The kitchen is undoubtedly one of the most expensive rooms in the home to decorate, and that is why many people look for one that will not go out of fashion very quickly. This is another reason for the popularity of the traditional kitchen, as these have become classic designs that have successfully passed the test of time.
The kitchen featured here relies on excellent craftsmanship and good traditional design to give the room its distinctive, ageless quality. This does not mean, however, that the units are reproductions of an original painted kitchen cupboards. In fact,
there are a number of design details incorporated by the designer to make this cook’s kitchen very much a room for today. Not only are the best working appliances and cooking facilities supplied, but there are certain elements that have been exaggerated in proportion to add an interesting twist to the overall look of the finished room. The substantial curved cornices, for example, are a refreshing change from the normal mitred corner detail that is normally associated with this style of fitting.
The drawer knobs, too, are larger than you would to find on surfaces of this size. The overall effect of these is stylish, practical and full of individuality. Colour also plays a big part in the design of this kitchen. Sage green has been chosen as the primary colour, with cream to add relief and natural tones for contrast. The base units provide the main block of colour with a dash of added via the door knobs. The Corian worktop is also cream, keeping the overall look very crisp and fresh. Above this begins a full height run of Delft-influenced ceramic tiles, again in sage and cream. These create a soft background pattern while providing a practical and easy-to-clean wall cladding. Note how a moulding tile has been positioned at picture rail height to add a traditional detail to the room.
The cream wall units are mounted in front of this patterned backdrop. The designer has chosen to use this pale colour to keep the look as airy as possible. This is most important where the run of units is confined mainly to one wall. If the wall units had been in sage, the balance of the room would have been lost.