A beautiful bespoke kitchen in West Wickham
Simone and Kevin’s kitchen was feeling tired. It had been worked hard over the years of bringing up their now teenage children, and the wear and tear was showing. They came to us with a clear vision of what they wanted their kitchen to become for the next chapter of their lives.
They were looking for a fresh, bright space, which would be practical and functional. Something that would keep its good looks for years to come. It was also important to them that the space worked for cooking and dining.
Illuminating the space
We worked with Simone and Kevin’s existing space to design a layout that would deliver on all their requirements.
One of their main priorities was to bring more light into a space that had always felt too dark. They wanted to truly maximise the potential of the kitchen, incorporating as much worktop space and storage as they could, while being careful to not overcrowd the room.
The elongated area provided an ideal layout for kitchen dining, but we needed to make the most of the windows positioned at either end, making sure that materials and cabinetry bounced as much light around the space as possible.
New ‘Oasis’ porcelain floor tiles give a beautiful clean, fresh finish and their natural surface is an ideal way to create a feeling of light and space.
The décor throughout reflected this clean, simple finish with soft greys to further emphasize the feeling of light and calm.
Good looks and functionality
The design makes the most of the space, with cooking focused at one end with a Siemens gas hob and concealed Elica ‘Sleek’ Extractor and plenty of free countertop space around it. The Franke ceramic top mounted sink and tap continue the theme of streamlined simplicity.
At the other end of the kitchen, the dining area is surrounded by hand crafted cabinetry that makes the most of storage space for crockery and glassware, being careful to keep the space clear and clean. Tall doors augment the feeling of space and light.
Shades of grey
The cabinets are all constructed with oak MFC (Melamine Faced Chipboard) carcasses. The painted ash, shaker style doors, finished in Farrow and Ball Pavilion Grey, perfectly fit Simone and Kevin’s brief by combining contemporary simplicity with timeless styling.
All drawers are solid oak to withstand family usage for years to come. The Armac Martin handles add to the contemporary style and bring an additional touch of brightness.
White sparkle quartz worktops and splashbacks enhance the feeling of space and certainly play their part in bouncing light around the kitchen. Frosted and clear glass display units add interest where necessary and subtlety elsewhere. Open wine storage and tray space in the dining area are practical and the touch of oak on show adds warmth.
Hidden gems
It was important to Simone and Kevin that the overarching look was one of calm simplicity so that the play of light coming in from either end of the room was made the most of. Of course, that didn’t mean they had to compromise on the little extras that make cooking and dining in their space such a pleasure.
A hidden chef’s pantry is built in, which is always a pleasure to open as well as to organise! The fridge and freezers are also integrated into the stylish cabinetry. Easy access corner mechanisms capitalise on storage space, and a concealed bin is another clever addition to keep the space calm and clutter-free.
Lighter life
Simone and Kevin were thrilled with their new kitchen. Most of all with the way we were able to bring in light and make the space feel so fresh and bright, yet calm.
Teenage parties will certainly need to be kept to minimum!
For our new kitchen which was a full rip out and replace our choice of provider came down to the 3P’s – Product, People and Process. Great British Kitchens & Interiors truly excel in all 3 categories. The Product is of a very high quality, in our case robust for a busy family kitchen yet with a very classy high end finish that will last for years to come. The level of service was consistently high from everyone we engaged with. When you work with GBK&I it’s a design partnership – they work with you to find the perfect solution for your needs, they listen and iterate until you’ve nailed the design – Jack and Vince made this stress free and were very easy to work with. This then flows through to the installation which was managed and delivered by Bill, a true professional and craftsman as were the rest of the team. The Process is the final part that makes GBK&I worthy of 5 stars – from start to end the team guide you through the journey, including choices of all units. fittings, flooring, worktops, appliances etc. Our requirement involved rip out, re-plastering, electrical work, plumbing etc and GBK&I managed all of this, the majority completed by their own team avoiding a revolving door of workmen in our house. Overall an excellent experience, lovely guys to work with and we would highly recommend them.
We design and install stunning bespoke kitchens across this area, for example in Bexleyheath, Oxted, Westerham, Biggin Hill and Petts Wood.
If you would like to talk to us about how we could transform your kitchen, call us on 01959 53 22 33 to book a design appointment. By booking ahead, you can be confident you’ll have the time to talk everything through with us fully.
Alternatively, visit our Sevenoaks showroom to get inspired by our range of beautiful design ideas.
