KITCHEN PROJECT
NATALIE MANN HAS CREATED AN ELEGANT, FUNCTIONAL SPACE WHERE HER FAMILY CAN ALL COME TOGETHER
BEFORE
CENTRAL ISLAND
The large island creates a sociable hub for the family to gather and relax together
THE PROBLEM
Small kitchen with limited storage, and no space to relax or entertain
THE SOLUTION
‘When we bought our new home, the kitchen had two small work surfaces, four cupboards and a few appliances. Key to the success of the whole house was to replace it with a much larger, multifunctional space to suit our family. We were lucky to find designer Lucia Hallet when we visited the Harvey Jones showroom in Nottingham. We admired the quality of the cabinetry, and Lucia really understood our vision. I had gathered my ideas from magazines, so had a clear sense of the contemporary-meetsclassic and balanced, symmetrical look I wanted. A large island now forms the sociable hub of the kitchen. John and I both work long hours and Kai is at university. We’ve realised that together-time is precious – and this room allows us to make the very most of it.’
FOCUS ON
The oak parquet floor adds warmth to the kitchen and beautifully complements the navy and brass palette used throughout
Providing a timeless look and durable surface, real-wood parquet flooring is a great choice for a traditional-style kitchen, though care should be taken to avoid any water damage.
Laminate and engineered-wood flooring are generally considered to be more resistant to water and wear. However, because hardwood flooring can be repolished and resealed it ultimately has a longer life. n If you’re laying the floor yourself, laminate and engineered planks are the safer bet thanks to the easy click-lock design of the boards. Hardwood flooring installation is best left to the professionals.
Solid wood is more expensive than laminate and engineered flooring, and the cost of installation goes up depending on the comp
