Project in focus: BATH TOWNHOUSE
When Laura and Patrick asked us to design their new kitchen we jumped at the chance. Having followed Laura’s last home redevelopment on Instagram @laurabutlermadden, we knew, with her incredible style and flair, this next project would be every bit as special. And isn’t it just!
A number of things make this kitchen special, but as with most designs, the bones of the space that your working with have an enormous impact on the overall aesthetic.
In the case of this Georgian townhouse, the kitchen was moved from its original position on the lower ground floor of the property to the formal reception rooms on the upper ground floor. Relocating the kitchen to the grandest rooms in the house is becoming increasingly popular. The tall ceilings, ornate cornice and statement regency windows found in these rooms offer an immediate and welcome sense of stature and arrival.
We were keen to ensure that the new kitchen would sit comfortably within its new impressive space. A traditional panel moulding detail on the wall run and tall units offered a nod to the building’s history, however, by making the detail quite pronounced and chunky we created a contemporary twist to the traditional style.
On the island, we incorporate a gentled ribbed detail to offer contrast and a touch of the unexpected. All units were painted in the same Maylands shade, Holland Park 5, to tie the scheme together and create that gentle calming effect.
The triple bull-nosed edging on the shelf and countertops offers a classy detail, picking up the ribbed theme on the island. It was also incorporated into the gentle curved edges on the Island.
The chosen stone, an Italian quartzite charmingly known as La Dolce Vita, has a soft brown marbling in it which works well against the blush walls.
Few people regret ample provision for storage. In this scheme we used the generous celling height to create high level storage hidden behind fluted glass panels and accessible via a fetching feature ladder. The ladder and its industrial bronze rail allows for ‘a bit of bling’ to be incorporated and provides a visual break on the tall units. This metallic detail is replicated in the choice of British crafted Armac Martin pull handles.
No nook in this space went unconsidered.
The window seat brings texture into the scheme in the form of fabrics and cushions, offering a cosy and - should the pooch allow it - a sociable perch. Framing the stunning view of the town and countryside beyond, the seat has three drawers accessible via hidden handles within the panel detail.
Finally, few kitchens are complete without a space to house wine glasses, so we built a freestanding dresser into a recess within the room. A lovely unit with fluted glass, a bull-nosed worktop to tie in with the kitchen space, and an elegant curved detail give it character and presence within the room.
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