Case Study: A Dream Foodie Kitchen
The London Kitchen company was delighted to work with Leyton-based foodies Tam and Mark, who hoped to turn their small catalogue kitchen into a dream open space to cook and entertain.
As avid chefs, having a practical space to work was a must. ‘Cooking is my principal hobby. I wanted a space to socialise while cooking, but in the tiny old kitchen, which could barely fit 4 people, I had to chase people around as I worked - a bit like musical chairs.” explained Tam.
To accommodate, the couple had an extension built which involved knocking through walls to expand the 10-foot room into a large open plan space leading out to the garden - perfect for hosting social occasions.
Armed with a strong vision - as having a bespoke kitchen was a lifelong aspiration - Tam worked closely with Sebastian and the builders throughout the design process:
““It took a long time - with lots of thinking, talking, bouncing ideas and changing minds in between… but one of the amazing things about working with Sebastian is his patience. Nothing is ‘oh god no’ - he always finds a few options and makes it a reality.””
Sebastian enjoyed the process of working with a client who had a clear goal in mind - a dream team scenario!
“I really enjoyed working with her because she was so passionate... She had a real purpose in mind for her kitchen - that this was going to be a place to cook, to entertain. When a client gives you lots of information it’s clear how you can help them. That adds a lot to the job. “
Sebastian also noted the importance of working with builders from the get-go to save design headaches later on:
‘Often people get extensions built, then add the kitchen… but there are so many details, like where the plumbing goes, out-of-line walls, etc. Working with builders from the start allows us to plan ahead and avoid potential problems down the line’’
Materials
One of the team’s first discussions was about materials. As the kitchen would be used for Tam’s mastercheffing, Corian was chosen for the work surfaces and sinks for its easy-to-clean and anti-bacterial properties. Tam commented: “there are no joins - it’s very hygienic”.
Sebastian installed a coved upstand on the edge of the worksurfaces, which means the surfaces are effortless to maintain as there are no sharp edges for dirt to hide in. It’s an approach which is also used in hospitals.
Another notable material was the kitchen’s bespoke oak shelves and window sills. Already a feature throughout the house, Oak was a particular attraction for Tam, and was chosen for design consistency. Sebastian hand-made the shelves, and used the off-cuts to create oak window sills overlooking the garden. He also created an oak sink cover to continue the theme, doubling up as a chopping board and extra workspace. Although Tam admits “I chop on it very carefully…”
For the cupboards, Tam chose a Shaker style, with hand-painted surfaces using a pale teal colour palette. Usually, paint is applied with a spraying technique, which is popular to achieve a quick, even finish and contemporary look.
However, Sebastian recommends hand painting shaker kitchens for a traditional feel: “It suits the style better. I treat it as part of the furniture of the house - in the same way as the doors and skirting boards are.. These are things you would paint and repaint, touch up if you get it damaged. You can’t touch up spray finishes”.
Maximising Space
As maximising space was the reason for the kitchen extension, the layout design was a key consideration.
“If I’m whirling about cooking about 5 dishes at once — I want enough room to move around without bumping into everyone” expressed Tam.
To accommodate Tam’s workflow the duo decided to zone the kitchen.
“You have the chef’s zone at the end of the island, and beyond that is the dining area, where plates and tableware are kept. The right hand side is for guests to mill around, where we keep the glasses… and wine cooler, of course.”
Previously, Tam would miss out on the social action by being tied to the stove. Now with the new extension and zones, she can multitask. Already, Tam has managed to host 17 people for a wine tasting party. Quite the transformation from their previous 4-person capacity!
Special kitchen features for a cook and entertainer
As a passionate cook, Tam had always envisioned a lavish larder in her kitchen to home her bountiful spice collection (...which are contained in 10 years worth of Coleman’s mustard jars!)
“I couldn’t have imagined a better larder. It’s an oak-lined magnificent cupboard of beauty which inspires me every day.”
Collecting inspiration from Pinterest, Tam pulled together some ideas, and Sebastian hand-built a bespoke larder, specifically to fit her spices. He added LED lights, turning on automatically as the doors are opened, with custom drawers for tins, dried goods and vegetables - and lined the cupboard with oak to keep a consistent design throughout the kitchen.
In Tam’s words: “I couldn’t have imagined a better larder. It’s an oak-lined magnificent cupboard of beauty which inspires me every day.”
Next to the larder, Sebastian installed a Space Tower, which Tam explains ‘is wonderful technologically - it slides all the way out, smoothly and beautifully without wobbling and dipping - so I have all my supplies at my fingertips’
As a kitchen entertainer, a double sink was encouraged to help aid dinner party cleanups, and a wine cooler was also installed, to accommodate the guests’ side of the island.
Final thoughts
“I used to be stuck in the kitchen on my own and I would miss half the festivities. Now it’s at the heart of everything. There’s enough room.”
Already, Tam explains how the kitchen has exceeded her expectations, and transformed her livelihood.
“I’ve been using it for 8 months now. There is nothing I would change... I had Christmas in it which was amazing - it proved the dream to be a reality. We ended up with about 12 people - everyone had workstations and got involved. I used to be stuck in the kitchen on my own and I would miss half the festivities. Now it’s at the heart of everything. There’s enough room.”
With a lovingly crafted open-plan extension, a thoughtful zoned layout and foodie features, Tam and Mark have gained the kitchen of their cooking and entertainer dreams. And it really is a match made in heaven: ‘“I stroke my kitchen - I constantly walk around with one hand on the island.”
Get in touch to find out how you can build a kitchen around your lifestyle.