White-and-Navy English Kitchen With Cleverly Zoned Storage
A designer divides a kitchen into distinct but connected areas to make it both practical and beautiful
The owners of this home in Surrey, England, describe their new kitchen as not only visually stunning but highly practical too. This blend of beauty and functionality is the work of kitchen designer Darren Taylor of Searle & Taylor, who has expertly balanced color, proportion and layout.
By zoning the cabinetry, he’s made the kitchen intuitive and enjoyable to use. “We’re all about organizing and zoning,” Taylor says. Storage is divided into dedicated areas for cooking, cleaning up, food storage, dishware storage and entertaining, so everything is where it’s needed and within easy reach.
By zoning the cabinetry, he’s made the kitchen intuitive and enjoyable to use. “We’re all about organizing and zoning,” Taylor says. Storage is divided into dedicated areas for cooking, cleaning up, food storage, dishware storage and entertaining, so everything is where it’s needed and within easy reach.
Taylor has divided the kitchen into functions. A countertop breakfast cabinet is on the left in this photo. The sink area in front of the windows is geared to clearing up, and the glazed countertop cabinet holds dishware. Food storage is on the right, with tall cupboards containing a refrigerator, pantry and freezer. The island holds the ovens and cooktop. Near the seating area (behind the camera) is a bar area (see further down), and off this space is a laundry room.
The lack of upper cabinets was partly dictated by the architecture but was also a conscious choice to keep the look light and open. That decision, however, meant having to think carefully about storage. “We could have crowbarred in small cabinets, but we chose not to,” Taylor says. “Instead we focused on determining exactly how much storage was needed to make the kitchen work for the client.”
The navy and off-white cabinet colors were chosen by the owners to echo the palette across the rest of the house.
Island and refrigerator cabinet paint: Hague Blue, Farrow & Ball; perimeter cabinet paint: Portland Stone, Little Greene; antique brass handles: Gaumont collection, Armac Martin
The lack of upper cabinets was partly dictated by the architecture but was also a conscious choice to keep the look light and open. That decision, however, meant having to think carefully about storage. “We could have crowbarred in small cabinets, but we chose not to,” Taylor says. “Instead we focused on determining exactly how much storage was needed to make the kitchen work for the client.”
The navy and off-white cabinet colors were chosen by the owners to echo the palette across the rest of the house.
Island and refrigerator cabinet paint: Hague Blue, Farrow & Ball; perimeter cabinet paint: Portland Stone, Little Greene; antique brass handles: Gaumont collection, Armac Martin
The custom Shaker cabinets have ogee-edged door frames for a traditional look. The 39-inches-wide (1-meter-wide) breakfast cupboard seen here sits on the countertop at the entrance to the kitchen and within easy reach of the island seating for stress-free mornings.
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The breakfast cabinet contains a coffee machine and toaster, as well as teas, coffees and cereals. The open doors slide back into the unit so they don’t protrude into the walkway. “When the cabinet is open, it’s part of the working environment of the kitchen,” Taylor says, “but if guests come round, the owners can just shut the doors and hide any mess away.”
The cabinet is lined with book-matched walnut veneer and contains two double electrical outlets and motion-activated LED lighting.
The cabinet is lined with book-matched walnut veneer and contains two double electrical outlets and motion-activated LED lighting.
The 30mm-thick Misty Carrara Satinato quartz countertop, honed for a matte finish, has been extended up to the windows. “It completely opens up that whole corner of the kitchen and it’s easy to clean, as there are no ledges,” Taylor says. The countertop containing the sink is 31 inches (80 centimeters) deep. “It gives you loads of room around the back of the [instant hot water faucet], which is really nice,” he says.
The owners have a wonderful view while working at the farmhouse sink, and it keeps dirty dishes removed from the rest of the room. “It’s sort of hidden out the way and that’s why we always talk people out of having sinks on islands,” Taylor says.
The 16-inch-wide (40-centimeter-wide) cabinet to the left of the sink contains a pull-out corner shelving system. To the right of the sink is a built-in dishwasher and a pull-out trash can.
Instant hot water faucet: 3-in-1 Fusion in patinated brass, Quooker; 80-centimeter (31-inch) farmhouse sink: Shaws of Darwen
The owners have a wonderful view while working at the farmhouse sink, and it keeps dirty dishes removed from the rest of the room. “It’s sort of hidden out the way and that’s why we always talk people out of having sinks on islands,” Taylor says.
The 16-inch-wide (40-centimeter-wide) cabinet to the left of the sink contains a pull-out corner shelving system. To the right of the sink is a built-in dishwasher and a pull-out trash can.
Instant hot water faucet: 3-in-1 Fusion in patinated brass, Quooker; 80-centimeter (31-inch) farmhouse sink: Shaws of Darwen
The 10-foot-by-4⅓-foot (3.16-by-1.3-meter) island is the cooking command center, containing as it does two ovens and a cooktop with a powerful integrated downdraft exhaust.
The owner wanted the cooktop on the island so she could face guests while cooking. “A [cooktop] commands your attention — you don’t often leave it,” Taylor says. “With food in an oven, it’s usually timed and you might check it once or twice, but surface cooking always demands close attention, so you want to be facing that social environment, whether it’s with your family and friends or a dinner party set-up.”
Integrated downdraft exhausts have opened up the chance to have island cooktops in rooms like this with a vaulted ceiling or in spaces where a hanging exhaust would block the view or get in the way. The exhaust can rise 12 inches (30 centimeters) from within the cooktop when needed to extract grease and cooking fumes, and is ducted to the outdoors under the floor. “In an open space you really have to get the extraction right, because last thing you want is family or guests smelling of onions or garlic or whatever,” Taylor says.
On the kitchen side of the island are 12-inch (30-centimeter) cabinets on either end followed by single ovens and two deep pan drawers under the cooktop. “It’s a bit unusual having ovens built into an island — we would usually stack them — but because it’s part of an open-plan space, we wanted everything to look more furniture-based, so hiding the ovens really helps,” Taylor says.
Cooktop: Panorama 90cm vented downdraft induction, Novy
The owner wanted the cooktop on the island so she could face guests while cooking. “A [cooktop] commands your attention — you don’t often leave it,” Taylor says. “With food in an oven, it’s usually timed and you might check it once or twice, but surface cooking always demands close attention, so you want to be facing that social environment, whether it’s with your family and friends or a dinner party set-up.”
Integrated downdraft exhausts have opened up the chance to have island cooktops in rooms like this with a vaulted ceiling or in spaces where a hanging exhaust would block the view or get in the way. The exhaust can rise 12 inches (30 centimeters) from within the cooktop when needed to extract grease and cooking fumes, and is ducted to the outdoors under the floor. “In an open space you really have to get the extraction right, because last thing you want is family or guests smelling of onions or garlic or whatever,” Taylor says.
On the kitchen side of the island are 12-inch (30-centimeter) cabinets on either end followed by single ovens and two deep pan drawers under the cooktop. “It’s a bit unusual having ovens built into an island — we would usually stack them — but because it’s part of an open-plan space, we wanted everything to look more furniture-based, so hiding the ovens really helps,” Taylor says.
Cooktop: Panorama 90cm vented downdraft induction, Novy
A second countertop cabinet, seen here in white, holds dishware. “When you’re cooking, you can spin around, grab all the plates, and dish up on the island,” Taylor says. The silverware drawers underneath are within reach of the dishwasher for easy unloading.
Having glazed doors in the cabinet adds interest and depth to that big white wall. “We’ve used fluted glass just to smudge out the dishes, so everything doesn’t have to be perfect,” Taylor says.
The dining side of the island has a recessed area that can accommodate four chairs. Tucked inside the recess are four small drawers with finger-pull handles for extra storage (seen here and in the first photo).
In addition to the motion-sensor lights in the breakfast cabinet, there is lighting inside the dishware cupboard and an LED strip under the island countertop, both controlled from the main switch plate (seen on the wall). There’s also lighting in the bar (more on this shortly) so the owners can create a gentle glow on all sides of the room for a cozy feel after dark in the large space.
The white door seen in the corner here leads to the hallway.
Having glazed doors in the cabinet adds interest and depth to that big white wall. “We’ve used fluted glass just to smudge out the dishes, so everything doesn’t have to be perfect,” Taylor says.
The dining side of the island has a recessed area that can accommodate four chairs. Tucked inside the recess are four small drawers with finger-pull handles for extra storage (seen here and in the first photo).
In addition to the motion-sensor lights in the breakfast cabinet, there is lighting inside the dishware cupboard and an LED strip under the island countertop, both controlled from the main switch plate (seen on the wall). There’s also lighting in the bar (more on this shortly) so the owners can create a gentle glow on all sides of the room for a cozy feel after dark in the large space.
The white door seen in the corner here leads to the hallway.
The final zone in the kitchen is food storage, seen here on the right in navy blue. There’s a full-height freezer on the left and a refrigerator on the right. “In the middle it’s all dry storage,” Taylor says. “There are drawers at the bottom, then the top has a bottle and spice rack on the back of the door and reduced-depth shelves, so you can see everything — [cans and packets] are not piled up behind each other.”
Double steel and glass doors into the living room mean light is shared between the two rooms.
The dining table is centrally positioned for gorgeous views and lit after dark by a striking pendant light.
Pendant light: Flock of Light, Moooi
Pendant light: Flock of Light, Moooi
The generous comfy seating area can accommodate a crowd but sits lightly in the space thanks to white upholstery and pale throw pillows. The large TV mimics an artwork when not in use.
Frame TV: Samsung
Frame TV: Samsung
One of the homeowners’ requests was for a bar, which Taylor has positioned next to the seating area and near the dining table. “They wanted a bar area for entertaining,” he says.
The sliding pocket door with fluted glass to the right is the entrance to the laundry room.
The sliding pocket door with fluted glass to the right is the entrance to the laundry room.
The bar’s accordion doors fold back to reveal a bronze antique mirrored glass back panel and shelves for glasses and bottles. The Misty Carrara Satinato quartz countertop contains a tiny sink and faucet.
The cabinets under the countertop house a wine fridge, an 18-inch (45-centimeter) dishwasher and a pull-out trash can.
Sink: 1810.
The cabinets under the countertop house a wine fridge, an 18-inch (45-centimeter) dishwasher and a pull-out trash can.
Sink: 1810.
Through the door next to the bar is a laundry room, which includes overflow storage for bulky food and lesser-used equipment, as well as several appliances.
Three high cabinets on the right hold a hanging rail. The cabinet to the right of the window contains a small refrigerator, while the
one to the right of the sink contains a pull-out corner shelving system.
The countertop material, cabinet colors and antique brass handles are the same as in the kitchen to link the spaces.
Three high cabinets on the right hold a hanging rail. The cabinet to the right of the window contains a small refrigerator, while the
one to the right of the sink contains a pull-out corner shelving system.
The countertop material, cabinet colors and antique brass handles are the same as in the kitchen to link the spaces.
Limestone backsplash tile in a chevron pattern adds soft texture, while a farmhouse sink is perfect for cleaning things like muddy boots.
Taylor added shelves above the sink. “It’s just a bit of relief over the sink to make it nicer when you’re standing there,” he says. “I made the shelves higher and reduced the depth.”
There are lights under the shelf and supporting cabinets.
The taller unit contains a trio of cabinets containing, from left, a boiler cupboard; storage shelves and a microwave; and a stacked washing machine and tumble dryer (see below).
Taylor added shelves above the sink. “It’s just a bit of relief over the sink to make it nicer when you’re standing there,” he says. “I made the shelves higher and reduced the depth.”
There are lights under the shelf and supporting cabinets.
The taller unit contains a trio of cabinets containing, from left, a boiler cupboard; storage shelves and a microwave; and a stacked washing machine and tumble dryer (see below).
The owners love the balance of style and practicality, saying, “We are absolutely delighted with the finished space, which looks stunning. Darren is a true visionary creative: he was able to come up with ideas and solutions that we simply couldn’t have imagined.”
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Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A professional couple with two young children
Location: Haslemere, Surrey, England
Size: Kitchen: 511 square feet (47.5 square meters); laundry room: 116 square feet (10.8 square meters)
Designers: Darren Taylor of Searle & Taylor (kitchen design); Emily Steen and Danielle Marsh of Wells and Maguire (interior design)
A large addition on this 1920s single-story house created room for a kitchen, dining and living area, plus a laundry room, perfect for both family life and entertaining a crowd.
When it came to the kitchen design, the owners asked for plenty of storage and a generous island with an integrated cooktop, and for the larger appliances to be hidden from view.
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