Room of the Day: New Kitchen-Living Area Gives Family Together Time
An airy add-on becomes the hub of family life in a formerly boxy Arts and Crafts-style home
For a family with small children, a living space that offers flexibility and accessibility is key. Spend five minutes with architect Nic Antony and he’ll have you convinced an open-plan room like this one is the only option for family living. “The aim of building this [addition] was to create a space where all household activities could happen in one area,” he says. “It’s a multifunctioning family space where parents can keep an eye on the kids while going about their business, whether in the kitchen, utility room or living area. In a space like this, parents can always have the children present and vice versa.”
Architect Nic Antony extended the property at the rear and built a two-story side addition, which provided a utility room and pantry on the ground floor and a well-appointed master bedroom upstairs.
“For these open-plan spaces to be successful,” he says, “they need to have dedicated utilitarian areas to take pressure off the kitchen. This is fundamental in order to separate more mundane activities from social ones, allowing you to enjoy the space more.”
“For these open-plan spaces to be successful,” he says, “they need to have dedicated utilitarian areas to take pressure off the kitchen. This is fundamental in order to separate more mundane activities from social ones, allowing you to enjoy the space more.”
A kitchen island is a great way to have a more inclusive kitchen space: With a food-preparation area that faces the rest of the room, cooking need not be an antisocial activity.
Kitchen: Schmidt Kitchens
Kitchen: Schmidt Kitchens
The owners wanted to have the best of both worlds: a sleek induction cooktop, which is fitted into the island, as well as a more traditional Aga range on the back wall. Having both means temperatures can be controlled accurately for delicate dishes, and it’s a nice juxtaposition of old and new.
Range cooker: Aga; sink and faucets: Franke; boiling-water tap: Quooker; induction cooktop and microwave oven: Neff
Range cooker: Aga; sink and faucets: Franke; boiling-water tap: Quooker; induction cooktop and microwave oven: Neff
Three large skylights bring natural light into the space. “When you extend a space, the existing part of the room — the bit that was already there — can become the darker section, because the [windows are] moved further away. Introducing skylights towards the middle of the room brings in as much light and ventilation as possible,” Antony says.
The family opted for electronic skylights, which can be controlled remotely.
The family opted for electronic skylights, which can be controlled remotely.
In addition to the existing, more formal sitting room, the family wanted part of their open-plan space to form a casual living area. A gray and yellow sofa and armchair add warmth, and a striking floor lamp helps define the zone.
Naoko sofa and armchair: Habitat; for a similar floor lamp, try the Arco floor light from The Conran Shop; artwork: Orange Field by Sir Terry Frost
Naoko sofa and armchair: Habitat; for a similar floor lamp, try the Arco floor light from The Conran Shop; artwork: Orange Field by Sir Terry Frost
The space is punctuated by a bold purple column, painted in a Dulux shade matched to the aubergine Aga range. “The introduction of a column broke the span of the room structurally and means that rather than needing one large steel beam, two smaller beams could be used,” Antony says. “A deeper beam would have been more expensive, and there would have been a visible downstand. Adding the column made it more visually appealing, was more cost-effective and was easier to install.”
White Barcelona chair by Mies van der Rohe, available from Nest.
White Barcelona chair by Mies van der Rohe, available from Nest.
To bring warmth into the room, Antony chose an iroko breakfast bar, which works with the owners’ rich cherry wood dining table, originally from John Lewis, and contrasts nicely with the pale counters, made of polished Unistone Bianco quartz.
The stylishly mismatched chairs were the owners’ choice and add a fun, quirky touch to the space.
The stylishly mismatched chairs were the owners’ choice and add a fun, quirky touch to the space.
The room is divided into three zones: the kitchen, living area and dining space. To further enhance the multifunctionality, Antony installed various lighting arrangements to keep the space versatile. These include spotlights, pendant lights, strip lights, exterior lights and floor lamps to give the family total control over the mood.
Pendant lights: Original BTC at The Conran Shop; wine fridge, fridge and freezer: A Cool by Siemens; Glenn bar stools: Ikea
Pendant lights: Original BTC at The Conran Shop; wine fridge, fridge and freezer: A Cool by Siemens; Glenn bar stools: Ikea
Underfloor heating was installed throughout. Lots of glass means less wall space, “so there was the visual benefit of not having to take up precious wall space” with radiators, Antony says. “Underfloor heating also runs at a much lower temperature than normal radiators, because the surface area is bigger. It’s far more cost-efficient in the long run and it’s better for the environment.”
Antony went for limestone flooring inside because of its practicality and aesthetic value. It’s also a good conductor for underfloor heating.
York stone, in a similar color to the limestone, was used outside, since limestone is porous and impractical for exteriors. “We wanted to continue the tiles outside to create flow between the rooms for a seamless look,” Antony says.
Limestone flooring: Fired Earth
York stone, in a similar color to the limestone, was used outside, since limestone is porous and impractical for exteriors. “We wanted to continue the tiles outside to create flow between the rooms for a seamless look,” Antony says.
Limestone flooring: Fired Earth
Side glass panels with wall-to-wall sliding glass doors provide a triple-aspect view of the garden. The room’s multiple functions — eating, living and cooking — mean the family can make the most of the panoramic view.
Glass doors: Express Bi-Folding Doors; wall paint: Slaked Lime, Little Greene
Glass doors: Express Bi-Folding Doors; wall paint: Slaked Lime, Little Greene
Antony chose to go with sliding doors rather than bifold ones because sliding doors have thinner frames. “Bifold doors only come into their own when open,” he says. “Given our climate, 90 percent of the time they’re closed.” The frames are powder-coated aluminum.
The dark frames provide a contrast to the rest of the home. “We wanted to create something modern and unique on the back,” Antony says. “It’s an interesting juxtaposition.”
The tiled panels on the front of the house were painted the same color as the addition to create continuity.
More
8 Creative Lighting Solutions for Food Prep
Adding On: 10 Ways to Expand Your Kitchen Out and Up
More
8 Creative Lighting Solutions for Food Prep
Adding On: 10 Ways to Expand Your Kitchen Out and Up
Who lives here: A family with two small children
Location: Loughton, Essex, England
Size: 538 square feet (50 square meters)
Architect: Nic Antony of Nic Antony Architects
The aim of this project was to create a light, open-plan space that flowed nicely into the garden. The owners wanted a modern room with a design conducive to family living.