A bountiful Venetian-inspired pantry and rustic interior touches bring a taste of Italy to Martina Casonato’s London terrace
FEATURE DEBBIE JEFFERY
KITCHEN ‘The sight of my pantry, stocked with herbs, spices, pulses and loose-leaf teas, brings me so much pleasure,’ says Martina, who included LED strip lights under shelves to backlight jars. Bespoke pantry doors, Tekton Joinery. Handmade handles, Mark Lewis Interior Design. Crackle pendant, deVOL | PHOTOGRAPHY FRENCH + TYE KITCHEN The bespoke birch cabinetry and island were made by a talented joiner for the sociable space. ‘We concealed an electric cable for a socket inside one of the island’s legs,’ says Martina. Bespoke cabinets, Tekton Joinery. Island marble and counters, Mandarin Stone. Terrazzo floor tiles, In Opera Group. Bailey oak stools, Olive and the Fox. Wall lights, Spark &Bell. Range cooker, Smeg. Sink, deVOL
HOME TRUTHS
THE PROPERTY Victorian terraced house
ROOMS Sitting room, cloakroom, kitchen, dining room, den, three bedrooms, two bathrooms, dressing area
LOCATION Northeast London
When it comes to the more important feature in her freshly renovated Victorian home, Italian-born Martina Casonato is emphatic. ‘The heart and soul of our kitchen – and, in fact, the whole house – is the pantry,’ she explains. ‘It’s been a longstanding dream of mine to have a walk-in pantry, stocked to the brim, so this was one of the first things I planned – and it gives endless joy every day.’
When Martina and her English husband, Joe, moved into their traditional northeast London terraced home between lockdowns, it offered a blank canvas of white walls and original floorboards but lacked a social hub. ‘Cooking is my great love and we needed more space to entertain, work and prepare food,’ says Martina, a graphic designer and photographer, who grew up in a small mediaeval town near Venice. ‘The kitchen was quite dark, so introducing more glass and opening up the layout was important. Now it’s become a place to combine my passions for interiors and food.’
DINING ROOM Connected to the kitchen, while still feeling intimate and cosy, the new dining area incorporates a built-in bench beside Martina and Joe’s rustic 2.25-metre-long reclaimed table. Reclaimed table, Home Barn. Pendant light, deVOL. Antique Thonet chairs, La Boutique D’Antiques. Architects, Bradley Van Der Straeten. Builders, Optimal Build LtdHALLWAY Herringbone brick steps connect the kitchen to the sitting room. Tadelakt polished plaster walls, C Ferri Interiors. Dried flowers, Design By NatureSITTING ROOM The original floorboards have been stripped and the fireplace hearth dressed in slivers of rustic brick. Velvet armchair, Cart House. R
