Dark Green Eat-In Kitchen With an Airy Feel
A designer makes a modest-size kitchen in London feel bigger thanks to clever design
In a relatively small space, compromises have to be made, but in the right hands that needn’t result in a lesser design. With this eat-in kitchen in London there wasn’t room for everything initially requested, such as a breakfast bar on the island, but the resulting space feels open, elegant and highly functional.
After extending the original tiny kitchen, the owners asked Nick Street of Sylvarna Kitchen Design to create Shaker-style cabinetry. He used several tricks to make the space feel bigger, including raising the island on legs, opening up the area above the range cooker, and installing white countertops to reflect the light. “We came out of it with something that was actually better than what they were originally looking for,” Street says.
After extending the original tiny kitchen, the owners asked Nick Street of Sylvarna Kitchen Design to create Shaker-style cabinetry. He used several tricks to make the space feel bigger, including raising the island on legs, opening up the area above the range cooker, and installing white countertops to reflect the light. “We came out of it with something that was actually better than what they were originally looking for,” Street says.
Before: The old kitchen certainly couldn’t accommodate a crowd. The previous occupant had lived in the house for 50 years and managed with this tiny setup. “It was the smallest kitchen I’ve ever seen,” Street says. There was one oven, a short countertop and a sink.
Before: The couple extended the home’s narrow section — or “outrigger” — at the back and to the side, but stopped short of butting up to the main house and left a little courtyard where the woman is standing in this photo. It meant the architects could fit a window (not shown) into the back of the kitchen, looking out to the courtyard, which brings in extra light.
After: One of the keys to the airy feel, and the centerpiece of the room, is the furniture-style island. The fact it’s set on legs means the eye sees more of the oak floor, making the space feel bigger.
Not having the sink or cooktop on there helped with the design, as there were no vents or cables to hide. “Normally we accommodate a lot on an island, so there are services to hide behind a [kickplate], whereas this is purely furniture except for one cable running up a leg for a power point [an electrical outlet] in one of the cupboards,” Street says.
The couple initially hoped to include seating at the island, but with no separate laundry room, the unit needed to accommodate as much storage as possible. “There’s not a huge amount of storage space in the room once you’ve got the functional items in,” Street says.
It would also have been tight in terms of circulation space, and having more room has actually been very useful, as the owner sometimes hosts pottery evenings.
“People would be hand-sculpting using all the space — the table, the island — so I think not having seating on the island freed it up. It can be a multipurpose area,” Street says. It’s also a sociable space for friends to gather. “The owners can lay out [appetizers] on the island and have people congregate around it,” he says.
Not having the sink or cooktop on there helped with the design, as there were no vents or cables to hide. “Normally we accommodate a lot on an island, so there are services to hide behind a [kickplate], whereas this is purely furniture except for one cable running up a leg for a power point [an electrical outlet] in one of the cupboards,” Street says.
The couple initially hoped to include seating at the island, but with no separate laundry room, the unit needed to accommodate as much storage as possible. “There’s not a huge amount of storage space in the room once you’ve got the functional items in,” Street says.
It would also have been tight in terms of circulation space, and having more room has actually been very useful, as the owner sometimes hosts pottery evenings.
“People would be hand-sculpting using all the space — the table, the island — so I think not having seating on the island freed it up. It can be a multipurpose area,” Street says. It’s also a sociable space for friends to gather. “The owners can lay out [appetizers] on the island and have people congregate around it,” he says.
The island has roomy storage on both sides, with cabinets near the dining table and four big drawers facing the kitchen.
Street says the drawers were essential for dishware and pan storage, because, apart from one set of drawers next to the range cooker, most of the main run is taken up with appliances and food storage.
See why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software
Street says the drawers were essential for dishware and pan storage, because, apart from one set of drawers next to the range cooker, most of the main run is taken up with appliances and food storage.
See why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software
The owners had expressed a desire for Shaker-style cabinets in dark green with exposed grain. In this photo you can see the grain adding gentle depth to the doors.
The green echoes the vegetation outside and subtly changes throughout the day. “When there’s so much natural light, this color really works,” Street says. “It’s an interesting tone in that it seems to change. In the morning, it’s almost light green; then it gradually becomes a really dark tone with blues in it.” The walls and ceiling are painted a warm off-white that harmonizes with the green.
The owners already had the Rangemaster range cooker, so Street worked it into the design and built a boxy range hood above it, painted in the same off-white as the walls so it retreats. The tall cabinet nearest the yard contains a Blum Space Tower pantry, or larder, system, which consists of open drawers. “It’s a great way of getting to things,” he says. “With fixed shelves, you rarely get to the back, but this means everything is accessible.”
To the right is a dishwasher, then an undersink cabinet followed by a pull-out trash can. Drawers sit to the right of the range, and the tall cabinet hides a refrigerator.
Cabinet paint: Color-matched to Studio Green, Farrow & Ball; wall and ceiling paint: School House White, Farrow & Ball; antique brass handles: Corston
The green echoes the vegetation outside and subtly changes throughout the day. “When there’s so much natural light, this color really works,” Street says. “It’s an interesting tone in that it seems to change. In the morning, it’s almost light green; then it gradually becomes a really dark tone with blues in it.” The walls and ceiling are painted a warm off-white that harmonizes with the green.
The owners already had the Rangemaster range cooker, so Street worked it into the design and built a boxy range hood above it, painted in the same off-white as the walls so it retreats. The tall cabinet nearest the yard contains a Blum Space Tower pantry, or larder, system, which consists of open drawers. “It’s a great way of getting to things,” he says. “With fixed shelves, you rarely get to the back, but this means everything is accessible.”
To the right is a dishwasher, then an undersink cabinet followed by a pull-out trash can. Drawers sit to the right of the range, and the tall cabinet hides a refrigerator.
Cabinet paint: Color-matched to Studio Green, Farrow & Ball; wall and ceiling paint: School House White, Farrow & Ball; antique brass handles: Corston
The Arabescato Cremo quartz countertops and backsplash help to boost light in the room. The owner wanted a shelf in the same material. “It’s a lovely display space for all the little gems she’s found,” Street says. It helps the space above the sink and range cooker to feel open — an oak shelf here might have felt more imposing.
The undermounted farmhouse sink is paired with an instant hot water faucet.
Instant hot water faucet: Quooker
The undermounted farmhouse sink is paired with an instant hot water faucet.
Instant hot water faucet: Quooker
Layered lighting means the space can be bright or cozy after dark. Ceiling spots, striking wall sconces, a table lamp and floor lamps in the dining area give excellent control over the mood.
Before: Behind the tiny kitchen, a small reception room was incorporated into the new space.
After: You can see the original fireplace, which has been smartened up, with the refrigerator positioned in what was once an alcove next to the chimney surround.
The cabinet at the back contains a stacked washing machine and dryer with a stacking kit between them that keeps the dryer stable and has a pull-out shelf for easy unloading. There’s also space for cleaning and laundry supplies, such as an ironing board, broom and vacuum cleaner.
The cabinet at the back contains a stacked washing machine and dryer with a stacking kit between them that keeps the dryer stable and has a pull-out shelf for easy unloading. There’s also space for cleaning and laundry supplies, such as an ironing board, broom and vacuum cleaner.
The owner found a vintage wooden cabinet (just seen on the right), and Street recessed it into the wall. “We incorporated a [countertop] and there’s a coffee machine in there, which is great, because there wasn’t enough space for it anywhere else. So it really spreads out the kitchen,” he says.
The wood is a nice contrast to the green. “If we’d used the green all the way around, it might have felt a bit heavy,” Street says.
The finished design is simple but stylish, with Street saying the constraints didn’t spoil the design. “What we ended up with was actually quite a lot of bang for your buck, which we were really happy with,” he says.
For their part, the owners say Sylvarna took the time to understand what they wanted and designed the layout in a way that added value, coming up with clever ideas and practical tips, and they’re very happy with their new kitchen.
More on Houzz
Read more kitchen stories
Browse kitchen photos for ideas
Find a kitchen remodeler
The wood is a nice contrast to the green. “If we’d used the green all the way around, it might have felt a bit heavy,” Street says.
The finished design is simple but stylish, with Street saying the constraints didn’t spoil the design. “What we ended up with was actually quite a lot of bang for your buck, which we were really happy with,” he says.
For their part, the owners say Sylvarna took the time to understand what they wanted and designed the layout in a way that added value, coming up with clever ideas and practical tips, and they’re very happy with their new kitchen.
More on Houzz
Read more kitchen stories
Browse kitchen photos for ideas
Find a kitchen remodeler
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple and their dog
Location: Wandsworth, South London
Size: 517 square feet (about 48 square meters)
Designer: Nick Street of Sylvarna Kitchen Design
The owners of the Victorian row house wanted their new eat-in kitchen to feel airy and be able to accommodate a crowd.
Find a kitchen designer on Houzz