Best of Houzz 2022 UK - Essex (Kitchen)

Inspiration for a mid-sized scandinavian u-shaped open concept kitchen remodel in Essex with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, concrete countertops, black appliances, an island and gray countertops

Example of a large transitional galley medium tone wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen design in Essex with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, gray cabinets, wood countertops, stainless steel appliances, an island and beige countertops

View from the dining to the breakfast bar and the curved polished plaster walls of the kitchen. The lovely autumnal light in this photo brings a sense of calm to this space

With their children growing up, Mr & Mrs Hills in Southend-On-Sea decided it was time to give their much loved family kitchen a well deserved renovation, creating a space for all the family to use and enjoy. They wanted a kitchen that had plenty of storage and was user friendly for all the family, so commissioned Burlanes to transform their cramped and dated kitchen into a spacious and open-plan room. Walking into Burlanes Chelmsford, the couple took an instant like to our Wellsdown kitchen; our take on the classic Georgian country kitchen; built on the notions of good proportions and symmetry, combining traditional charm with all the benefits of modern living.

Mid-sized trendy u-shaped concrete floor and gray floor kitchen photo in Essex with flat-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, marble countertops, white backsplash, marble backsplash, paneled appliances, a peninsula, white countertops and an undermount sink

Beautiful contemporary open plan family kitchen brought up to date with kitchen island, pendant lighting, herringbone tiles, stunning spot-lit shelves and cabinets. Wooden flooring adds warmth and sliding doors and roof lights bring in the natural light. David Bleeker Photography

Large trendy eat-in kitchen photo in Essex with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, an island and paneled appliances

Inspiration for a large transitional kitchen remodel in Essex with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, green cabinets, an island and white countertops

When the homeowners purchased this Victorian family home, they immediately set about planning the extension that would create a more viable space for an open plan kitchen, dining and living area. Approximately two years later their dream home is now finished. The extension was designed off the original kitchen and has a large roof lantern that sits directly above the main kitchen and soft seating area beyond. French windows open out onto the garden which is perfect for the summer months. This is truly a classic contemporary space that feels so calm and collected when you walk in – the perfect antidote to the hustle and bustle of modern family living. Carefully zoning the kitchen, dining and living areas was the key to the success of this project and it works perfectly. The classic Lacanche range cooker is housed in a false chimney that is designed to suit the proportion and scale of the room perfectly. The Lacanche oven is the 100cm Cluny model with two large ovens – one static and one dual function static / convection with a classic 5 burner gas hob. Finished in stainless steel with a brass trim, this classic French oven looks completely at home in this Humphrey Munson kitchen. The main prep area is on the island positioned directly in front of the main cooking run, with a prep sink handily located to the left hand side. There is seating for three at the island with a breakfast bar at the opposite end to the prep sink which is conveniently located near to the banquette dining area. Delineated from the prep area by the natural wooden worktop finished in Portobello oak (the same accent wood used throughout the kitchen), the breakfast bar is a great spot for serving drinks to friends before dinner or for the children to have their meals at breakfast time and after school. The sink run is on the other side of the L shape in this kitchen and it has open artisan shelves above for storing everyday items like glassware and tableware. Either side of the sink is an integrated Miele dishwasher and a pull out Eurocargo bin to make clearing away dishes really easy. The use of open shelving here really helps the space to feel open and calm and there is a curved countertop cupboard in the corner providing space for storing teas, coffees and biscuits so that everything is to hand when making hot drinks. The Fisher & Paykel fridge freezer has Nickleby cabinetry surrounding it with space above for storing cookbooks but there is also another under-counter fridge in the island for additional cold food storage. The cook’s pantry provides masses of storage for dry ingredients as well as housing the freestanding microwave which is always a fantastic option when you want to keep integrated appliances to a minimum in order to maximise storage space in the main kitchen. Hardware throughout this kitchen is antique brass – this is a living finish that weathers with use over time. The glass globe pendant lighting above the island was designed by us and has antique brass hardware too. The flooring is Babington limestone tumbled which has bags of character thanks to the natural fissures within the stone and creates the perfect flooring choice for this classic contemporary kitchen. Photo Credit: Paul Craig

The corner pantry in this kitchen provides ample space for the family's dried goods. A combination of shelves, drawers and spice racks ensure there is adequate storage facilities for each and every product.