The client brief

Louise had a kitchen that was built in the 1970s. Although sturdy, it was very out-dated and didn’t fit the style of her Croydon Federation home. The dark brown timber of her existing kitchen made the room feel dark and small. She wanted a kitchen with personality and colour - not white - but still classic that fitted in with the style of her home. She also felt that when she was in the kitchen she was separated from the rest of her family members as the current kitchen was enclosed within three walls.

The Challenge

Due to the Federation style of her home, there were limitations on the structural work that could be completed so we elected to open up the space by creating a large opening above a central working bench so that Louise could see and connect with family members in all living areas of the home.

The Design Solution

We altered the layout of the kitchen to support the new design and the new opening.  We made the benchtops deeper so that Louise had a greater area to prepare food and to serve meals when entertaining. We also custom-made the height of the kitchen to suit her and her husband, who are very tall. This meant less back aches whilst cooking and cleaning up. We chose a teal blue for the kitchen cabinetry for a little classic splash of colour and teamed it with subway tiles and white stone benchtops. Shaker-style doors and a farmhouse sink supported the classic feel of the home.  Additional lighting above the servers also added to the aesthetic and mood of the room.

The Result

Louise and her husband love their new kitchen. It is more functional and a pleasure to work in. A classic design that fits her home style, custom-made for her and her husband’s height. It now allows for fantastic entertaining with friends and family. The opening gave Louise lots of light within the kitchen, which made it easier to prepare food and also helped create the illusion of a larger space.

“Our kitchen was previously an old 1970s dark timber kitchen. We wanted to open the space, lighten it up and integrate it with the rest of our living areas.
The result was amazing! Not only did Douglas and the B&C team come up with a great solution that met our needs as a family and budget, but they were also supportive and accommodating throughout the whole process. Now I have the kitchen I’ve always wanted, light and open, and I enjoy cooking meals and entertaining for friends and family. Thank you!”

Louise C. - Croydon Park