A Family Kitchen Renovation

Rarely do we experience more enthusiasm at the beginning of a project, from all involved, than on a kitchen renovation. It seems no matter our style we can all agree on the transformative, life enhancing joy of a well-designed kitchen.

The beauty of kitchen design is that each is different, some clients may need large prep space for entertaining, and others a small cosy corner to enjoy a tea break, kitchens are as personal as any other room in the home.

As we share the design details of this kitchen renovation we hope to highlight that good kitchen design goes beyond choosing cabinetry and worktops, it's a careful balance of materials, flow and function that become the backdrop to many happy moments.

This kitchen remodel was part of a larger renovation project over several years. Having worked on the rest of the house we had a clear idea of where to begin in designing a kitchen that supported the homeowners lifestyle and had a strong connection to the rest of the property.

We wanted to stay true to the original layout and arrange the space in a creative way that was both functional for family living and allowed us to explore the different design ideas we were keen to include.

Originally a small kitchen and breakfast room, we removed part of the adjoining wall, retaining a small section as support for the first-floor chimney stack- during planning we knew this would be the perfect space to build our banquette seating up to.

We enlarged the back door opening and replaced with timber French doors- which is more in keeping with the age of the property and now give a clear sightline of the garden from the front door. Conscious of budget and unnecessary upheaval we chose not to relocate the boiler and kept the walk-in cupboard, adding small doors and plenty of shelving to create a really useful pantry, which now discreetly houses some of the larger appliances.

Kitchens naturally include lots of hard, durable surfaces, we were mindful to introduce softer textures throughout. The fluted detail on the front of the sink, textured café curtain and pelmet, a mix of fabrics on the bench seating and lovely tactile iroko wooden worktops all help to balance the practical elements of the space.

All of these finishes work in harmony with the easy to clean tiled floor, the stainless steel range cooker and the fully tiled wall – included to reflect light beautifully and add subtle textural interest.

As with all Studio Jute projects, our aim is for the room to feel as though it had evolved over time. The focal point of the kitchen is the dining area, with an inherited family table as the centre piece and comfortable seating, it’s the perfect space to gather for meals and even work from.

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