Houzz Tours
Kitchen Tours
Houzz Pro Tours
Kitchen Tour: An Awkward Space Gains Storage and a Sense of Flow
An improved layout, more storage and soft colours bring both functionality and family-friendliness to this kitchen
“The owner said, ‘I don’t care what else you do, but I want a pull-out larder!’” says Alessandra Garcia of Orsetto Interiors, the designer behind this airy, open kitchen in south-west London. In fact, storage of all kinds was a priority, as the space was dominated by large, industrial-style appliances and much of the existing storage felt hard to access.
Having worked on one of the bathrooms in this house already, Alessandra was familiar with the owners’ tastes and readily got to work on this room, rethinking it with family life – and that all-important larder – at the heart of her design.
Having worked on one of the bathrooms in this house already, Alessandra was familiar with the owners’ tastes and readily got to work on this room, rethinking it with family life – and that all-important larder – at the heart of her design.
This before shot of the kitchen shows the central island, which was parallel to the back wall.
There were also two access points into the room, and one of Alessandra’s key alterations to the layout was to block up one of these doors. “It helped create a more linear circulation and also freed-up wall space,” she says. The fridge now stands where that door was and the longed-for larder can be seen to the left of it.
The fridge was left behind by the previous owners. “The couple decided to keep it,” says Alessandra. “It’s fairly big, but they were really happy about that, because they have two children and needed the space.”
Find and hire a local kitchen designer on Houzz.
The fridge was left behind by the previous owners. “The couple decided to keep it,” says Alessandra. “It’s fairly big, but they were really happy about that, because they have two children and needed the space.”
Find and hire a local kitchen designer on Houzz.
Previously, the kitchen featured a monochrome scheme of white units and black worktops.
More: 10 Questions to Help You Get the Measure of a Kitchen Designer
More: 10 Questions to Help You Get the Measure of a Kitchen Designer
“The owners wanted Shaker-style cabinets and for the overall look to be warmer,” says Alessandra, who picked a design in a soft grey tone.
They also wanted to have space to eat in the kitchen, which they had not been able to do before, so Alessandra designed in a neat breakfast bar and added a couple of chunky weathered oak bar stools.
Kitchen, Wren Kitchens. Oak bar stools, Cox & Cox.
They also wanted to have space to eat in the kitchen, which they had not been able to do before, so Alessandra designed in a neat breakfast bar and added a couple of chunky weathered oak bar stools.
Kitchen, Wren Kitchens. Oak bar stools, Cox & Cox.
Opposite the breakfast bar, Alessandra created another seating area that’s perfectly suited to the children. “The owners wanted to make sure the kids were included in the design of the space,” she explains. “They’re toddlers. Eventually, they’ll grow and use the bar stools, but for now they have this space.”
Alongside is a combination of drawers, cupboards and open shelves. “We could have covered that wall in units, but too much wall storage can make the space feel closed in,” Alessandra explains. “They would tower over you, and then you wouldn’t want to sit on the bench and have a coffee there. So instead, we chose to keep it airy.”
Alongside is a combination of drawers, cupboards and open shelves. “We could have covered that wall in units, but too much wall storage can make the space feel closed in,” Alessandra explains. “They would tower over you, and then you wouldn’t want to sit on the bench and have a coffee there. So instead, we chose to keep it airy.”
The TV had been mounted on the wall by the previous owners, but it popped out quite aggressively against the pale backdrop. Alessandra chose a deep blue colour instead to help it disappear.
Wall painted in Stiffkey Blue, Farrow & Ball. Brooklyn pendant lights, Industville.
Wall painted in Stiffkey Blue, Farrow & Ball. Brooklyn pendant lights, Industville.
“The main challenge – and this is not unique to this project, but to all old houses – is that they are often showing their age,” Alessandra says. “The walls may be uneven, the space isn’t square, that kind of thing. It comes with owning a Victorian home.”
With this in mind, Alessandra aimed to keep key features in the same place. “If you move things like the sink, you don’t know what you’re going to find! It’s like opening Pandora’s box,” she says. “Of course, you can fix anything with enough money, but if you’re being sensible with the budget, you can save this way and then splurge on other items.”
Keeping the sink in the same position left money to invest in a boiling-water tap.
Tap, Quooker. Calacatta Eternal quartz worktop, Gemini Worktops.
With this in mind, Alessandra aimed to keep key features in the same place. “If you move things like the sink, you don’t know what you’re going to find! It’s like opening Pandora’s box,” she says. “Of course, you can fix anything with enough money, but if you’re being sensible with the budget, you can save this way and then splurge on other items.”
Keeping the sink in the same position left money to invest in a boiling-water tap.
Tap, Quooker. Calacatta Eternal quartz worktop, Gemini Worktops.
Slim brass handles are a simple and sophisticated complement to the Shaker cabinets.
With family life in mind, Alessandra picked LVT (luxury vinyl tiles) for the flooring. “It’s easy to clean and very practical, perfect for a busy kitchen,” she says.
It’s one of the many beautiful and thoughtful features in the kitchen that have delighted its owners. “They are super happy with it,” Alessandra says. “They love being able to eat at the breakfast bar in particular, which they didn’t have before.”
They also enjoyed being able to check in with Alessandra’s designs via Houzz Pro as the project took shape. “I shared mood boards with them and they loved being able to add comments and either approve or disapprove suggestions for what to put in the space as we went along,” she says. “It worked really nicely for them.”
Flooring, Wren Kitchens.
Tell us…
What do you like about this airy family kitchen? Let us know in the Comments.
It’s one of the many beautiful and thoughtful features in the kitchen that have delighted its owners. “They are super happy with it,” Alessandra says. “They love being able to eat at the breakfast bar in particular, which they didn’t have before.”
They also enjoyed being able to check in with Alessandra’s designs via Houzz Pro as the project took shape. “I shared mood boards with them and they loved being able to add comments and either approve or disapprove suggestions for what to put in the space as we went along,” she says. “It worked really nicely for them.”
Flooring, Wren Kitchens.
Tell us…
What do you like about this airy family kitchen? Let us know in the Comments.
Sponsored
Reload the page to not see this specific ad anymore
Who lives here? A couple and their two young children
Location Battersea, south-west London
Property A Victorian terraced house with four bedrooms and two bathrooms
Room dimensions 19 sq m
Designer Alessandra Garcia of Orsetto Interiors
Project year 2022
Photos by Felipe Diehl
The previous kitchen didn’t work for the family now living here, so Alessandra completely redesigned the floorplan. “Originally, there was a tiny island in the middle and the layout was awkward, with large appliances, including an industrial-style oven, that took up all the space,” she says.
Walls painted in School House White, Farrow & Ball.