Kitchen Makeovers
A Period Home in Scotland Gets a Kitchen Fit for a Chef
Not only does this kitchen win in the style stakes, but it’s also a practical place to cook
When the owners of this Georgian townhouse in Edinburgh asked Brian Minns to design their kitchen, their request was straightforward. “They wanted a kitchen that was simple, beautiful and maximized the space while not overcrowding the room,” Minns says. Since one of the owners is a private chef, they also wanted the room to function almost like a professional kitchen. “She does a lot of cooking at home, so this kitchen needed to live up to expectations,” says Minns, who set about creating a space that combines modern functionality with traditional aesthetics.
The stainless steel range takes center stage, and the uninterrupted row of upper cabinets keeps the space uncluttered and symmetrical. Minns installed a hood in the center cabinet to filter cooking odors. “We kept the hood hidden, as we wanted to achieve the look of one piece of furniture,” Minns says.
The upper cabinets are two-tiered (see first picture). “By breaking the doors up, it stops the units [from] looking too plain and gives them presence,” Minns says.
A long rail below the wall cabinets is the perfect spot for the owner’s well-used brass cookware. “She can have her pans there, ready to rock,” Minns says.
Cache range hood: Westin
Kitchen Confidential: The Pros and Cons of Double Stacked Cabinets
The upper cabinets are two-tiered (see first picture). “By breaking the doors up, it stops the units [from] looking too plain and gives them presence,” Minns says.
A long rail below the wall cabinets is the perfect spot for the owner’s well-used brass cookware. “She can have her pans there, ready to rock,” Minns says.
Cache range hood: Westin
Kitchen Confidential: The Pros and Cons of Double Stacked Cabinets
A preparation area to the side of the range has a useful magnetic knife rack above and a cutlery drawer below. An integrated trash cabinet has space for two bins.
Narrow cabinets on both sides of the range store things like baking trays. A Shaker-style side-panel detail provides an attractive finishing touch to the run of cabinets.
Narrow cabinets on both sides of the range store things like baking trays. A Shaker-style side-panel detail provides an attractive finishing touch to the run of cabinets.
The cabinets and drawers have walnut interiors.
The pantry, located next to an integrated fridge-freezer, was an important addition for the cook in the house. The shelves are adjustable, and a large rack on the door is perfect for spices.
An LED cabinet light comes on when the door is opened. Elsewhere in the room are undercabinet LED lights and attractive pendants.
A handy towel rail hangs on the side of the pantry, not far from the sink.
An LED cabinet light comes on when the door is opened. Elsewhere in the room are undercabinet LED lights and attractive pendants.
A handy towel rail hangs on the side of the pantry, not far from the sink.
The clients chose a dramatic dark blue for their cabinetry, which was hand-painted on-site to ensure that it looked right in the room. The copper pulls provide a striking contrast.
The marble countertops and backsplash also were also chosen by the clients, who had used the material previously. “Marble is a fabulous material,” Minns says, “but we do explain the pitfalls beforehand. It marks easily and requires a lot of maintenance, but the clients were well aware of how to work with it.”
Minns recommends using an organic marble cleaner, and avoiding bleach and acid.
Cabinet pulls: Armac Martin
How to Clean Marble Countertops and Tile
The marble countertops and backsplash also were also chosen by the clients, who had used the material previously. “Marble is a fabulous material,” Minns says, “but we do explain the pitfalls beforehand. It marks easily and requires a lot of maintenance, but the clients were well aware of how to work with it.”
Minns recommends using an organic marble cleaner, and avoiding bleach and acid.
Cabinet pulls: Armac Martin
How to Clean Marble Countertops and Tile
Opposite the kitchen is a dining area, where the design team built a custom dresser. The piece is painted in white to differentiate the two zones. “One of the nicest compliments we get is when someone says a piece of joinery looks like it has always been there,” Minns says.
The flooring throughout is the original pitch pine. The team stripped it back and applied a lacquer.
Cornforth White paint on dresser: Farrow & Ball
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The flooring throughout is the original pitch pine. The team stripped it back and applied a lacquer.
Cornforth White paint on dresser: Farrow & Ball
More
Read more kitchen guides
Find kitchen products
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple and their two sons, ages 3 and 6 months
Location: Edinburgh
Size: 194 square feet (18 square meters)
Designer: Brian Minns of Sculleries of Stockbridge
The position of the sink determined the layout of the cooking area. “We wanted it to be at the window to make use of the expanse of the bay,” Minns says. The countertop extends back into the bay, providing plenty of room around the ample sink. “The position of the [range] required symmetry and had to be in the middle of the room,” he says. “After that, the rest of the layout determined itself, as the tall unit could only really go at the end of the sink run.”
Below the sink is a rail made of walnut, which is also used inside the cabinets. “With butler sinks, you will often get some water running over, but the natural walnut absorbs it before it can cause the painted cabinet door to crack or peel,” Minns says.
Butler sink: Shaws; Ionian faucet: Perrin & Rowe; Hague Blue paint on kitchen cabinets: Farrow & Ball