Kitchen Case Study
Beth and Doug McKenzie have transformed an unused garden room into a characterful kitchen-diner for all the family to enjoy
As a farmer’s daughter, Beth McKenzie was itching to move out of London, as was her husband, Doug, who grew up in Somerset. ‘We wanted to give our children space and a chance to have more of the kind of upbringing in the country that we had enjoyed,’ says Beth. Searching online, they spotted a beautiful Arts and Crafts house in Surrey, surrounded by woods and a large garden. ‘We came to see it and fell in love with its wonderful character and spacious feel,’ she explains.
Beth, a full-time mum, and finance director Doug knew immediately, however, that they needed to re-think the kitchen. Located at the front of the house, it was the smallest room, while the large garden room, built about twelve years ago onto the rear of the property and overlooking lush plants and mature trees, was largely unused.
‘We decided to move the kitchen into the garden room to create a lovely, big space where we could be together as a family and fit a large dining table, with enough chairs to welcome friends,’ says Beth. They removed an internal wall between the former utility room and garden room to increase the size of the space and converted the old kitchen into a new laundry room and study.
It was a friend who recommended kitchen company Drew Forsyth & Co. ‘We looked at four or five kitchen companies and quickly found Drew Forsyth to be the most creative in its approach, with a genuinely bespoke and handcrafted offer,’ says Beth. ‘We were able to create a kitchen that really suits our taste and our home.’
Specifying a large island as the central prep space and place for the family to gather, Beth also wanted plenty of storage and a large range cooker. This is built into a new faux chimney breast to add character to the room and create a focal point, while the colour scheme adds impact.
Beth and Doug chose an elegant blue for the wall cabinetry, with the island in a dark grey with blue undertones as a subtle way of accentuating its role as the central feature of the room. ‘I love the contrast of the blue against the
