Kitchen Tour: A Timeless, Sociable Kitchen With a Walk-in Pantry
Bags of storage, a sociable layout and an outdoor connection were key to creating this practical, inviting space
What would be included in your dream kitchen? For the owners of this Grade II-listed house, a large island, lots of storage, a walk-in pantry and a bar for entertaining were all high up their wish list.
They’d brought in kitchen designer Tom Howley at the planning stage of their extension project to help make best use of the new, open-plan space. “This is something we recommend all our clients do,” Tom says. “Planning the detail of your kitchen as early as possible ensures all key elements, such as electrics and water, are considered as part of your build.”
Tom worked with the owners to design a kitchen that’s both beautiful and practical, while comfortably including all the items they’d asked for.
They’d brought in kitchen designer Tom Howley at the planning stage of their extension project to help make best use of the new, open-plan space. “This is something we recommend all our clients do,” Tom says. “Planning the detail of your kitchen as early as possible ensures all key elements, such as electrics and water, are considered as part of your build.”
Tom worked with the owners to design a kitchen that’s both beautiful and practical, while comfortably including all the items they’d asked for.
“The clients came to me with a clear idea of the cabinet colour they wanted, after having seen it on our website,” Tom says. The deep green avocado shade was complemented with burnished brass handles, brass stools and matching pendant lights, while a white quartz worktop provides a clean contrast.
“With such a bold cabinet colour, keeping the worktop bright and neutral made perfect sense,” Tom says.
Botticino porcelain flooring, Pure Stone. Siena bar stools, Dunelm. Built-in ovens and warming drawers, Wolf. Organic White worktops, Caesarstone.
“With such a bold cabinet colour, keeping the worktop bright and neutral made perfect sense,” Tom says.
Botticino porcelain flooring, Pure Stone. Siena bar stools, Dunelm. Built-in ovens and warming drawers, Wolf. Organic White worktops, Caesarstone.
Crittall windows are strategically positioned around the room to create an outdoor connection.
Fusion tap in patinated brass, Quooker.
Ready to renovate? Easily find and hire a local kitchen designer on Houzz.
Fusion tap in patinated brass, Quooker.
Ready to renovate? Easily find and hire a local kitchen designer on Houzz.
Tom decided to create a bench seat with drawer storage beneath one of the windows to make the most of the view.
The L-shaped layout of the room provided a great opportunity to design a walk-in pantry (top).
More: How to Start a Kitchen Renovation
More: How to Start a Kitchen Renovation
Tom says the clients had seen similar pantries in his previous projects and were keen to include the same feature in their space.
Shallow shelves for sauces and spices were fitted to the back of the pantry’s double doors. Inside, there are more shelves, some handcrafted drawers, and enough worktop space for the owners to store their small appliances and breakfast-making equipment.
More storage was created between the kitchen and living space, this time to include a drinks area. Bifold doors open up to reveal shelving for glassware above a worktop where the owners can mix cocktails.
Tom fitted LED lighting to the shelves, which reflects against the mirrored backboards for an atmospheric glow in the evening.
Tom fitted LED lighting to the shelves, which reflects against the mirrored backboards for an atmospheric glow in the evening.
Alongside the bar area are practical fridge drawers to keep beers and canned drinks cold, plus a wine cooler.
So did the new kitchen live up to the owners’ expectations? Yes, Tom says. “The clients love how practical and stylish the kitchen is, and how it maximises every inch of space.”
Fridge and wine cooler, Sub-Zero.
Tell us…
What do you think of this stylish and practical kitchen? Are any of the features on your wish list? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
So did the new kitchen live up to the owners’ expectations? Yes, Tom says. “The clients love how practical and stylish the kitchen is, and how it maximises every inch of space.”
Fridge and wine cooler, Sub-Zero.
Tell us…
What do you think of this stylish and practical kitchen? Are any of the features on your wish list? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
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Who lives here? A family with young children
Location Kent
Property A Grade II-listed farmhouse
Room dimensions Around 10m x 8.7m
Designer Tom Howley
Photos by Tom Howley Kitchen Design
This open-plan kitchen is located in a new extension, which was created as part of a full house renovation, so designer Tom Howley had a blank canvas to work with. His clients are very sociable, so he took the opportunity to centre the layout on a large island (3.2m x 1.4m) with room for nine bar stools.
The island is also big enough to accommodate an induction hob with extractor on the surface, and lots of drawer storage below.
Hartford kitchen in Avocado, Tom Howley.