The goal was to bridge the gap between a classic home and a bright, modern garden extension. The client wanted the warmth of a traditional kitchen but the light and flow of an open-plan living space.
You can’t ignore the black Aga. We set it into a dedicated chimney niche to give it presence. It’s a heavy, serious piece of kit that contrasts perfectly with the soft Farrow & Ball Cornforth White cabinetry. We paired it with polished nickel hardware – classic, solid, and timeless.
Storage was non-negotiable. We installed a double pantry that swallows the weekly shop whole. Then there’s the hidden breakfast bar. Behind the doors sits the coffee machine, toaster, and the morning mess. You make your coffee, close the doors, and suddenly your kitchen looks pristine again.
To stop the room from feeling too “cottage”, the client introduced black steel-framed glazed doors. These Crittall-style partitions add a contemporary, industrial texture that talks to the black Aga and the wire-frame bar stools.
By mixing natural wood, soft grey joinery, and industrial steel, we created a space that feels sophisticated but relaxed. It’s a kitchen that works hard but knows how to hide its secrets.
We chose Cornforth White for the cabinetry, a sophisticated and understated grey. In a room flooded with natural light, this soft shade – with its natural calming effect – acts as a quiet, elegant bridge that transitions the original home into the modern extension.
To truly embrace the room’s volume and vaulted ceilings, we designed the cabinetry to reach the full height of the space. This not only maximises every inch of storage but also draws the eye upward, emphasising the sense of scale. The grandeur of the floor-to-ceiling cabinetry perfectly complements the large-scale windows, ensuring the kitchen feels proportionate to its expansive surroundings.
We extended the Cornforth White cabinetry into the dining area to create a unified look, anchored by tall, glazed display dresses. This allows fine dinnerware to be beautifully showcased and kept within easy reach for hosting, ensuring the transition from kitchen to table is seamless. This flow is completed with a bespoke upholstered dining bench, providing a soft, tactile contrast to the natural grain of the timber dining table.
Silestone is a durable low-maintenance surface that perfectly complements the cabinetry palette and the classic profile of the Aga. Its light-reflective finish further enhances the natural light within the extension, tying the whole space together with a crisp and contemporary feel.
While the cabinetry is classic, we introduced modern texture through polished chrome hardware and the graphic lines of the Crittall-style doors. The lighting acts as the ‘jewellery’ of the room – specifically the grand, tiered glass pendant over the island, and the glass domes suspended over the dining table which create a stunning focal point point and add a touch of modern glamour to the high-ceilinged extension.
Schedule a free consultation with our team to begin your own home design project.
Over 300 pages of design inspiration
