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Kitchen Tour: A Stunning, Spacious, Shaker-style Kitchen
An unusual extension was the starting point for the layout of this sophisticated cookspace
When Tim Higham was brought in to design a bespoke kitchen for the owners of this Edwardian bungalow, they were in the midst of a full-house renovation. An extension had created a beautiful vaulted room that formed an unusual T-shape at the rear of the property. Tim worked with the floorplan to design a central cooking hub at the heart of the open-plan living and dining space.
The island was placed directly opposite the cooker to form a symmetrical cooking zone. A marble worktop covers both the island and the perimeter units, and the marble is also featured on the splashback.
Along the back wall, there are a couple of three-drawer units on either side of the cooker, a cupboard on the far left, and a wine fridge of the same width on the right. The units create a symmetrical layout, which brings a harmonious feel to the space.
A glass door in the floor leads down to the cellar, where the owners can store wine.
Kitchen units painted in French Grey Pale; island painted in Scree, both Little Greene. Carrara marble worktop and splashback, Middlesex Marble. Weathered oak bar stools, Cox & Cox.
Get expert advice on how to plan a kitchen island.
Along the back wall, there are a couple of three-drawer units on either side of the cooker, a cupboard on the far left, and a wine fridge of the same width on the right. The units create a symmetrical layout, which brings a harmonious feel to the space.
A glass door in the floor leads down to the cellar, where the owners can store wine.
Kitchen units painted in French Grey Pale; island painted in Scree, both Little Greene. Carrara marble worktop and splashback, Middlesex Marble. Weathered oak bar stools, Cox & Cox.
Get expert advice on how to plan a kitchen island.
The drawers are made of solid maple with dovetail joints.
“We usually make a trio of drawers in different sizes,” Tim says. “The large one at the bottom is for pots and pans, the middle one is for tableware, and the top one is for cutlery.”
The custom-made cutlery tray insert can be removed for cleaning.
Nickel door handles, Armac Martin.
“We usually make a trio of drawers in different sizes,” Tim says. “The large one at the bottom is for pots and pans, the middle one is for tableware, and the top one is for cutlery.”
The custom-made cutlery tray insert can be removed for cleaning.
Nickel door handles, Armac Martin.
A double Belfast sink on the island is in close proximity to the cooker, creating a practical triangle with the fridge and larder, which are placed to the side of the central area.
The fridge-freezer is framed by a larder on the left and cupboards above. “The top cupboards are for vases and glassware that aren’t used often,” Tim says. “They’re fitted with internal lights, which give off a pleasant glow in the evening.”
American-style fridge-freezer (RF540ADUSX4), Fisher & Paykel.
American-style fridge-freezer (RF540ADUSX4), Fisher & Paykel.
Opposite is a double larder with drawers at the bottom, a storage rack on the door, shelves and an internal worktop with plug sockets at the back.
“We had to make it fit around the steps,” Tim says, “so we designed the doors to finish just above the step, then added drawers below.”
These 3m-high cabinets allowed the owners to do without wall units for a cleaner, brighter look in the cooking area.
“We had to make it fit around the steps,” Tim says, “so we designed the doors to finish just above the step, then added drawers below.”
These 3m-high cabinets allowed the owners to do without wall units for a cleaner, brighter look in the cooking area.
The island looks out to the dining area and TV zone beyond. The floor is covered with large porcelain tiles.
Boiling-water tap, Quooker. Reno Ice porcelain floor tiles, Eurotiles & Bathrooms.
Shop for rustic dining tables on Houzz.
Boiling-water tap, Quooker. Reno Ice porcelain floor tiles, Eurotiles & Bathrooms.
Shop for rustic dining tables on Houzz.
A large dining table, purchased in Bali, has plenty of room for guests and looks out through sliding doors to the garden. A rooflight above brings even more light into the space.
Planning a home renovation? Find architects and building designers in your area.
Planning a home renovation? Find architects and building designers in your area.
To the side of the kitchen is a seating area where the owners can enjoy the benefits of a wood-burning stove.
The ceiling of the extension is vaulted, so the owners chose steel-framed doors with a slanted window at the top to highlight the architecture of the room.
A fixed panel of glazing at the side provides another view of the garden, while a high-level window opposite provides more light without overlooking the neighbours.
Sterling 1100Ei range cooker with induction hob, Stoves. Elibloc HT80 integrated extractor, Elica. Belfast-style double-bowl sink, Villeroy & Boch. Mimas single lever tap with C spout in pewter, Perrin & Rowe. Wi6116 wine cooler, Caple. 520 wood-burning stove, Contura.
Tell us…
What do you think of this light, elegant, Shaker-style kitchen? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
The ceiling of the extension is vaulted, so the owners chose steel-framed doors with a slanted window at the top to highlight the architecture of the room.
A fixed panel of glazing at the side provides another view of the garden, while a high-level window opposite provides more light without overlooking the neighbours.
Sterling 1100Ei range cooker with induction hob, Stoves. Elibloc HT80 integrated extractor, Elica. Belfast-style double-bowl sink, Villeroy & Boch. Mimas single lever tap with C spout in pewter, Perrin & Rowe. Wi6116 wine cooler, Caple. 520 wood-burning stove, Contura.
Tell us…
What do you think of this light, elegant, Shaker-style kitchen? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
Who lives here? A couple with their two children
Location Hampton, London
Property An Edwardian bungalow with six bedrooms
Room dimensions The kitchen area is 8.6 x 3.8m
Cost Bespoke cabinetry from £24,000
Designer Tim Higham at Higham Furniture
Photos by Rowland Roques-O’Neil
When the owners of this Edwardian home extended the rear of their property, they created a T-shaped room where they could have separate zones for a kitchen, a dining area and a seating space.
The starting point for the layout was the cooker, which was to be a standout feature in the room. “It made sense to locate it in the centre of the T, with a mantel built around it,” Tim says.
The plywood chimney was constructed off-site and needed six workmen to fit it. “We made it as a single unit and brought it to site horizontally,” Tim says. “It was really heavy to turn vertically.”