09 Feb 17
Bringing the breezy outdoors lifestyle of Sydney right across the world to England’s Home Counties, this kitchen was designed in response to a very specific brief. It needed to be the heart of a new home for a relocated family with both teenagers and younger children. Particularly so because the parents have a packed social calendar, making family time especially precious. Another key element of the brief was their love of the seamless indoor/outdoor lifestyle to which they were so accustomed to in Australia.
A modern build with an Arts & Crafts feel, the house lent itself to the open plan contemporary kitchen for which the clients had asked. Very clear in their vision, they had a long list of elements which needed to be incorporated into the design. These included a homework area/home office situated within the kitchen, an indoor drinks station serving the outside barbeque area and a dedicated juicing zone complete with organic waste bins.
For Martin Moore designer Pam Baker, one of the earliest tasks was to establish a good flow for the room. It’s an extremely large space with dominant areas of glass at both ends and required expert planning to get the feel and the ergonomics right. The key to maximum functionality was to have two large islands; one focused on cooking (with an extractor in the ceiling above) and the other on prepping, in addition to which they both offer dedicated storage. Forming a work zone at the heart of the kitchen, they are served on one side by a wet zone and Appliance Cupboard, and on the other by tall wall cupboards housing state-of-the-art appliances. Shown below, the double doors between the ovens and the fridge/freezer appear to be cupboards but in fact give access to a large walk in pantry behind.
Both islands feature Caesarstone ‘Osprey’ worktops and side cladding. This was requested by the owners who have a vision of living in this house for many years and wanted to make the sides of the island extra-resistant to knocks and bangs of lively children enjoying playing in the kitchen space.
Likewise, the ‘homework station’ (seen below) will become a home office for adults in the due course of time, but meanwhile, it provides an organised space for children to work, whilst still being in the ‘flow’ of the kitchen. Flanking it on the left is a handwash sink and to the right a dedicated drinks zone with fridge drawers and a wine cooler. Both zones are sited and designed to serve the outdoor BBQ kitchen as much as the indoor cooking and eating areas.
The kitchen furniture, made to order in Martin Moore’s Yorkshire workshops, combines hand-painted elements with oak - in direct homage to the Arts & Crafts aesthetic of the house, which features oak doors and window architraves. Blue walls add on-trend modernity.
