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Kitchen Tour: A Modern Kitchen to Complement a Historic Building
Before and after photos show how a strip-lit office in a Georgian building was transformed into a gorgeous kitchen
The contemporary design of this rich blue kitchen contrasts sensitively with its period surroundings. The open-plan cooking space, designed by Karyn Limond of Naked Kitchens, is within a two-storey flat in a Grade A Listed (equivalent to Grade 1 in England) Georgian townhouse close to Edinburgh’s Royal Mile.
The flat had been used as commercial office space for several decades and the whole building had recently been converted back into its original residential use. Scroll down to see photos of the sad, strip-lit space – and the stylish scheme it’s since become.
The flat had been used as commercial office space for several decades and the whole building had recently been converted back into its original residential use. Scroll down to see photos of the sad, strip-lit space – and the stylish scheme it’s since become.
The rich blue painted door and drawer fronts are complemented by solid oak inset handles, drawer boxes, cutlery inserts and a spice rack. The kitchen’s carcass is made from sturdy 18.7mm oak veneered birch ply.
These designed-to-last details give the kitchen an authentic look and feel that help it to complement its historic surroundings.
Built-in single oven; built-in compact oven with microwave, both Siemens.
These designed-to-last details give the kitchen an authentic look and feel that help it to complement its historic surroundings.
Built-in single oven; built-in compact oven with microwave, both Siemens.
“Our drawer boxes are made in our Norfolk workshop and hand-finished with beautiful dovetail joints, which make them high quality and very beautiful to look at,” Karyn says.
“The circular handles are routed into the doors to provide an ergonomic design for easy opening,” Karyn says. “They’re then backed with a solid oak disc to add warmth and create an eye-catching detail, as well as to complement the other oak elements around the room, including the solid oak shelf.”
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Browse the Houzz Professionals Directory to check out reviews of kitchen designers and fitters in your area.
The window and back wall before the kitchen was installed, complete with harsh strip lighting and window bars.
Some of the former inset area next to the window (seen in the previous photo) was retained for display shelving.
When it came to planning the cabinetry, Karyn says a key design aim was to avoid mismatched lines in the main run and island. As such, storage types were split between these two blocks. “We wanted to keep the cabinet run consistent, so designed the island to house all the drawers, and for all appliances in the main run of units to be built-in,” she says.
This wasn’t at the loss of any storage. “We aimed to create plenty of space in both the main cabinet run and the island, so incorporated solutions such as a tall larder unit and pegboard organisation inside the drawers.”
When it came to planning the cabinetry, Karyn says a key design aim was to avoid mismatched lines in the main run and island. As such, storage types were split between these two blocks. “We wanted to keep the cabinet run consistent, so designed the island to house all the drawers, and for all appliances in the main run of units to be built-in,” she says.
This wasn’t at the loss of any storage. “We aimed to create plenty of space in both the main cabinet run and the island, so incorporated solutions such as a tall larder unit and pegboard organisation inside the drawers.”
From left to right, the units house: the oven stack (a single oven and combi microwave), with cupboards above and below; a pull-out wire storage caddy; a pull-out bin unit; the sink and under-sink storage; a dishwasher; a fridge/freezer, and a tall larder unit containing three solid oak drawers and an oak spice rack.
There’s a utility room off the kitchen that takes care of the washing machine.
There’s a utility room off the kitchen that takes care of the washing machine.
The blocked-up fireplace as it was before work started.
The fireplace has now been opened up and repainted.
The kitchen’s centrepiece is the large island with a statement waterfall worktop. The hob is sited here. “We chose a hob with an in-built downdraft extractor, so the aesthetics of the room weren’t ruined by an overhead hood,” Karyn says. “This would have clashed with and distracted from the period features, such as the intricate cornice and the elegant original fireplace.”
Induction hob with in-built downdraft extractor, Siemens.
See how to prepare a chimney and fit your dream fire.
The kitchen’s centrepiece is the large island with a statement waterfall worktop. The hob is sited here. “We chose a hob with an in-built downdraft extractor, so the aesthetics of the room weren’t ruined by an overhead hood,” Karyn says. “This would have clashed with and distracted from the period features, such as the intricate cornice and the elegant original fireplace.”
Induction hob with in-built downdraft extractor, Siemens.
See how to prepare a chimney and fit your dream fire.
This shows more of the space as work began.
The design of the island includes a worktop overhang to provide a seating area.
“The island drawers are extra deep and wide to make sure all pots, pans, earthenware and other household items can easily be housed, while providing extra space so the owners can ‘grow’ into the kitchen,” Karyn says.
The flooring is limed oak boards. “They’re laid in a herringbone pattern,” she says. “It’s not original, but we wanted to try to achieve flooring that would look as close to a traditional feature as possible.”
The flooring is limed oak boards. “They’re laid in a herringbone pattern,” she says. “It’s not original, but we wanted to try to achieve flooring that would look as close to a traditional feature as possible.”
Naked Kitchens’ parent company, Norfolk Oak, helped to create a solid white American oak shelf with wood that was sustainably sourced from the Appalachian mountains. It frames the sink area and houses the owners’ ornaments.
“The wood is nano-coated to make it durable and protect it from any moisture or stains, particularly important around the sink area,” Karyn explains. “The underside has a small section routed out to house hidden LED downlighting – the perfect way to keep the sink area and splashback looking sleek and in keeping with the rest of the contemporary kitchen.”
Undermounted sink; Minerva Helix 3-in-1 boiling-water tap, both Franke.
“The wood is nano-coated to make it durable and protect it from any moisture or stains, particularly important around the sink area,” Karyn explains. “The underside has a small section routed out to house hidden LED downlighting – the perfect way to keep the sink area and splashback looking sleek and in keeping with the rest of the contemporary kitchen.”
Undermounted sink; Minerva Helix 3-in-1 boiling-water tap, both Franke.
This lighting theme continues on the bespoke open oak and glass shelving, seen up close here.
The worktop here and on the island is white quartz and was chosen by the owners. “It beautifully reflects light around the room, creating a bright and airy space,” Karyn says.
A floorplan of the finished kitchen.
Tell us…
Which details do you like most about this sleek yet sensitively designed kitchen? Let us know in the Comments section.
Tell us…
Which details do you like most about this sleek yet sensitively designed kitchen? Let us know in the Comments section.
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Who lives here? A professional couple
Location Edinburgh New Town
Property A two-storey apartment in a Georgian townhouse
Kitchen dimensions Entire room: 5.53 x 4.88m
Designer Karyn Limond of Naked Kitchens
To design a kitchen with plenty of storage and ultra-modern functionality, yet make it fit seamlessly into the backdrop of a listed period property, was the challenge for Karyn.
“The brief was to create an eye-catching, frameless and contemporary kitchen that would effortlessly integrate with the period features across the kitchen,” she says. These features included a large and striking fireplace, huge sash windows with wooden shutters, and beautiful cornicing.
Ladbroke kitchen in Brancaster Blue, Naked Kitchens.