A 13-by-9-Foot London Kitchen Packs In the Storage
Cabinets with special storage for appliances, cutting boards and wine tackle the space shortage in this vibrant room
Reworking the ground floor of a home often involves taking down walls, but the owners of this London row house actually put one up to create a distinct kitchen area. “It’s a narrow building, so it was difficult to make the kitchen feel separate,” says Nicky Spear, director at Sustainable Kitchens. Other challenges included fitting in enough storage along with a compact washing machine and dryer, and making the kitchen both functional and fun.
The kitchen cabinetry is a modern twist on Shaker style. “They wanted something contemporary but without losing the relevance to the building,” Spear says. “They also put in shutters, which are in keeping.”
Tall wall cabinets take advantage of the ceiling height and help fulfill the goal to maximize storage.
Paint: Slipper Satin (walls) and Ammonite (cabinets), Farrow & Ball; wall tile: Retro Metro in Green Park, Fired Earth; floor tile: Original Style
Tall wall cabinets take advantage of the ceiling height and help fulfill the goal to maximize storage.
Paint: Slipper Satin (walls) and Ammonite (cabinets), Farrow & Ball; wall tile: Retro Metro in Green Park, Fired Earth; floor tile: Original Style
With the playful palette for the house already established, the kitchen needed to echo its tones. “The cabinetry is muted; then there are pops of color,” Spear says. The tiled backsplash matches a feature wall in the living area, while the floor tile ties in to the cabinetry color.
Alongside the oven, neat slots hold cutting boards and trays for easy access.
Alongside the oven, neat slots hold cutting boards and trays for easy access.
A cabinet conceals the exhaust fan. “Hidden appliances have a sleek and contemporary look, and to provide more storage, this one is very thin, leaving quite a lot of space in the top cabinet,” Spear says.
Find out what to know about adding a range hood | Browse range hoods
Find out what to know about adding a range hood | Browse range hoods
Hexagonal floor tiles and subway wall tiles introduce graphic pattern that distinguishes the kitchen from the rest of the ground floor.
See fresh ways to use hex tiles | Find hex tiles
See fresh ways to use hex tiles | Find hex tiles
Blackboard paint on a section of wall beside the breakfast bar provides a place for doodles and shopping lists.
Roberts chose the pendant lights to complement the rest of the open-plan space.
Pendant lights: Hex in orange, Mullan Lighting
Roberts chose the pendant lights to complement the rest of the open-plan space.
Pendant lights: Hex in orange, Mullan Lighting
The owners found the engineered quartz work surface themselves. It’s a durable choice for a family kitchen.
The breakfast bar is finished in oak. “The owners always wanted a wood element,” Spear says. On the side away from the wall, the surface continues to the floor, where it meets the living area’s oak flooring (see first picture). “It’s like a waterfall,” Spear says, “and makes a transition between different spaces.”
A wooden box for growing herbs was made for the other end of the breakfast bar.
Make a splash with a waterfall counter
A wooden box for growing herbs was made for the other end of the breakfast bar.
Make a splash with a waterfall counter
The breakfast bar makes a clear division between the kitchen and the living area. It’s higher than the other counters, hiding anything in the sink from the living-dining side of the ground floor.
A retro-style Smeg refrigerator was on the owners’ wish list. The shelves above give it a built-in feel and keep cookbooks accessible.
A special cabinet conceals compact laundry appliances. “The bottom of the cabinet houses the washing machine and dryer, with a work surface on top,” Spear says.
A pantry is above. “It’s a very high cupboard, so the top has space for things you use once a year at Christmas.”
A pantry is above. “It’s a very high cupboard, so the top has space for things you use once a year at Christmas.”
The pantry holds dry ingredients and incorporates a wine rack. There’s even room for the microwave in here, so it’s easy to access without being on display.
Tell us: Have you found a clever way to stash all you need in your kitchen? Let us know in the Comments.
More: Read other stories about small kitchens
Tell us: Have you found a clever way to stash all you need in your kitchen? Let us know in the Comments.
More: Read other stories about small kitchens
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A family of four
Location: Southeast London
Size: About 13 by 9 feet (3.9 by 2.8 meters)
Designer: Jess Couceiro of Sustainable Kitchens
A ground floor with areas for different functions was a layout with which the owners were familiar. “It was originally all open-plan,” Spear says. “But they built a wall as you walk in to make the kitchen more of its own area.”
As for the look, the kitchen needed to continue the aesthetic established for the house by interior designer Lindsey Roberts of Forrester Roberts.