Elegant Kitchen Is True to Edinburgh Home’s Historic Style
The new kitchen in Scotland features classic Georgian proportions and beautiful attention to period detail
Amanda Pollard
November 8, 2016
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors and architecture.
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors... More
When the owners of this Grade I-listed historic townhouse in the New Town area of Edinburgh, Scotland, contacted kitchen designer Brian Minns, they were clear about their wishes. “They wanted to install a kitchen that felt as if it was really part of this Georgian property and that would last another 20 to 30 years,” he says.
Photos by Douglas Gibb
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with one child
Location: New Town area of Edinburgh, Scotland
Year built: During the mid-18th to mid-19th centuries
Size: 17 by 20 feet (5.2 by 6.1 meters)
Designer: Brian Minns of Sculleries of Stockbridge
This family kitchen was designed to fit within the proportions of a beautiful Georgian space.
“When you’re working in a period property like this, there are fundamental rules you can’t break,” Minns says. “For example, the fireplace absolutely cannot be moved.”
Traditional pale gray cabinets and a mantel sit along the back wall, while an island in a contrasting dark gray forms the centerpiece of the room. “We hand-paint all our cabinets,” Minns says. “It means we can do it on-site and avoid damaging the paintwork while bringing it in. Also, you’re never sure what the color will look like until you’ve seen it in the room, so hand-painting gives us more flexibility.”
Island paint: Down Pipe, Farrow & Ball; cabinet paint: Cornforth White, Farrow & Ball; stool paint: Pigeon, Farrow & Ball
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with one child
Location: New Town area of Edinburgh, Scotland
Year built: During the mid-18th to mid-19th centuries
Size: 17 by 20 feet (5.2 by 6.1 meters)
Designer: Brian Minns of Sculleries of Stockbridge
This family kitchen was designed to fit within the proportions of a beautiful Georgian space.
“When you’re working in a period property like this, there are fundamental rules you can’t break,” Minns says. “For example, the fireplace absolutely cannot be moved.”
Traditional pale gray cabinets and a mantel sit along the back wall, while an island in a contrasting dark gray forms the centerpiece of the room. “We hand-paint all our cabinets,” Minns says. “It means we can do it on-site and avoid damaging the paintwork while bringing it in. Also, you’re never sure what the color will look like until you’ve seen it in the room, so hand-painting gives us more flexibility.”
Island paint: Down Pipe, Farrow & Ball; cabinet paint: Cornforth White, Farrow & Ball; stool paint: Pigeon, Farrow & Ball
The island, which measures 7½ by 4 feet, provides plenty of work surface, as well as a place for guests to perch.
A double farmhouse sink sits between a bin cabinet on the left and an integrated dishwasher on the right. The sink rests on top of a wood ledge, which matches the walnut of the cabinet interiors.
“Timber is great for longevity,” Minns says. “If you spill anything on it, it can be refinished.”
The leathered River Valley granite countertops have a matte finish. “They’re very tactile,” Minns says. “The leathering process enhances the natural elements in the material.”
Dishwasher: Miele; sink: Shaws; faucet: Perrin & Rowe; hot-water tap: InSinkErator
A double farmhouse sink sits between a bin cabinet on the left and an integrated dishwasher on the right. The sink rests on top of a wood ledge, which matches the walnut of the cabinet interiors.
“Timber is great for longevity,” Minns says. “If you spill anything on it, it can be refinished.”
The leathered River Valley granite countertops have a matte finish. “They’re very tactile,” Minns says. “The leathering process enhances the natural elements in the material.”
Dishwasher: Miele; sink: Shaws; faucet: Perrin & Rowe; hot-water tap: InSinkErator
On the seating side of the island, custom wicker baskets store toys. A clever runner system forms a square frame around the baskets and allows them to be pulled out like drawers.
The mantel was designed in the style of a traditional Georgian basement kitchen. Minns wanted it to look like a piece of furniture that was part of the room, so he fitted baseboards at the bottom rather than plinths.
A wine cooler is integrated into the cabinets on the left, while plenty of storage is provided by wide drawers and cupboards.
Smoked-mirror backsplashes are fitted in the recess and behind the range. “The mirrors provide some reflection and prevent the wall of furniture from feeling too solid,” Minns says.
Wine cooler: Norcool
A wine cooler is integrated into the cabinets on the left, while plenty of storage is provided by wide drawers and cupboards.
Smoked-mirror backsplashes are fitted in the recess and behind the range. “The mirrors provide some reflection and prevent the wall of furniture from feeling too solid,” Minns says.
Wine cooler: Norcool
To the right of the range is a warming drawer, with a single compact oven and a coffee machine above.
The range hood is built into the mantel, as is lighting, which illuminates the cooking area and reflects off the mirrored backsplash.
Range: Ilve; hood: Westin; wall oven, coffee machine and warming drawer: Miele
The range hood is built into the mantel, as is lighting, which illuminates the cooking area and reflects off the mirrored backsplash.
Range: Ilve; hood: Westin; wall oven, coffee machine and warming drawer: Miele
Two single-door pantries are located on either side of the refrigerator. Each has shelves above two drawers and a work surface with electrical outlets.
The right-hand cupboard, with its drawers labeled “Treats” and “Snacks,” houses the mixer, while the left-hand bread and pastry pantry stores a plugged-in toaster. A handy addition in both is door-activated LED strip lighting.
The right-hand cupboard, with its drawers labeled “Treats” and “Snacks,” houses the mixer, while the left-hand bread and pastry pantry stores a plugged-in toaster. A handy addition in both is door-activated LED strip lighting.
The mantel aligns perfectly with the large window opposite.
“Georgian houses are 100 percent about symmetry, so when you put a mantel in a property like this, you must follow these rules,” Minns says.
“Georgian houses are 100 percent about symmetry, so when you put a mantel in a property like this, you must follow these rules,” Minns says.
The beautiful big window brings tons of light into the room.
A custom-made cupboard in the corner provides additional storage for the dining table and features the smoked mirror used on the backsplashes.
A custom-made cupboard in the corner provides additional storage for the dining table and features the smoked mirror used on the backsplashes.
Above the large integrated refrigerator is a wine rack constructed from the same walnut that’s featured inside the cabinets and under the sink.
Refrigerator: Fisher & Paykel
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I think this kitchen is gorgeous. I would only change one thing: swap out the mirrored backsplash for a beautiful tile, perhaps marble. The mirror is impractical and drags down the aesthetics. I would love to cook and gather in this beautiful space steeped with history.
Beautiful! I usually don't like gray, but the silver-and-gray combination in this kitchen is absolutely wonderful -- a Winter Palace indeed. As for it being "too Victorian," the modern idea of kitchens as we understand them today is a Victorian invention, and England is so deeply influenced by the Victorian period that I think it's perfectly acceptable to see that influence in architecture and design. A period house can look more appropriate with additions made over the years than slavishly recreating what we think Georgian-era homeowners would have wanted in their kitchens (which probably wouldn't be recognizable as kitchens to us today). Lovely room!