No.11
KITCHEN FOCUS
Introducing joyful colour has added warmth and personality to a once gloomy kitchen, while an improved layout has transformed its practicality
PROJECT DETAILS
DESIGNER Pam Baker, senior designer at Martin Moore (martinmoore.com)
PROPERT Y 1930s house
WORK A new kitchen
LOCATION Surrey
COLOUR POP
The raspberry pink-painted island creates instant warmth, while the pop of pattern on the stools complements the island colour. English bespoke cabinetry painted in Pale Peony and island in Raspberry, Martin Moore. Collinet Scala bar stools, upholstered in Lantana faux leather and Designers Guild Martineau Berry, supplied by Martin Moore
After buying a family home with a dark and dated kitchen, the owners called upon Pam Baker, senior designer at Martin Moore, to come up with a new design. The owners wanted a brighter feel in the room, plus a more welcoming space to enjoy with their two teenage children.
1 FIRST VIEW
After an initial chat in the showroom, Pam understood that the couple wanted to replace a kitchen table with an island to act as the sociable hub of the room, and to introduce improved storage and more work surface. ‘I went round to the property for a site visit,’ she recalls, ‘and, as sometimes happens, the layout instantly fell into place in my mind, with one significant exception.’ A window above the sink dominated the centre of one wall, meaning that the cooker was squashed into a corner and pushed into a recess which further exacerbated the cramped feel. ‘I suggested moving the window along the wall, towards the French doors, as the key to a more practical and balanced layout,’ says Pam. ‘Once agreed, I knew we could transform the whole room.’
2 BALANCING ACT
By bringing the cooker into the centre of the wall, Pam was able to frame it with an elegant chimney mantle, enhancing its role as an impressive feature in the design. It sits opposite a large island, offering more storage and prep surface. A larder cupboard makes practical use of the former cooker niche, while there are now zones arranged around the room for refrigeration, china and glassware storage, and breakfast goods. ‘The furniture is carefully proportioned to suit the size of the room,’ explains Pam. ‘Even the dresser is slightly shallower than normal, so that there is sufficient space to pull out the bar stools at the island without banging into the cupboard doors.’
3 COLOURFUL ADDITION
‘Classic cabinetry gives the room a timeless elegance,’ continues Pam. ‘It is painted in a soft neutral, creating the light
