Kitchen of the Week: Earthy Pink Lifts a Family Space
Before-and-after photos show how a designer beautifully created a kitchen, dining and living area in a tight space
The new owners of this three-bedroom Regency-style apartment in Cheltenham, England, loved its location close to their daughter’s school, but its sleek, modern features not so much. “They prefer period style and classic looks,” says Angela Colley of GeorgieRose Interior Design.
One of the homeowners had contacted the designer as she liked the look of her previous projects, which blend soft, earthy colors and classic style. She asked Colley to design a kitchen, dining area and living space in the home’s one large public room. “There was a lot to fit in, so it was about keeping it light and bright so it didn’t overpower,” Colley says.
The starting point for the kitchen was a paint sample of a pinkish-brown shade. “I just took a shine to the color,” she says. “I wasn’t sure [the owner] would like my suggestion, but she absolutely loved it.”
One of the homeowners had contacted the designer as she liked the look of her previous projects, which blend soft, earthy colors and classic style. She asked Colley to design a kitchen, dining area and living space in the home’s one large public room. “There was a lot to fit in, so it was about keeping it light and bright so it didn’t overpower,” Colley says.
The starting point for the kitchen was a paint sample of a pinkish-brown shade. “I just took a shine to the color,” she says. “I wasn’t sure [the owner] would like my suggestion, but she absolutely loved it.”
Before: The previous kitchen hugged the corner — in theory packing plenty of storage into a small footprint. But aside from the style being too modern for the new owners, the cooking area actually felt cramped and dark.
After: Now the space feels more open and has much more storage. The island is a game-changer. It’s not huge, and the owners were happy not to have bar seating, preferring a dining table, but it has drawers of different sizes on both sides holding everything from cutlery to pans.
The built-in sideboard to the left of the floor-to-ceiling cabinets also helps as it contains cupboards to stash vases, placemats, small appliances and more.
Painting most of the cabinetry a lovely earthy pink has lifted the whole room and given it a softness that was missing before.
There isn’t a separate laundry room, but Colley has placed a washer and dryer in a double cabinet to the right of the sink (not pictured). She wanted to make this cabinet as unobtrusive as possible. “It has flush, push-to-open, flat-fronted doors painted the same color as the wall, so it blends in.”
Cabinet paint: Dead Salmon, Farrow & Ball
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The built-in sideboard to the left of the floor-to-ceiling cabinets also helps as it contains cupboards to stash vases, placemats, small appliances and more.
Painting most of the cabinetry a lovely earthy pink has lifted the whole room and given it a softness that was missing before.
There isn’t a separate laundry room, but Colley has placed a washer and dryer in a double cabinet to the right of the sink (not pictured). She wanted to make this cabinet as unobtrusive as possible. “It has flush, push-to-open, flat-fronted doors painted the same color as the wall, so it blends in.”
Cabinet paint: Dead Salmon, Farrow & Ball
Shop for kitchen and dining furniture on Houzz
To the left of the ovens is a refrigerator and to the right is a full-height pull-out pantry cupboard. A drawer for baking sheets sits under a glass-front cabinet, added for visual interest.
The furthest bottom cabinet has a pull-out to make use of the area deep in the corner. “We haven’t wasted any space at all,” she says.
The countertop is a low-silica quartz with a slight marble pattern. Colley says getting the 10-foot-long countertop into the third-floor apartment was a challenge. “It was too big to go in the lift, so it had to be carried up several flights of stairs.”
Countertops: Silestone
The furthest bottom cabinet has a pull-out to make use of the area deep in the corner. “We haven’t wasted any space at all,” she says.
The countertop is a low-silica quartz with a slight marble pattern. Colley says getting the 10-foot-long countertop into the third-floor apartment was a challenge. “It was too big to go in the lift, so it had to be carried up several flights of stairs.”
Countertops: Silestone
Colley decided against placing cabinets above the sink to keep the area feeling as open as possible. “I designed the box shelf instead for displaying nice items, just to keep it fresh and airy,” she says. The interior is lime-washed oak and was custom made. Under-counter lights ensure there are no shadows on the countertop.
The fluted glass pendants over the island provide task lighting and add detail. “They catch the light but don’t dominate,” Colley says.
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
The fluted glass pendants over the island provide task lighting and add detail. “They catch the light but don’t dominate,” Colley says.
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
The scalloped zellige tiles also gently catch the light, brightening the back wall. Colley chose a beige-pink grout that highlights the shape without shouting.
The little box containing two drawers to the right is for spices. “We had it made in the same finish as the units,” Colley says. Handles on the sides mean it can easily be lifted and moved around.
The little box containing two drawers to the right is for spices. “We had it made in the same finish as the units,” Colley says. Handles on the sides mean it can easily be lifted and moved around.
Before: The room had three good-sized traditional sash windows.
After: Colley simply smartened up the frames and dressed the windows with linen blinds. “We went with Roman blinds so as not to cut out too much light,” she says. She chose the pale pink fabric to echo the kitchen cabinets.
“Once I started building on the cabinet color with what I was going to choose for the linen blinds, it all started to come together,” she says. “Then I brought in some pale greens with the sofa and cushions.”
“Once I started building on the cabinet color with what I was going to choose for the linen blinds, it all started to come together,” she says. “Then I brought in some pale greens with the sofa and cushions.”
The hand-carved stone artwork works beautifully with the color scheme, though at 77 pounds it was quite heavy to hang. Colley had to find someone who could secure it properly to the wall.
Colley had the lime-washed oak table custom made. “I’d found the chairs, but then couldn’t find the table I wanted to go with them,” she says. So she designed it and her cabinet makers made it.
All the door handles, sockets and switches in the apartment were changed. “I made sure all the hardware was high end, so you get that really nice finish,” she says.
For products like the hardware and seating, Colley used Houzz Pro tools to make life easier for the homeowners, as they could see all her product suggestions and approve or reject them with a simple click. “I used Houzz Pro for my Mood Boards and Selections,” she says.
See why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software
All the door handles, sockets and switches in the apartment were changed. “I made sure all the hardware was high end, so you get that really nice finish,” she says.
For products like the hardware and seating, Colley used Houzz Pro tools to make life easier for the homeowners, as they could see all her product suggestions and approve or reject them with a simple click. “I used Houzz Pro for my Mood Boards and Selections,” she says.
See why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software
With the home now looking light and bright, Colley chose oak-look luxury vinyl flooring, laid in a herringbone pattern, to ground the design. “I wanted some depth with the flooring — some earthiness to it,” she says.
There was no need for underfloor heating. “We’d inherited the [column] radiators, so we stuck with those, plus it’s a very warm apartment,” she says.
There was no need for underfloor heating. “We’d inherited the [column] radiators, so we stuck with those, plus it’s a very warm apartment,” she says.
The seating area is defined by a roomy sofa and comfy armchair facing toward the TV to create a cozy sitting area. Colley had a simple cabinet made to frame the TV and provide storage below. She included three open shelves on either side to open it up a bit.
A glass coffee table keeps the look light. “I didn’t want to make it blocky, because it was quite a tight squeeze to get the lounge area in here,” she says. “I went for the glass table so you get that illusion of seeing under the table.” A rug beneath it further zones the space.
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A glass coffee table keeps the look light. “I didn’t want to make it blocky, because it was quite a tight squeeze to get the lounge area in here,” she says. “I went for the glass table so you get that illusion of seeing under the table.” A rug beneath it further zones the space.
More on Houzz
Read more kitchen stories
Browse kitchen photos
Hire a kitchen remodeler
Shop for kitchen products
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A family with a teenage daughter
Location: Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England
Size: About 520 square feet (48 square meters) 26 by 20 feet
Designer: Angela Colley of GeorgieRose Interior Design
The owners wanted a Shaker-style kitchen, a separate dining area and a living space with a TV and comfortable seating. Colley has fitted everything in without it feeling crowded by zoning each area through colors and materials while keeping the style calm and consistent.
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