Kitchen Tour: How One Brave Decision Was the Key to This Project
A designer’s slightly controversial suggestion unlocked a storage-packed space for a family of five
Designers and architects are used to finding any way possible to bring more light into our homes, so when Mia Spencer of House by Mia, who the owners of this period property found on Houzz, included the option to block up a window in her suggestions for their kitchen-diner and living area, she wasn’t sure they’d go for it. Luckily, they could immediately see that reclaiming the wall space was key to fitting in the storage they needed.
“We wouldn’t normally do that, as windows are at a premium, but because it’s such a big space, with 3m glazed doors onto the garden and light coming from lots of sides, we knew we could,” Mia says.
Read on to find out how she created a calm, airy kitchen-diner and living space, filled not only with masses of storage to cope with family paraphernalia, but treasured furniture and favourite pieces that add personality.
To see more great projects where the homeowner found their professional via Houzz, take a look at our Born on Houzz series.
“We wouldn’t normally do that, as windows are at a premium, but because it’s such a big space, with 3m glazed doors onto the garden and light coming from lots of sides, we knew we could,” Mia says.
Read on to find out how she created a calm, airy kitchen-diner and living space, filled not only with masses of storage to cope with family paraphernalia, but treasured furniture and favourite pieces that add personality.
To see more great projects where the homeowner found their professional via Houzz, take a look at our Born on Houzz series.
Cabinetry now fills the entire wall, but the clever mix of dark and pale doors means it doesn’t dominate. “Because the walnut, which is quite strong and warm, has a more prominent presence than the pale neutral, you almost don’t notice the lighter cupboards, so that meant we could go right up to the ceiling without it feeling oppressive,” Mia says.
“Sometimes, top cabinets can overhang a bit and make a space feel smaller,” she continues. “But we did mostly tall cabinets and shelves, which lightens it a bit – you just see the tall cabinets as wall.”
There’s a deep shelving area where the two cabinet runs meet. “The couple have nice crockery, so that was another space for display,” Mia says. “I don’t like those top corner cupboards. Base corner units are fine, as you can have a little pull-out, but top ones are awkward, so it’s nice to have some open shelving in there.”
Cabinets and walls painted in Rolling Fog, Little Greene.
“Sometimes, top cabinets can overhang a bit and make a space feel smaller,” she continues. “But we did mostly tall cabinets and shelves, which lightens it a bit – you just see the tall cabinets as wall.”
There’s a deep shelving area where the two cabinet runs meet. “The couple have nice crockery, so that was another space for display,” Mia says. “I don’t like those top corner cupboards. Base corner units are fine, as you can have a little pull-out, but top ones are awkward, so it’s nice to have some open shelving in there.”
Cabinets and walls painted in Rolling Fog, Little Greene.
The beautiful cabinetry was made bespoke to Mia’s design.
Along with the pale paint and walnut, Mia has dotted the kitchen with warm antique brass, including these discreet handles. “We like to do a limited number of materials, so it’s not overwhelming,” she says.
Kitchen, Kraus Kitchens.
Easily find and hire interior designers and kitchen designers on Houzz.
Along with the pale paint and walnut, Mia has dotted the kitchen with warm antique brass, including these discreet handles. “We like to do a limited number of materials, so it’s not overwhelming,” she says.
Kitchen, Kraus Kitchens.
Easily find and hire interior designers and kitchen designers on Houzz.
The long brass handles are from a small independent British maker. “Their finishes are the best,” Mia says.
Handles, Corston.
Handles, Corston.
The family wanted a large island, as that’s where they all eat breakfast. They did have a big one in the original kitchen, but it was too wide. “We put in a slimmer but longer one – 2.8m – so you still have a lot of storage in there, but also room for people to sit along the side and on the end,” Mia says.
The fact the ‘public-facing’ side is cut out also helps the island feel less chunky. “It gives it a bit more lightness, whereas the original island was a massive behemoth with pillars,” she says.
The fact the ‘public-facing’ side is cut out also helps the island feel less chunky. “It gives it a bit more lightness, whereas the original island was a massive behemoth with pillars,” she says.
The slim storage unit topped with a corkboard is the ‘family hub’. “The corkboard is for paintings, the family calendar, messages from school and stuff, so they’re available to them but tucked away – you can’t see it from the dining table and don’t have to have bits on the fridge,” Mia says.
Below, she built a bespoke cabinet with a basket for each member of the family. “The idea is that bits and pieces – swimming goggles, keys, pens etc – can go into the baskets instead of cluttering the worktops.” This made great use of otherwise dead space, as it’s only 25cm deep.
“These guys like to have a tidy space, but it’s hard when you have young children, so I feel as if this little area was a real win for them,” Mia adds. “Sometimes, you get a little key to a design and it might be a wider door or putting in a place to have coffee. Here, this area is somewhere the chaos of family life can be contained and will make a day-to-day difference.”
Below, she built a bespoke cabinet with a basket for each member of the family. “The idea is that bits and pieces – swimming goggles, keys, pens etc – can go into the baskets instead of cluttering the worktops.” This made great use of otherwise dead space, as it’s only 25cm deep.
“These guys like to have a tidy space, but it’s hard when you have young children, so I feel as if this little area was a real win for them,” Mia adds. “Sometimes, you get a little key to a design and it might be a wider door or putting in a place to have coffee. Here, this area is somewhere the chaos of family life can be contained and will make a day-to-day difference.”
The island hob has an integrated extractor that’s neatly vented to the outside. There’s plenty of storage drawers in the unit, plus a little wine rack.
Mia has sited the dishwasher and bins near the large sink on the back wall. All the worktops and splashbacks are Caesarstone.
Hob, Bora.
Mia has sited the dishwasher and bins near the large sink on the back wall. All the worktops and splashbacks are Caesarstone.
Hob, Bora.
As well as having a standard sink, there’s a small one on the main run, too. “Because it’s a large kitchen and it’s quite useful to have a water source near the coffee-making and cooking area, we put in a little 20cm bar sink with a boiling-water tap,” Mia says.
Boiling-water tap, Quooker.
Boiling-water tap, Quooker.
“Although downlights can be useful in a kitchen, I also like to have directional spotlights, and these look warm and pick up the brass in other places,” Mia says of the simple brass fittings.
This means the couple can direct light where they want it. “A directional light adds another, softer layer, which creates a little light and shade,” Mia adds.
There are also under-cabinet lights and lights within the open shelving, all controlled separately so the owners can create the look they want.
Brass spotlights, Corston.
More: How to Plan Kitchen Lighting
This means the couple can direct light where they want it. “A directional light adds another, softer layer, which creates a little light and shade,” Mia adds.
There are also under-cabinet lights and lights within the open shelving, all controlled separately so the owners can create the look they want.
Brass spotlights, Corston.
More: How to Plan Kitchen Lighting
The couple had some treasured items they were keen to incorporate, including two cabinets, various pieces of pottery, and the island pendant lights. They’d bought the lights because they loved them, but didn’t quite know where to use them.
“Sometimes, people feel a designer is just going to come in and take over and not allow people to keep things,” Mia says. “We work the things people care about into the design and try to make a feature of them as much as possible.”
The large wooden cabinet on the left is a case in point: it had been tucked away in the old kitchen and couldn’t easily be seen, but now it’s become much more of a feature and visible from both rooms.
“Put a vintage piece in a modern space and it’s like in a gallery where you frame something to make it different from the rest,” Mia says.
“Sometimes, people feel a designer is just going to come in and take over and not allow people to keep things,” Mia says. “We work the things people care about into the design and try to make a feature of them as much as possible.”
The large wooden cabinet on the left is a case in point: it had been tucked away in the old kitchen and couldn’t easily be seen, but now it’s become much more of a feature and visible from both rooms.
“Put a vintage piece in a modern space and it’s like in a gallery where you frame something to make it different from the rest,” Mia says.
These big doors in the living area are part of the reason Mia could afford to remove the window in the kitchen.
The cornices are original. “It’s nice when you have a really modern kitchen to keep [period] features, as it creates a lovely balance,” she says.
The white cabinet is another of the owners’ treasured pieces of furniture, positioned here to show it off. They’re planning to buy a rug and a larger table for this space.
The cornices are original. “It’s nice when you have a really modern kitchen to keep [period] features, as it creates a lovely balance,” she says.
The white cabinet is another of the owners’ treasured pieces of furniture, positioned here to show it off. They’re planning to buy a rug and a larger table for this space.
The owners are so delighted with their new space, they’re thinking of getting Mia and the team back to help with a loft conversion. “They were really happy with the design – and the execution, too,” she says. “They felt quite nurtured through the process.”
Tell us…
What do you think of Mia’s design and the functionality of the new kitchen? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Tell us…
What do you think of Mia’s design and the functionality of the new kitchen? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Sponsored
Reload the page to not see this specific ad anymore
Who lives here? A family with three children between 5 and 13 years old
Location Streatham, south London
Property An Edwardian house
Room dimensions 6m x 8.5m
Designer Mia Spencer of House by Mia
Project year 2023, from initial conversations early in the year to the eight-week build from September
Photos by Home Outlook
The couple had already had the wall between the old kitchen and the dining/living room removed, but when it came to planning the new space, they realised they needed help to work out the best layout.
“There was a window near where the ovens are now and they just couldn’t figure out how to make the kitchen work around it,” Mia explains. “When I suggested taking it away, they said, ‘Oh, yes!’ as it allowed them to have everything they needed, because they’re a big family.
“We went into detail on exactly what each cabinet was going to hold,” she continues. “With a family of five, you need a lot of crockery, a big dishwasher and a massive bin. And they like to cook and eat together.”