{"id":21765,"date":"2023-05-22T13:40:13","date_gmt":"2023-05-22T12:40:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.goodhomesmagazine.com\/?p=21765"},"modified":"2023-05-22T13:40:13","modified_gmt":"2023-05-22T12:40:13","slug":"contemporary-kitchen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.goodhomesmagazine.com\/kitchens\/contemporary-kitchen\/","title":{"rendered":"Kitchen makeover: Creating a contemporary kitchen with contrasting colours"},"content":{"rendered":"

To create a contemporary kitchen and a larger space for entertaining, Emma Hoyle, an HR director for a film and TV company, decided to add an extension to the back of her south east London home and knock her small galley kitchen and dining room into one. With the building work underway, the next job on her to-do list was to design an an eye-catching scheme.<\/p>\n

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What didn’t you like <\/b>about the old kitchen?<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

When I bought it, nothing had been done to my 1950s terrace since the 1980s! I put up with the tiny galley kitchen and its claustrophobic cupboards for over ten years as I was saving up to renovate the whole house and do a loft conversion.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Two

Emma chose a textured-tile splashback in mint for an aged effect and open shelving for a less enclosed feel than wall cupboards. Rather than having bar stools at the island, she opted for more storage. Photo: James French<\/p><\/div>\n

Can you tell us about your initial plans?<\/b><\/h3>\n

As well as creating a larger space, I wanted to include a cloakroom and utility room. Darren Oldfield and Rita Farrell from Darren Oldfield Architects<\/a> in London are great examples of why you should use <\/span>an architect for a project like mine \u2013 they came up with ideas that had never occurred to me. Darren\u2019s corner window-seat sketch for example was amazing, and a great solution as I didn\u2019t want bifolds across the back.<\/p>

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\"Vintage

Left<\/strong> The Ercol chairs and dining table appeal to Emma\u2019s love of vintage style, complemented by Crittall-style doors. Right<\/strong> Bespoke plywood bench seating features built-in storage, with a window and roof lights brightening this corner. <\/span>Photos James French<\/p><\/div>\n

What else did you include?\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/h3>\n

Extending by three metres meant I could afford to lose a little space at the back of the room to create a loo that\u2019s accessible from the hallway. There\u2019s an opening through to the living room on the other side and a utility cupboard for my washing machine and dryer.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Emma

Bespoke doors conceal a pantry on the left and boiler on the right, with shelving above displaying Emma\u2019s West German vintage pottery collection. Photo James French<\/p><\/div>\n

Did you always plan a bright Scheme?<\/b><\/h3>\n

I wanted bold colours as the d\u00e9cor everywhere else in the house is\u00a0<\/span>more muted. I had seen one of Pluck\u2019s kitchens<\/a> on a TV design show, and absolutely adored their big larders and painted plywood style. I was even more delighted to find they are in Brixton, which is local to me.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

I spent some time debating over whether to have a blue or green contemporary kitchen, and Pluck advised adding another pop of colour. We began exploring a different shade on the plinths and inside the cupboards. I went for blue and salmon as I really liked their pink shade, Ritzy, which led to a whole cupboard in it, a larder in London Plane, with Atlantic Blue everywhere else.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"The

A boiling water tap and undermount sink free up valuable worktop space. Photo: James French<\/p><\/div>\n

Was it tricky to blend all the surface materials?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Terrazzo flooring looks fun but I thought I might get bored with it. At Diespeker & Co\u2019s marble yard, I couldn\u2019t believe it when I found a worktop slab in the cupboard colours. I downplayed the floor with\u00a0<\/span>polished concrete and fell in love with the Moroccan mint green splashback tiles \u2013 it was a risk to add another colour but it works well.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>

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\"Terrazzo

With a built-in extractor installed beneath the concrete flooring, placing the hob on the island means Emma can chat with her guests while cooking. Photo: James French<\/p><\/div>\n

What are you particularly <\/b>pleased with now it\u2019s finished?<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

I walk through the front door and straight into my contemporary kitchen, and it delights me every time. The window seat is my favourite feature, and sitting there having a coffee or a glass of wine always makes me feel happy.<\/span><\/p>\n

Project costs<\/b><\/p>\n