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Kitchen Tour: A Small and Cosy Family-Friendly Kitchen
Most people want a bigger kitchen – but this family decided to downsize their cookspace
It’s very unusual for a new kitchen to be made smaller than what’s already there, but that’s exactly what this couple from Sheffield insisted on when designing a new layout.
“My clients wanted to extend the kitchen out into the garden,” says Rob Cole, director of Sheffield Sustainable Kitchens. “The builders told them it wouldn’t cost much more to extend the entire way across the back of the house, rather than create an off-shot for the new kitchen, but my clients were insistent that they wanted to create a sheltered outdoor seating/dining courtyard flanked by a new kitchen that would complement the space.”
“My clients wanted to extend the kitchen out into the garden,” says Rob Cole, director of Sheffield Sustainable Kitchens. “The builders told them it wouldn’t cost much more to extend the entire way across the back of the house, rather than create an off-shot for the new kitchen, but my clients were insistent that they wanted to create a sheltered outdoor seating/dining courtyard flanked by a new kitchen that would complement the space.”
The owners asked for a simple, light-filled kitchen that would reflect their laid-back style. Design wise, they wanted to move away from the original kitchen they inherited which had Shaker doors, granite worktops and a dark tiled floor.
“The new kitchen needed to be bright, but also warm with lots of natural wood,” adds Cole. “Our clients were keen to make the small space work hard, but they wanted to avoid having wall cabinets.
Slab-style base units painted in a matt light grey and with integrated J-pull style handle grips create a streamlined look, while wall shelving adds character. To bring in light, there’s two windows – including one which is floor-to-ceiling – plus a skylight.
“The owners didn’t want to install doors here as they wished to keep the traffic down through the small kitchen area,” says Cole.
“The new kitchen needed to be bright, but also warm with lots of natural wood,” adds Cole. “Our clients were keen to make the small space work hard, but they wanted to avoid having wall cabinets.
Slab-style base units painted in a matt light grey and with integrated J-pull style handle grips create a streamlined look, while wall shelving adds character. To bring in light, there’s two windows – including one which is floor-to-ceiling – plus a skylight.
“The owners didn’t want to install doors here as they wished to keep the traffic down through the small kitchen area,” says Cole.
A large Belfast ceramic sink adds to the laid-back ambience of the kitchen.
Belfast ceramic sink and silk steel rotaflow tap, Franke.
Find out how to choose the perfect kitchen sink
Belfast ceramic sink and silk steel rotaflow tap, Franke.
Find out how to choose the perfect kitchen sink
Solid 40mm thick bamboo worktops with integrated drainer grooves are both a space-saving (no need for a drainer) and ecofriendly option.
“Bamboo grows so quickly that it is considered to be an eco-option, but it is hard and durable with maintenance pretty much the same as for timber worktops,” says Cole. “It does need regular oiling, particularly in wet areas, but no more than wood worktops. The look is fabulous, though, and the natural bamboo complements the cool grey of the handleless cabinet doors beautifully and adds warmth to the cooler tones of the kitchen.”
“Bamboo grows so quickly that it is considered to be an eco-option, but it is hard and durable with maintenance pretty much the same as for timber worktops,” says Cole. “It does need regular oiling, particularly in wet areas, but no more than wood worktops. The look is fabulous, though, and the natural bamboo complements the cool grey of the handleless cabinet doors beautifully and adds warmth to the cooler tones of the kitchen.”
An interesting edging detail is created by the natural construction of the solid bamboo.
A wall-hung plate rack was put up to help achieve the relaxed rustic look the owners wanted.
The owners wanted to avoid installing any wall cabinets that might potentially encroach into the small, galley-style kitchen.
“They had been given a collection of wine crates from a friend that they were keen to use as open shelving,” says Cole. “We managed to incorporate them into the overall design.” They were customised with three task lights at the bottom.
Ideas on how to style open shelving in your kitchen
“They had been given a collection of wine crates from a friend that they were keen to use as open shelving,” says Cole. “We managed to incorporate them into the overall design.” They were customised with three task lights at the bottom.
Ideas on how to style open shelving in your kitchen
Hooks were also put into the wall-hung wine crates to hang coffee and teacups. The crockery brings a welcome hit of colour to the kitchen.
The compact kitchen called for space-savvy design solutions.
“We maximised storage by using every inch of space we had,” explains Cole, “such as a Peka pull-out for the corner cabinet to allow easy access right to the back of the unit. We also put in as much open shelving as we could above waist height, as the client wanted no closed wall cabinets.”
“We maximised storage by using every inch of space we had,” explains Cole, “such as a Peka pull-out for the corner cabinet to allow easy access right to the back of the unit. We also put in as much open shelving as we could above waist height, as the client wanted no closed wall cabinets.”
The designers still managed to fit in a statement range cooker despite the kitchen’s compact dimensions.
“The biggest challenge was fitting all the specific requirements in for the client – no wall cabinets, sufficient storage, range cooker, Belfast sink – in such a limited space,” says Cole. “The pan hanger above the range adds more storage.”
Elan 90 range cooker and Classic chimney hood 90 in Black, Rangemaster. Pan hanger, Hahn.
“The biggest challenge was fitting all the specific requirements in for the client – no wall cabinets, sufficient storage, range cooker, Belfast sink – in such a limited space,” says Cole. “The pan hanger above the range adds more storage.”
Elan 90 range cooker and Classic chimney hood 90 in Black, Rangemaster. Pan hanger, Hahn.
These metro-style wall tiles have a rustic feel thanks to their colour and textured handmade look.
Laura Ashley Artisan French Grey ceramic tiles, Walls and Floors.
Laura Ashley Artisan French Grey ceramic tiles, Walls and Floors.
Solid oak flooring was installed throughout the kitchen and dining area to unify the zones and create a feeling of space.
What do you think of this compact, rustic-style family kitchen? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
What do you think of this compact, rustic-style family kitchen? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
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Who lives here A professional couple and their two children
Location Sheffield, South Yorkshire
Property A semi-detached house, built around 1900
Size 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms
Kitchen dimensions 2.14m x 1.87m
Designers Rob Cole, director, and Olly Leland, senior designer, of Sheffield Sustainable Kitchens
The original kitchen was sited in the space that is now the dining area – a large, square space with double doors leading out to the garden. With the help of Sheffield Sustainable Kitchens, the couple created a smaller cookspace in a new extension that complements both the dining ‘room’ and the courtyard area of the garden that’s adjacent to the new kitchen.
“They weren’t tempted to make it larger, and it does seem an interesting move to be making a kitchen smaller,” says Cole, “but the intention was to create clearer ‘zones’ for living.” The new kitchen extension is just 1.87m wide and 2.14m long, but the longer run of units, which includes the cooker, measures 3.89m and seamlessly merges into the dining area for an open-plan feel.