Kitchen Case Study
Inspired by a beautiful seaside location and the St Ives sunlight, Paul and Helen created a bright and airy kitchen that is brimming with coastal charm
One of the most remarked-upon things about St Ives is its beautiful light. A mecca for creatives, every year thousands of people flock to this coastal town to enjoy its beautiful beaches and scenery. However, an occasional visit wasn’t enough for Paul O’Leary and his partner Helen Parker, who, in 2019, decided to put down roots in the fishing port. ‘I was born just up the coast in Newquay, but I’ve always loved St Ives with its turquoise sea and white sand beaches,’ says Paul.
It was a view of these beaches – visible from all three floors and the garden of the cottage – that sealed the deal, helping Paul and Helen to look past the dated décor and hefty renovation project. ‘We looked around the house and were in two minds as there was a lot of work needed. Then I went up to the top floor and looked out of the window and I fell in love – Iremember thinking “This has got to be one of the best views in the country!” ’
The 200-year-old fisherman’s cottage is typical of the area, made from a reconstituted stone that is a mix of concrete and ash residue, which gives the exterior a rustic, weathered look.
The first challenge the couple had to overcome was the cottage’s size. ‘The ground floor was made up of a living room, which was 10ft by 10ft, and a 10ft by 8ft kitchen,’ says Paul. ‘It was clear that we needed to knock down the partition wall and turn it into a large, single space.’ They also decided to build on the courtyard area at the back to increase the kitchen’s square footage, creating a large room complete with French doors and sea views. ‘As soon as we stepped inside we knew what was needed.’
While designing the new floorplan was relatively straightforward, a more significant hurdle was the budget. ‘We didn’t want to spend lots of money on the furniture. The house was a pricey purchase so we tried to do everything as cost-effectively as possible,’ says Paul. However, one of the perks of owning a kitchen company is that you have access to a lot of kitchens. ‘We decided to recycle furniture that was coming out of an old showroom. It was a little out of date but we gave it a new lease of life.’
Freestanding furniture was always on the cards. ‘I’ve been banging the drum for freestanding kitchens for as long as I can remember – Ilove how it can move and grow with you,’ says Paul. ‘We
