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Kitchen Tour: A Modern Farmhouse Kitchen in a Roomy Extension
This light-filled white kitchen has been cleverly designed to have distinct zones while keeping an open feel
There’s no risk of running out of cupboard space in this glorious open-plan kitchen-diner. Featuring a large, multi-tasking island and a dedicated office area, as well as ample hidden storage, it’s stylish and simple.
A large room brings its own design challenges, but while this kitchen could have ended up feeling empty, a smart layout by kitchen expert Treske ensures this is still a warm, practical – and sociable – family space.
A large room brings its own design challenges, but while this kitchen could have ended up feeling empty, a smart layout by kitchen expert Treske ensures this is still a warm, practical – and sociable – family space.
Key to the new plans was a roomy kitchen area – 50 sq m in total, and the largest portion of the new extension.
“The couple are both keen cooks, so the kitchen was really important to them. They also had very clear ideas on achieving a minimalist, clean and spacious look,” McIntosh says.
To help ensure the kitchen was a success, the designers were consulted before building works began. “Our initial designs were conceived from the building plans, which allowed us to implement small changes to furniture and details. This is a good way to avoid costly and frustrating amendments later,” McIntosh explains.
“The couple are both keen cooks, so the kitchen was really important to them. They also had very clear ideas on achieving a minimalist, clean and spacious look,” McIntosh says.
To help ensure the kitchen was a success, the designers were consulted before building works began. “Our initial designs were conceived from the building plans, which allowed us to implement small changes to furniture and details. This is a good way to avoid costly and frustrating amendments later,” McIntosh explains.
The designers curved the edge of the hob worktop slightly to create a deeper section in the middle. “This allows the hob more space, as it’s positioned at the deepest part of the worktop. It enhances a feeling of spaciousness, already helped by not having the hob against a wall.”
Positioning the hob on one side of a low dividing wall makes the kitchen ultra-sociable, as cooks can chat to anyone sitting in the adjoining dining area.
Ceiling extractor, Miele.
Positioning the hob on one side of a low dividing wall makes the kitchen ultra-sociable, as cooks can chat to anyone sitting in the adjoining dining area.
Ceiling extractor, Miele.
A wall of tall cabinets is where most of the kitchen’s appliances sit, including ovens and warming drawers on the left, and an integrated fridge and freezer on the right.
Choose the right kitchen flooring for you
Choose the right kitchen flooring for you
The large island is the star of this space. Envisaged as the main food prep area, it was vital it had a generous-sized worktop. It also features its own prep sink and easy-access power sockets for blenders and mixers.
Its impressive width makes it perfect for rolling out dough. “The clients are keen bakers, so wanted a good working area for preparing pastry, but also enough space for setting down trays of cooked bakes taken from the oven to allow them to cool,” says McIntosh.
Its impressive width makes it perfect for rolling out dough. “The clients are keen bakers, so wanted a good working area for preparing pastry, but also enough space for setting down trays of cooked bakes taken from the oven to allow them to cool,” says McIntosh.
Having enough storage was high on the owners’ wish list. “They wanted to ensure the kitchen looked tidy at all times,” McIntosh says.
Although they’d already converted one of the existing small rooms downstairs into a pantry, the couple still wanted their essentials to be easily accessible and stored efficiently.
Inside the cupboards are specialist wire racks, says McIntosh, “together with lots of drawers, most fitted with non-slip liners to cater for pans, cookware and crockery, as well as bespoke touches, such as a drawer to house the owners’ collection of spice jars.”
Although they’d already converted one of the existing small rooms downstairs into a pantry, the couple still wanted their essentials to be easily accessible and stored efficiently.
Inside the cupboards are specialist wire racks, says McIntosh, “together with lots of drawers, most fitted with non-slip liners to cater for pans, cookware and crockery, as well as bespoke touches, such as a drawer to house the owners’ collection of spice jars.”
The designers built in a dedicated desk space next to a window.
“This works as an office space for the owners, but also somewhere the children can sit to draw or play on the computer. It also helps the transition from the kitchen area to the more relaxed living area beyond,” says McIntosh.
“This works as an office space for the owners, but also somewhere the children can sit to draw or play on the computer. It also helps the transition from the kitchen area to the more relaxed living area beyond,” says McIntosh.
Large skylights ensure this room is never gloomy.
The cabinet style was kept intentionally simple, while white paintwork blends with the walls and ceiling to add to the feeling of space and light. “The overall impression wanted was clean and unfussy,” McIntosh says.
To prevent the large room feeling too plain, however, “visual interest has been created by introducing rich tones of American black walnut into the breakfast bar, cabinet handles and other details,” McIntosh says.
The wood-effect ceramic tiled flooring, which runs throughout the extension, also adds warmth.
For similar wood-effect tiles, try Fired Earth.
To prevent the large room feeling too plain, however, “visual interest has been created by introducing rich tones of American black walnut into the breakfast bar, cabinet handles and other details,” McIntosh says.
The wood-effect ceramic tiled flooring, which runs throughout the extension, also adds warmth.
For similar wood-effect tiles, try Fired Earth.
The main kitchen sink sits under the window, near the corner, with a view of the leafy garden outside.
More fabulous white kitchens to covet
More fabulous white kitchens to covet
There’s a larder in the centre of the wall of cabinets, hidden behind doors. Once again, a bow shape allows more depth in the middle for the dedicated breakfast station.
“This is where the family can store cereals, bread, jams and the crockery and appliances to make breakfast happen without involving the rest of the kitchen,” McIntosh explains.
“This is where the family can store cereals, bread, jams and the crockery and appliances to make breakfast happen without involving the rest of the kitchen,” McIntosh explains.
The island has plenty of in-built storage. A trio of red pendant lights above add a dash of bold colour and a contrast to all the white.
For similar lights, try the Jasper Pendant Lamp by Premier Housewares.
For similar lights, try the Jasper Pendant Lamp by Premier Housewares.
A smart breakfast bar has been built into the island, once again in contrasting walnut.
One of the key considerations in this room was keeping things sociable, even when family members or guests are in different areas. “This might be the owners talking to their children when they’re at home alone, or hosting a party or family gathering where they expect people to be constantly coming and going,” McIntosh says.
One of the key considerations in this room was keeping things sociable, even when family members or guests are in different areas. “This might be the owners talking to their children when they’re at home alone, or hosting a party or family gathering where they expect people to be constantly coming and going,” McIntosh says.
Natural sunlight filters into the main cooking area and reflects off the practical white quartz worktops.
Samsung Radianz Aleutian White quartz worktops, The Marble Store. Sinks and taps, Franke.
What do you like about this large family kitchen? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
Samsung Radianz Aleutian White quartz worktops, The Marble Store. Sinks and taps, Franke.
What do you like about this large family kitchen? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
Who lives here A family with two children
Location North Yorkshire
Property A traditional brick-built farmhouse
Kitchen dimensions 50 sq m
Designer Mike McIntosh of Treske
The kitchen is big and bright now, but before the extension it was a different story. Mike McIntosh, Treske’s head of design, explains, “While the house had large living rooms, the kitchen was small and separate, and there was a big, central hallway. It also had Georgian-style windows that meant the back of the house was quite dark.”
When the designer was first contacted by the owners, they’d been living in the property for about a year, and realised its sizeable plot meant there was potential to extend. “There was the opportunity to build a full-width extension backing onto the south-facing garden, incorporating a large kitchen and separate dining and living areas,’ McIntosh says.