Kitchen Tour: A Narrow Room Becomes a Luxurious Kitchen-diner
Relocating the kitchen in this Victorian terrace gave both the cooking and dining areas great views of the garden
Sarah Warwick
25 March 2019
Houzz Contributor. I'm a freelance journalist and editor writing for nationals, magazines and websites. A serial house revamper, I love great design, beautiful interiors and practical solutions.
Houzz Contributor. I'm a freelance journalist and editor writing for nationals, magazines... More
An extension some years ago had given this period home a room linked to the garden, but the kitchen was located towards the middle of the house, so it didn’t get the benefit of the outlook or daylight.
It was for interior designer Sarah Ross to give the room a view and fit both kitchen and dining area comfortably into a fairly narrow footprint.
It was for interior designer Sarah Ross to give the room a view and fit both kitchen and dining area comfortably into a fairly narrow footprint.
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here? A professional woman
Location Islington, London
Property A Victorian terraced house
Room dimensions 24 sq m
Interior designer Sarah Ross of Sarah Ross Design
Photos by James Balston
The new kitchen-diner occupies the extension that leads directly to the garden of the terraced house. The kitchen used to be in the area seen beyond, which has now become the utility room.
“The homeowner wanted to open out the whole thing to the garden,” interior designer Sarah Ross says. To create the compact, sociable room, she needed to design a layout with adequate space for the kitchen, including an island and a dining table.
Who lives here? A professional woman
Location Islington, London
Property A Victorian terraced house
Room dimensions 24 sq m
Interior designer Sarah Ross of Sarah Ross Design
Photos by James Balston
The new kitchen-diner occupies the extension that leads directly to the garden of the terraced house. The kitchen used to be in the area seen beyond, which has now become the utility room.
“The homeowner wanted to open out the whole thing to the garden,” interior designer Sarah Ross says. To create the compact, sociable room, she needed to design a layout with adequate space for the kitchen, including an island and a dining table.
To blur the boundary between inside and out, the French window plus fixed glazing combination of the extension was exchanged for bifold doors. Meanwhile, the white-painted roof rafters were refinished in an anthracite shade to match the bifolds, giving the space a contemporary facelift.
Outside, the redesigned garden uses Portland stone underfoot, and after visiting the quarry and viewing different options, designer and homeowner opted to use the same stone for the kitchen floor. “We wanted the feel of the kitchen running into the garden,” Sarah says.
Underneath the artwork on the far left of the photo, you can just see the new understairs storage that matches the kitchen cabinetry. The deep cupboard stashes items such as the ironing board, keeping them accessible from the kitchen.
Portland stone flooring, Albion Stone. Fridge and oven, Sub-Zero.
Find other ideas for taking flooring from indoors to out.
Outside, the redesigned garden uses Portland stone underfoot, and after visiting the quarry and viewing different options, designer and homeowner opted to use the same stone for the kitchen floor. “We wanted the feel of the kitchen running into the garden,” Sarah says.
Underneath the artwork on the far left of the photo, you can just see the new understairs storage that matches the kitchen cabinetry. The deep cupboard stashes items such as the ironing board, keeping them accessible from the kitchen.
Portland stone flooring, Albion Stone. Fridge and oven, Sub-Zero.
Find other ideas for taking flooring from indoors to out.
A visit to the deVOL showroom confirmed the classically elegant kitchen design was the one the owner wanted. She opted for a dark finish. “But not off-the-peg – she didn’t want it to be formulaic,” Sarah says.
The owner opted for bespoke cabinetry with a dark finish. She was also keen to go for Arabescato marble on the worktop and splashback, and was aware that it would need a lot of care. “We looked at alternatives, but she really loved its aesthetic,” Sarah says.
Not everything is kept behind closed doors in the kitchen. Cubbyholes to the left of the range make cups easy to grab, while the side of the island facing the oven is open, and provides room for large plates. “Because the space is narrow, opening cupboards would have been quite awkward,” Sarah says.
The range cooker – like the fridge-freezer in the utility room – has professional credentials. Both were must-include choices for the owner, as she’d had the same brand in a previous home.
Kitchen cabinetry; Arabescato marble worktop and splashback, all deVOL.
The owner opted for bespoke cabinetry with a dark finish. She was also keen to go for Arabescato marble on the worktop and splashback, and was aware that it would need a lot of care. “We looked at alternatives, but she really loved its aesthetic,” Sarah says.
Not everything is kept behind closed doors in the kitchen. Cubbyholes to the left of the range make cups easy to grab, while the side of the island facing the oven is open, and provides room for large plates. “Because the space is narrow, opening cupboards would have been quite awkward,” Sarah says.
The range cooker – like the fridge-freezer in the utility room – has professional credentials. Both were must-include choices for the owner, as she’d had the same brand in a previous home.
Kitchen cabinetry; Arabescato marble worktop and splashback, all deVOL.
The sloping roof of the extension would have made the fitting of wall cabinets tricky, but there was a further reason to avoid their use. “Because of the glazed roof, you’d have looked out of the bathroom and seen the top of them,” Sarah says.
Instead, a shelf puts books and spices within reach, as well as making space for decorative items.
Like the cabinetry handles and hinges, the shelf brackets have an antiqued brass finish that echoes the warm metals used in the house’s bathroom, as well as for door handles and light switches throughout.
Instead, a shelf puts books and spices within reach, as well as making space for decorative items.
Like the cabinetry handles and hinges, the shelf brackets have an antiqued brass finish that echoes the warm metals used in the house’s bathroom, as well as for door handles and light switches throughout.
Locating the sink by the window means the owner can see out to the garden beyond. “There’s a built-in barbecue just outside, so it’s handy for passing things through,” Sarah says.
The dining table was made bespoke for the space, so it fits to perfection and doesn’t impede circulation. A specially made banquette seat allows it to be placed closer to the wall. Sarah chose leather upholstery for the seat to make it practical, but with a toning patterned fabric for the back, the overall effect is quirkier.
The dining chairs are original midcentury designs. “The rest of the house is quite a mix, but the midcentury links the more traditional with the contemporary,” Sarah says.
Dining table, made bespoke. Chairs, midcentury modern originals.
Find the right person for your project by searching the Houzz Professionals Directory.
The dining chairs are original midcentury designs. “The rest of the house is quite a mix, but the midcentury links the more traditional with the contemporary,” Sarah says.
Dining table, made bespoke. Chairs, midcentury modern originals.
Find the right person for your project by searching the Houzz Professionals Directory.
The utility room is located where the former kitchen was. Walking through here is the only way to access the kitchen and garden, so it has the same style as the former. “You wouldn’t know it wasn’t part of the kitchen,” Sarah says.
The space had a chimney breast that had been blocked off and was completely hidden by the old kitchen cabinetry. It was opened up to create a fireplace that completes the impression that this isn’t a utility. Above is a shelf that introduces display space.
The tall unit to the left conceals the fridge-freezer.
The space had a chimney breast that had been blocked off and was completely hidden by the old kitchen cabinetry. It was opened up to create a fireplace that completes the impression that this isn’t a utility. Above is a shelf that introduces display space.
The tall unit to the left conceals the fridge-freezer.
The utility room may be home to the washing machine and dryer, but it has the luxury detail of the kitchen beyond.
Tell us…
What’s your favourite feature in this elegant kitchen-diner? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
Tell us…
What’s your favourite feature in this elegant kitchen-diner? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
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Agree with KB and wattsally: Glad not to see an extractor over the hob BUT how impractical to have such an admitted, high-maintenance marble splashback and shelving! Yes, indeed ED, these kitchens are beginning to look samey. Bring back personality!
love all that glass what a wonderful light space! My only concern is how do you deal with the sunlight warmth? Does it need air conditioning?
I do agree with cassandrascott24. The counter tops in wood would’ve softened the look. But I like the skylight and the opened up fireplace. And the overall job is well done.