Kitchen Tour: A Dramatic Space With a Twist of Lime
Bold design choices were key to creating a sophisticated kitchen with plenty of personality
It was a visit to a stately home in London that inspired the striking colour scheme of this Yorkshire kitchen. The owners loved the lime green they’d seen in a room in Holland Park’s Leighton House and so this was the main thing they requested on their first consultation with designer Julia Dale of The Main Company. With this in mind, Julia set about creating a beautiful and practical room with a delicious palette of zingy lime and rich chocolate.
On the floor plan you can see the trapezium shape of the island and how the wall units fall into place around it along the two walls.
A storage area of taller cabinets was installed in the original building, located on the right of the drawing.
A storage area of taller cabinets was installed in the original building, located on the right of the drawing.
The narrower ‘leg’ of the kitchen in the original building contains an integrated fridge-freezer and pantry storage on the right, and a breakfast cupboard and drinks area on the left.
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Pine tongue-and-groove panels line the pantry, and shelves were installed on the doors as well as within the cupboard. LED strip lighting adds useful illumination.
The breakfast cupboard opposite has a worktop with drawers below.
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Open glass shelving mounted on an antique brass splashback forms a drinks area. “We wanted it to [stand out], so we decided to break up the materials,” Julia says. “The metallic surface also reflects the light.”
Julia added more mixed surfaces with reeded glass on the wall cabinet doors. “The area is darker than the main extension, so glass adds a lighter feel,” she says.
She also explains that the glass ties in with the roof of the extension, helping the two areas to flow together.
Julia added more mixed surfaces with reeded glass on the wall cabinet doors. “The area is darker than the main extension, so glass adds a lighter feel,” she says.
She also explains that the glass ties in with the roof of the extension, helping the two areas to flow together.
The island has legs rather than a solid base, which helps to show off the herringbone brick flooring. Its dark colour contrasts with the fresh, zingy wall cabinets, but tones with the black roof framework above.
The owners’ antique furniture and display cabinet bring a warm, cosy feel to the dining area.
Brick slip flooring, Brick Slips.
The owners’ antique furniture and display cabinet bring a warm, cosy feel to the dining area.
Brick slip flooring, Brick Slips.
As the boundary wall has a sloping upper edge, Julia felt wall units wouldn’t work here. Instead, a soft, chocolate-coloured surface forms a backdrop to elegant wall lights and a piece of artwork painted by the female homeowner.
“We experimented with the idea of a butler’s sink, but decided on a cleaner, undermounted brass design,” Julia says. Sleek white marble-effect worktops contrast with the dark walls.
Lehal wall lights, Endon. Armstrong bridge mixer tap in Aged Brass, Perrin & Rowe. Calacatta jumbo quartz worktop, CRL Stone.
“We experimented with the idea of a butler’s sink, but decided on a cleaner, undermounted brass design,” Julia says. Sleek white marble-effect worktops contrast with the dark walls.
Lehal wall lights, Endon. Armstrong bridge mixer tap in Aged Brass, Perrin & Rowe. Calacatta jumbo quartz worktop, CRL Stone.
On the back wall is a range cooker with a simple canopy above, which draws your eye up to the striking glazed ceiling.
The owners’ choice of a modern chandelier adds a touch of opulence to the space.
The owners’ choice of a modern chandelier adds a touch of opulence to the space.
“The project went pretty smoothly,” Julia says. “And the couple love it. They like entertaining in here and using the space for themselves.”
Tell us…
Have you been inspired to go bold with colour? Share your experience in the Comments.
Tell us…
Have you been inspired to go bold with colour? Share your experience in the Comments.
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Who lives here? A couple
Location York, North Yorkshire
Property An Arts and Crafts house
Kitchen dimensions Around 40 sq m
Designer Julia Dale of The Main Company
Architects Daniel Harvey and Andrew Billington of StudioDH
Project year 2023
Photos by Chris Snook
Most of the kitchen is located in a new, glass-roofed extension designed by Daniel Harvey and Andrew Billington of StudioDH, and it was the unusual shape of the space that informed the layout. Julia explains that they wanted the island to follow the angle of the boundary wall, so they designed a piece of furniture that does just that.
Cabinets painted in Citrine; walls painted in Light Bronze Green, both Little Greene. Knobs and handles, Heritage Brass.