Brimming with colour and character, this petite kitchen is a masterclass in small-space design
THE STORY
OWNER Alexandra Jones, who works in the City of London. This is Alexandra’s first home
PROPERTY A two-bedroom mews house in Holland Park
WHAT SHE DID Alexandra installed a Kate Feather kitchen as part of a whole house renovation project
Just because a kitchen is small, there is no reason for it to lack character, as this beautiful space, created by Kate Feather Kitchen Design, proves. ‘The brief from the owner, Alexandra, was very simple: to create a cosy yet functional kitchen, incorporating clever ways to maximise storage and conceal essential appliances,’ says Kate.
Located in a beautiful mews house in the heart of Notting Hill, the previous kitchen was very compact, with everything running along one wall – a design that resulted in a lot of dead space. To make the room work harder, Kate slightly relocated the room’s archway entrance, which opened up the possibility of having spacious, full-height cabinetry.
Moving the entrance also enabled the introduction of a dining area into the petite kitchen. ‘Banquette-style seating is much more compact than traditional tables and chairs, making it ideal for this small space,’ explains Kate. ‘To further capitalise on its footprint, we added drawers beneath the bench, which are used for storing baking tins, plastic containers and extra teatowels. The banquette is definitely my favourite part of the new kitchen, it works so well and brings a much- needed lifestyle edge to the room.’
Kate’s design prioritised efficiency, with the classic ‘golden triangle’ determining the placement of fridge, sink and oven. ‘We also organised the food storage so it was in a logical place: dry food next to the fridge; cereal, coffee and tea-making supplies in a versatile breakfast station, and narrow spice and condiment shelves housed within the extractor wall unit, above the hob,’ explains Kate. ‘Saving space in this way enabled us to opt for a generous double-door sink unit. It is 65cm wide, which is large for such a compact kitchen, and allowed us to use a double pull-out unit behind one door, while fitting a Quooker Cube system and a small shelf behind the other.’
With the backbone in place, it was time to finalise the look. ‘The house has a traditional feel, however, Alexandra’s style is bold and colourful, which allowed us to create a fun yet functional space for her to enjoy,’ explains Kate. The kitchen was always going to be green, but this still left a whole range of hues and tones from which to
