A chic yet functional family kitchen in Bexley, Kent
A spacious and practical kitchen with some unique and elegant design touches, created for Andrew and Sian Furze, their two teenaged children (and their dog!), in Bexley, Kent.
Extensive possibilities
When Andrew and Sian set out to extend their detached family home in Bexley, Kent, they knew they wanted plenty of time to decide how to get the best from their extra space, so they sensibly approached us as soon as they received permission for the extension, back in July 2017.
This was their brief:
- Open, bright and clean in style.
- Well balanced and symmetrical in layout.
- Plenty of storage for the family of four, and their dog – particularly a pantry cupboard and a generous appliance set up.
- Ample worktop space, including an island and raised bar seating for informal dining.
- A bar area would be a welcomed bonus.
We welcomed Andrew and Sian to our showroom, where our traditional ‘in-frame’ shaker kitchen cabinets, combining both walnut and painted elements, caught their eye, giving us a good starting point for the design process.
Their new extension was the perfect blank canvas, a fairly large space, with fabulous bi-fold doors opening out onto their garden. The only difficulty was how to deal with a retaining pillar along the principle wall of the kitchen.
Design evolution
By starting the design process before a brick had been laid, Andrew and Sian ensured that they had all the time they, and we, needed to evolve the original brief into the final, perfect kitchen.
They gave themselves ample time to consider the options and came back to us in January 2018 with a change of mind – opting for a more contemporary look to suit modern family living.
We dealt with the awkward retaining pillar by hiding it behind the kitchen units, thus stopping it dictating too much of the design.
Rather than wasting the space created by positioning the units in front of the pillar, we used the opportunity to incorporate a stunning niche behind the sink, a real personal touch and a unique feature to this kitchen. Finished with a mirrored splashback, it bounces light back into the room and gives the space wonderful charm and elegance.
Opposite the main units we positioned an island containing a BORA hob with its integrated extraction system, additional working space, drawer storage underneath and a stunning engineered oak bar to provide not only informal seating, but also to inject colour and vibrancy.
We offset the oak bar from the main worktop to provide a break from the otherwise symmetrical layout and to add another unique twist. A row of three lanterns provides intimate lighting over the island, while spot lights ensure that the kitchen can be brightly lit when needed.
On the left hand wall we installed a worktop and further storage units, including a handy wine conditioner and open shelving for glassware – ensuring that you can refill your glass without getting in the way of the cook! Oak trays are integrated between the cabinets, and charging points are concealed within the wall cupboards – perfect for the teenagers of the household.
The move away from shaker style units means that the kitchen has a more contemporary feel with slab doors in sleek, light grey acrylic (reflecting light around the space) alongside Farrow and Ball ‘Downpipe’ painted ash; the two combining to provide texture and a sophisticated finish. The use of oak injects vibrancy while giving a nod to the traditional tones of the original plan to use walnut.
The result
Andrew and Sian are delighted with their new kitchen, which provides them with the space and practicalities needed for day to day family life, while having all the refinements for elegant entertaining.