Kitchen of the Week: Sunlit Garden Views in Bristol, U.K.
Garden access and a bright green backsplash bring color and light to this British kitchen — and the new dining room opens things up
Knocking out the wall of an attached storage unit transformed a dark and cramped kitchen into a clean and light-filled space complete with a dining room and garden view. Homeowners Alex Larkin and Jane Wallenstein wanted a dining area in their 1890 home in south Bristol, U.K. Architect Federica Vasetti took out their storeroom wall to clear out the needed space. A corner window and access to the south-facing garden now fill the combined rooms with plenty of sunshine.
The previous kitchen stopped short at a storage room that could be accessed only from the outdoors. Knocking out the wall allowed Vasetti to build an attached dining area in the old storage room without changing the home's footprint. Eames chairs add playful color.
Chairs: Eames Eiffel; table, bench: New Heights
Chairs: Eames Eiffel; table, bench: New Heights
A new frameless corner window draws the eye to the beautiful garden. Vasetti had an acrylic mirror added to this exterior wall. The reflective surface makes the space feel bigger and reflects light around the garden and into the dining room.
Now the large corner window provides a clear view to the outdoors. While the frame of the corner window is recessed into the wall for aesthetics, a glass patio door at the other end of the dining space opens up into the garden.
The kitchen and dining remodel cost the couple about $31,000. To cut costs, Larkin did a lot of the work himself — including staining the exterior plywood siding. He sourced his own materials and hired a carpenter on a day rate instead of a main contractor.
The kitchen and dining remodel cost the couple about $31,000. To cut costs, Larkin did a lot of the work himself — including staining the exterior plywood siding. He sourced his own materials and hired a carpenter on a day rate instead of a main contractor.
The emerald-green glass painted backsplash provides the only significant color. "It's a small space, so the main priority was to keep it simple," says Vasetti. Larkin was particularly involved in choosing the finishes — he found the backsplash at a local glazing company and installed it himself.
Glass backsplash: West Street Glazing, Bristol
Glass backsplash: West Street Glazing, Bristol
Simple oiled oak countertops tie in with the wide-plank oak flooring and the oak table and bench in the dining room.
Counters: Clarks Wood; flooring: Wood and Stone
Counters: Clarks Wood; flooring: Wood and Stone
The new galley layout makes for an efficient cooking space. Handleless white Ikea units reflect sunlight from the dining room into the narrow kitchen and keep with the space's streamlined feel. Sticking with Ikea cabinetry helped keep the couple on budget, too — the items and materials for the kitchen cost less than $6,200.
Oven, range, fridge, stove, freezer: Bosch; sink, tap: Franke
Oven, range, fridge, stove, freezer: Bosch; sink, tap: Franke
Wall paint: Cornforth White, Farrow & Ball; fan hood: Baumatic