful light filled home.

This 1960s split-level home desperately needed a change - not bigger space, just better. We removed the walls between the kitchen, living, and dining rooms to create a large open concept space that still allows a clear definition of space, while offering sight lines between spaces and functions. Homeowners preferred an open U-shape kitchen rather than an island to keep kids out of the cooking area during meal-prep, while offering easy access to the refrigerator and pantry. Green glass tile, granite countertops, shaker cabinets, and rustic reclaimed wood accents highlight the unique character of the home and family. The mix of farmhouse, contemporary and industrial styles make this house their ideal home. Outside, new lap siding with white trim, and an accent of shake shingles under the gable. The new red door provides a much needed pop of color. Landscaping was updated with a new brick paver and stone front stoop, walk, and landscaping wall.

Clifton, the designer, chooses furniture in walnut brown to create a masculine and tasteful ambience for this project. Since the owner often goes traveling and has a collection of deco from all over the world, especially wall paintings. So, he wants a home design that is both practical and unique to reveal his personality and being design as a stylish hotel suite.  Clifton also adapts a sliding door and raised platform to separate the sleeping/ living area and cooking/ dining area. The design is flexible and practical since the owner wants maximum space in such a small area. So, he requires minimal design with the maximum space created. Dark walnut color is selected as the theme color to portray a timeless metropolitan look. The flower arrangement with a dash of green and white, together with the artistic and colorful painting help to spice up the entire environment. The white wall also works well to break the monotony of the dark brown hues. The wooden blinds by the entrance, in walnut brown, are unconventional, to conform to the overall look and feel of the design. The oriental wooden chairs by the entrance infuses well with the overall metropolitan design of the flat. This is a perfect blend of “east meets west”. Entrance The kitchen design is characterized by simple design, minimalism and functionality. Finest materials and appliances are selected to match with the overall modern design. In line with the minimalistic design, built-in washing machine works magic to create an uncluttered kitchen space. The kitchen drawers are created with meticulous details, where cutleries can be conveniently categorized. A sliding door is in place to separate the bedroom/living room and the dining area. The door can be fully opened to create a combined space for friends’ gathering if needed. Different floor treatments are used to define the living and dining areas. Drawers under the bed offer extra storage and maximize the utilization of space. The color tone and material of the furniture in the living area matches with that of the dining room – in hues of black and dark brown. The beige carpet and light chestnut flooring blend well with the furniture to offset the monochromic tonality and create a calm and restful feel. The mood lighting at the ceiling further enhances the homey ambience. A grey washroom evokes a sophisticated, calming, and uplifting feeling, which offers a private oasis for owners to relax after a day of hectic work.

This rambler’s small kitchen was dysfunctional and out of touch with our client’s needs. She desired a larger footprint without an addition or expanding the footprint to stay within a realistic budget for her homes size and neighborhood. The existing kitchen was “boxed-in” at the back of the house. The entrance from the hallway was very narrow causing congestion and cramping the cook. In the living room the existing fireplace was a room hog, taking up the middle of the house. The kitchen was isolated from the other room’s downstairs. The design team and homeowner decided to open the kitchen, connecting it to the dining room by removing the fireplace. This expanded the interior floor space. To create further integration amongst the spaces, the wall opening between the dining and living room was also widened. An archway was built to replicate the existing arch at the hallway & living room, giving a more spacious feel. The new galley kitchen includes generous workspaces and enhanced storage. All designed for this homeowners’ specific needs in her kitchen. We also created a kitchen peninsula where guests can sit and enjoy conversations with the cook. (After 5,6) The red Viking range gives a fun pop of color to offset the monochromatic floor, cabinets and counters. It also plays to her Stanford alumni colors. One of our favorite and most notable features of this kitchen is the “flip-out” window at the sink. This creative solution allows for an enhanced outdoor living experience, without an expansive remodel or addition. When the window is open the party can happen inside and outside with an interactive experience between spaces. The countertop was installed flush to the window, specifically designed as a cocktail/counter rail surface.

This classically styled in-framed kitchen has drawn upon art deco and contemporary influences to create an evolutionary design that delivers microscopic detail at every turn. The kitchen uses exotic finishes both inside and out with the cabinetry posts being specially designed to feature mirrored collars and the inside of the larder unit being custom lined with a specially commissioned crushed glass. The kitchen island is completely bespoke, a unique installation that has been designed to maximise the functional potential of the space whilst delivering a powerful visual aesthetic. The island was positioned diagonally across the room which created enough space to deliver a design that was not restricted by the architecture and which surpassed expectations. This also maximised the functional potential of the space and aided movement throughout the room. The soft geometry and fluid nature of the island design originates from the cylindrical drum unit which is set in the foreground as you enter the room. This dark ebony unit is positioned at the main entry point into the kitchen and can be seen from the front entrance hallway. This dark cylinder unit contrasts deeply against the floor and the surrounding cabinetry and is designed to be a very powerful visual hook drawing the onlooker into the space. The drama of the island is enhanced further through the complex array of bespoke cabinetry that effortlessly flows back into the room drawing the onlooker deeper into the space. Each individual island section was uniquely designed to reflect the opulence required for this exclusive residence. The subtle mixture of door profiles and finishes allowed the island to straddle the boundaries between traditional and contemporary design whilst the acute arrangement of angles and curves melt together to create a luxurious mix of materials, layers and finishes. All of which aid the functionality of the kitchen providing the user with multiple preparation zones and an area for casual seating. In order to enhance the impact further we carefully considered the lighting within the kitchen including the design and installation of a bespoke bulkhead ceiling complete with plaster cornice and colour changing LED lighting. Photos by: Derek Robinson

This classically styled in-framed kitchen has drawn upon art deco and contemporary influences to create an evolutionary design that delivers microscopic detail at every turn. The kitchen uses exotic finishes both inside and out with the cabinetry posts being specially designed to feature mirrored collars and the inside of the larder unit being custom lined with a specially commissioned crushed glass. The kitchen island is completely bespoke, a unique installation that has been designed to maximise the functional potential of the space whilst delivering a powerful visual aesthetic. The island was positioned diagonally across the room which created enough space to deliver a design that was not restricted by the architecture and which surpassed expectations. This also maximised the functional potential of the space and aided movement throughout the room. The soft geometry and fluid nature of the island design originates from the cylindrical drum unit which is set in the foreground as you enter the room. This dark ebony unit is positioned at the main entry point into the kitchen and can be seen from the front entrance hallway. This dark cylinder unit contrasts deeply against the floor and the surrounding cabinetry and is designed to be a very powerful visual hook drawing the onlooker into the space. The drama of the island is enhanced further through the complex array of bespoke cabinetry that effortlessly flows back into the room drawing the onlooker deeper into the space. Each individual island section was uniquely designed to reflect the opulence required for this exclusive residence. The subtle mixture of door profiles and finishes allowed the island to straddle the boundaries between traditional and contemporary design whilst the acute arrangement of angles and curves melt together to create a luxurious mix of materials, layers and finishes. All of which aid the functionality of the kitchen providing the user with multiple preparation zones and an area for casual seating. In order to enhance the impact further we carefully considered the lighting within the kitchen including the design and installation of a bespoke bulkhead ceiling complete with plaster cornice and colour changing LED lighting. Photos by: Derek Robinson

The kitchen has four entrances and a window, which made designing it difficult. David explains: “It’s a bit of an awkward shape as it’s almost square but not large enough to accommodate an island. We tried to reimagine the layout of the space, but always re-turned to the basic layout that was already there.” He continues: “We needed to come up with modifications that would make this work. Fitting the dishwasher, large farmhouse sink, under sink garbage and storage all on one side of the kitchen was a challenge.” So, IKD re-envisioned the laundry room and pantry, which were previously dominated by a floor washer and dryer. “Now we have a tight combo and space to fold [laundry] on the counter under the window,” Kim says. “We also keep all our cleaning supplies in the cupboard and tons more storage capacity since we have cupboards on both sides of the space.” To make the space feel less cramped, upper-depth cupboards were added on the side opposite the washing machines. Similarly, the pantry used to be very cramped and inefficient, featuring laundry machines and an old bookshelf. “Now we have half of our food, appliances, our microwave and everything else we occasionally use right beside the kitchen. Since we were able to store the microwave in the cabinet, we’re also able to keep the counter in our kitchen clear. Overall, it means less trips to the basement,” Kim concludes.

This classically styled in-framed kitchen has drawn upon art deco and contemporary influences to create an evolutionary design that delivers microscopic detail at every turn. The kitchen uses exotic finishes both inside and out with the cabinetry posts being specially designed to feature mirrored collars and the inside of the larder unit being custom lined with a specially commissioned crushed glass. The kitchen island is completely bespoke, a unique installation that has been designed to maximise the functional potential of the space whilst delivering a powerful visual aesthetic. The island was positioned diagonally across the room which created enough space to deliver a design that was not restricted by the architecture and which surpassed expectations. This also maximised the functional potential of the space and aided movement throughout the room. The soft geometry and fluid nature of the island design originates from the cylindrical drum unit which is set in the foreground as you enter the room. This dark ebony unit is positioned at the main entry point into the kitchen and can be seen from the front entrance hallway. This dark cylinder unit contrasts deeply against the floor and the surrounding cabinetry and is designed to be a very powerful visual hook drawing the onlooker into the space. The drama of the island is enhanced further through the complex array of bespoke cabinetry that effortlessly flows back into the room drawing the onlooker deeper into the space. Each individual island section was uniquely designed to reflect the opulence required for this exclusive residence. The subtle mixture of door profiles and finishes allowed the island to straddle the boundaries between traditional and contemporary design whilst the acute arrangement of angles and curves melt together to create a luxurious mix of materials, layers and finishes. All of which aid the functionality of the kitchen providing the user with multiple preparation zones and an area for casual seating. In order to enhance the impact further we carefully considered the lighting within the kitchen including the design and installation of a bespoke bulkhead ceiling complete with plaster cornice and colour changing LED lighting. Photos by: Derek Robinson

This classically styled in-framed kitchen has drawn upon art deco and contemporary influences to create an evolutionary design that delivers microscopic detail at every turn. The kitchen uses exotic finishes both inside and out with the cabinetry posts being specially designed to feature mirrored collars and the inside of the larder unit being custom lined with a specially commissioned crushed glass. The kitchen island is completely bespoke, a unique installation that has been designed to maximise the functional potential of the space whilst delivering a powerful visual aesthetic. The island was positioned diagonally across the room which created enough space to deliver a design that was not restricted by the architecture and which surpassed expectations. This also maximised the functional potential of the space and aided movement throughout the room. The soft geometry and fluid nature of the island design originates from the cylindrical drum unit which is set in the foreground as you enter the room. This dark ebony unit is positioned at the main entry point into the kitchen and can be seen from the front entrance hallway. This dark cylinder unit contrasts deeply against the floor and the surrounding cabinetry and is designed to be a very powerful visual hook drawing the onlooker into the space. The drama of the island is enhanced further through the complex array of bespoke cabinetry that effortlessly flows back into the room drawing the onlooker deeper into the space. Each individual island section was uniquely designed to reflect the opulence required for this exclusive residence. The subtle mixture of door profiles and finishes allowed the island to straddle the boundaries between traditional and contemporary design whilst the acute arrangement of angles and curves melt together to create a luxurious mix of materials, layers and finishes. All of which aid the functionality of the kitchen providing the user with multiple preparation zones and an area for casual seating. In order to enhance the impact further we carefully considered the lighting within the kitchen including the design and installation of a bespoke bulkhead ceiling complete with plaster cornice and colour changing LED lighting. Photos by: Derek Robinson

A gorgeous two tone painted kitchen for this lovely family in Petts Wood. The bespoke kitchen design includes a wealth of special features including a canopy over the induction hob and striking glass splashback, hand-made crockery cupboard with bi-fold doors, hidden drinks cabinet, bespoke larder unit, bespoke cutlery drawer inserts and can you spot the door to the concealed utility area? Paint colours chosen are Farrow & Ball Hague Blue and Pavillon Grey, Siemens appliances and a Quooker boiling water tap.

This classically styled in-framed kitchen has drawn upon art deco and contemporary influences to create an evolutionary design that delivers microscopic detail at every turn. The kitchen uses exotic finishes both inside and out with the cabinetry posts being specially designed to feature mirrored collars and the inside of the larder unit being custom lined with a specially commissioned crushed glass. The kitchen island is completely bespoke, a unique installation that has been designed to maximise the functional potential of the space whilst delivering a powerful visual aesthetic. The island was positioned diagonally across the room which created enough space to deliver a design that was not restricted by the architecture and which surpassed expectations. This also maximised the functional potential of the space and aided movement throughout the room. The soft geometry and fluid nature of the island design originates from the cylindrical drum unit which is set in the foreground as you enter the room. This dark ebony unit is positioned at the main entry point into the kitchen and can be seen from the front entrance hallway. This dark cylinder unit contrasts deeply against the floor and the surrounding cabinetry and is designed to be a very powerful visual hook drawing the onlooker into the space. The drama of the island is enhanced further through the complex array of bespoke cabinetry that effortlessly flows back into the room drawing the onlooker deeper into the space. Each individual island section was uniquely designed to reflect the opulence required for this exclusive residence. The subtle mixture of door profiles and finishes allowed the island to straddle the boundaries between traditional and contemporary design whilst the acute arrangement of angles and curves melt together to create a luxurious mix of materials, layers and finishes. All of which aid the functionality of the kitchen providing the user with multiple preparation zones and an area for casual seating. In order to enhance the impact further we carefully considered the lighting within the kitchen including the design and installation of a bespoke bulkhead ceiling complete with plaster cornice and colour changing LED lighting. Photos by: Derek Robinson

This classically styled in-framed kitchen has drawn upon art deco and contemporary influences to create an evolutionary design that delivers microscopic detail at every turn. The kitchen uses exotic finishes both inside and out with the cabinetry posts being specially designed to feature mirrored collars and the inside of the larder unit being custom lined with a specially commissioned crushed glass. The kitchen island is completely bespoke, a unique installation that has been designed to maximise the functional potential of the space whilst delivering a powerful visual aesthetic. The island was positioned diagonally across the room which created enough space to deliver a design that was not restricted by the architecture and which surpassed expectations. This also maximised the functional potential of the space and aided movement throughout the room. The soft geometry and fluid nature of the island design originates from the cylindrical drum unit which is set in the foreground as you enter the room. This dark ebony unit is positioned at the main entry point into the kitchen and can be seen from the front entrance hallway. This dark cylinder unit contrasts deeply against the floor and the surrounding cabinetry and is designed to be a very powerful visual hook drawing the onlooker into the space. The drama of the island is enhanced further through the complex array of bespoke cabinetry that effortlessly flows back into the room drawing the onlooker deeper into the space. Each individual island section was uniquely designed to reflect the opulence required for this exclusive residence. The subtle mixture of door profiles and finishes allowed the island to straddle the boundaries between traditional and contemporary design whilst the acute arrangement of angles and curves melt together to create a luxurious mix of materials, layers and finishes. All of which aid the functionality of the kitchen providing the user with multiple preparation zones and an area for casual seating. In order to enhance the impact further we carefully considered the lighting within the kitchen including the design and installation of a bespoke bulkhead ceiling complete with plaster cornice and colour changing LED lighting. Photos by: Derek Robinson

This classically styled in-framed kitchen has drawn upon art deco and contemporary influences to create an evolutionary design that delivers microscopic detail at every turn. The kitchen uses exotic finishes both inside and out with the cabinetry posts being specially designed to feature mirrored collars and the inside of the larder unit being custom lined with a specially commissioned crushed glass. The kitchen island is completely bespoke, a unique installation that has been designed to maximise the functional potential of the space whilst delivering a powerful visual aesthetic. The island was positioned diagonally across the room which created enough space to deliver a design that was not restricted by the architecture and which surpassed expectations. This also maximised the functional potential of the space and aided movement throughout the room. The soft geometry and fluid nature of the island design originates from the cylindrical drum unit which is set in the foreground as you enter the room. This dark ebony unit is positioned at the main entry point into the kitchen and can be seen from the front entrance hallway. This dark cylinder unit contrasts deeply against the floor and the surrounding cabinetry and is designed to be a very powerful visual hook drawing the onlooker into the space. The drama of the island is enhanced further through the complex array of bespoke cabinetry that effortlessly flows back into the room drawing the onlooker deeper into the space. Each individual island section was uniquely designed to reflect the opulence required for this exclusive residence. The subtle mixture of door profiles and finishes allowed the island to straddle the boundaries between traditional and contemporary design whilst the acute arrangement of angles and curves melt together to create a luxurious mix of materials, layers and finishes. All of which aid the functionality of the kitchen providing the user with multiple preparation zones and an area for casual seating. In order to enhance the impact further we carefully considered the lighting within the kitchen including the design and installation of a bespoke bulkhead ceiling complete with plaster cornice and colour changing LED lighting. Photos by: Derek Robinson