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My Room: An Open-plan Kitchen With Stunning Views of the Garden
Industrial-style features, reclaimed materials and bright colours were key to creating this loft-style, open-plan space
The prize for the best kitchen in the Houzz and ES London Home Design Awards went to this cool, eclectic space created by stylist Laura Burkitt and her fiancé, Ben. The couple collaborated closely with their builders, called in the help of local tradespeople and friends, and even did a few smaller DIY projects themselves. The result is a room that reflects their personalities to a tee.
“We took inspiration from a New York loft apartment,” explains Laura. They worked closely with their builders to create the look, choosing industrial features such as the factory-style doors and the micro-cement floor, which is a slightly softer alternative to polished concrete.
Supporting the open-plan space was a challenge, as they didn’t want a pillar to break up the view. Instead, the builders installed a huge steel girder across the whole room. “We made a feature of the steel by painting the plasterwork black,” says Laura.
Steel-framed doors, Fabco Sanctuary. Micro-cement flooring, The Plaster Collective.
Supporting the open-plan space was a challenge, as they didn’t want a pillar to break up the view. Instead, the builders installed a huge steel girder across the whole room. “We made a feature of the steel by painting the plasterwork black,” says Laura.
Steel-framed doors, Fabco Sanctuary. Micro-cement flooring, The Plaster Collective.
Laura and Ben had decided on a dark Shaker-style kitchen, but couldn’t find one at a price that suited their budget. So they bought this one through their builders and had it sprayed in a colour-matched paint.
“We sourced the quartz worktop ourselves,” says Laura, “and we found the brass handles online.”
The exposed wall was made from engineered bricks. “The trick was getting the pattern right,” says Laura. “It was really important to have grey grout, rather than a yellow sand colour. So we painted over the grout, then sanded the wall to give it a worn look.”
Kitchen cabinets, Howdens Joinery. Quartz worktops, Venice Marble.
“We sourced the quartz worktop ourselves,” says Laura, “and we found the brass handles online.”
The exposed wall was made from engineered bricks. “The trick was getting the pattern right,” says Laura. “It was really important to have grey grout, rather than a yellow sand colour. So we painted over the grout, then sanded the wall to give it a worn look.”
Kitchen cabinets, Howdens Joinery. Quartz worktops, Venice Marble.
“Above the island, we chose wall rather than ceiling lights to hang from the steel to make a feature of it,” says Laura. “They have an industrial metal look and a really warm glow, but we also put spotlights in for task lighting along the back run.”
They kept their project on budget by using as many reclaimed materials as possible. The bar stools, for example, were found in a local pub. “Ben asked the owner if he could buy a couple,” says Laura. “The door handles were rescued from a friend’s house, which was being gutted.”
Find industrial-style kitchen and dining furniture in the Houzz Shop
They kept their project on budget by using as many reclaimed materials as possible. The bar stools, for example, were found in a local pub. “Ben asked the owner if he could buy a couple,” says Laura. “The door handles were rescued from a friend’s house, which was being gutted.”
Find industrial-style kitchen and dining furniture in the Houzz Shop
The striking dining table was made by a friend, who sourced reclaimed timber for the surface and attached it to hairpin legs.
Laura upholstered the vintage chairs herself in colourful velvet.
Table; kitchen shelves, all Haring & Co. Midcentury chairs, eBay. Sofa, Sofa.com.
Laura upholstered the vintage chairs herself in colourful velvet.
Table; kitchen shelves, all Haring & Co. Midcentury chairs, eBay. Sofa, Sofa.com.
“The kitchen shelves are actually Victorian floorboards, which we had stained,” says Laura. “The steel brackets were made by a talented local metalworker called Danny.”
Hexagonal shelving unit, Made.com.
Fancy having some bespoke furniture made? Find artists and craftsmen in your area
Hexagonal shelving unit, Made.com.
Fancy having some bespoke furniture made? Find artists and craftsmen in your area
“In the living area, there’s strip lighting hidden in the cornice that can be set to different colours,” says Laura. “With this different lighting set, you really get that buzzy city neon feel if you’re standing outside on an evening looking in.”
Tell us…
What do you like about this loft-style kitchen full of personality? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
Tell us…
What do you like about this loft-style kitchen full of personality? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
1. Deansgate Wallpaper
2. Buckeye Bronze Mesh Single Wall Light
3. Mauviel M’Héritage Stainless Steel Handle Saucepan
4. 2-Door Buffet, Dark Grey
5. Green Leather Bar Stool
6. Lleida Wooden and Iron Dining Table
7. Smeg CJF01 Citrus Juicer, Green
8. Hahn Premium Rectangular Wall Rack
9. Indian Blue Dining Chair
2. Buckeye Bronze Mesh Single Wall Light
3. Mauviel M’Héritage Stainless Steel Handle Saucepan
4. 2-Door Buffet, Dark Grey
5. Green Leather Bar Stool
6. Lleida Wooden and Iron Dining Table
7. Smeg CJF01 Citrus Juicer, Green
8. Hahn Premium Rectangular Wall Rack
9. Indian Blue Dining Chair
Who lives here Stylist Laura Burkitt and her fiancé, Ben Sarner
Location Queen’s Park, London
Property A garden flat
Size of room 7.78m x 5.57m
Some photos by Viv Yapp
Laura Burkitt and her fiancé, Ben, were happy to take on a project when they bought their home in 2016. “We saw the potential in it,” says Laura. “It had a lovely garden, so we wanted to create an open-plan living space to maximise the view.”
The couple extended at the back, reconfigured the rest of the flat, and created a light, bright kitchen and living area with views out to the exterior.