KITCHEN PROJECT
BEN AND EMMA BURBIDGE HAVE CREATED A CLASSIC FARMHOUSE KITCHEN WITH A FRESH AND COLOURFUL TWIST
RENOVATION
BEFORE
THE PROBLEM
The existing kitchen was installed 15 years ago, and was starting to show its age
THE SOLUTION
‘Our dream was to have a kitchen that’s quite traditional in style, but in a modern and colourful way. We worked with a kitchen designer, so there was a clear idea from the start – nothing really changed along the way. The layout stayed the same as before, but we added a run of units at the end for extra storage. Emma and I had many discussions about colour – particularly the pink! Even though I wanted something bold, I had to be heavily persuaded that we were going to be able to live with it, but she was totally right and I love the result. When we finished we realised we needed more fridge space; we’d been used to a big Americanstyle larder fridge and the built-in fridge was so much smaller. We added a small freestanding Caple wine fridge in the larder – it’s perfect for any overflow.’
FOCUS ON
Like the look of Ben and Emma’s farmhouse flooring? Here’s everything you need to know…
Travertine is a type of limestone, despite it looking a bit like marble. It’s available in attractive earthy colours, from light cream to tan and rust. Historically it’s from the mountains of Italy but now mostly comes from Turkey.
It’s extremely durable and can last a lifetime. Careful consideration needs to be taken when installing it. The porous surface means it needs to be sealed every 12 months and some can’t be used in bathrooms or outside. It can also feel cold underfoot, but can be used with underfloor heating.
Look for the grading – C1 is the best quality; avoid anything lower than C2. Travertine tiles come in different finishes: tumbled, honed and brushed. Expect to pay from £35sq m.
ABOVE ‘Other than the Aga, there aren’t any appliances on view. But if you open the cabinets they’re full of hi-tech equipment and all sorts of different drawers and storage.’
Travertine flooring, Swinsons stonemasons; try Anatolian honed travertine tiles, £69.05sq m, Topps Tiles. For a similar granit
