Keith Myers and Amanda Smith of Winchester-based The Myers Touch reveal how they set about designing a bespoke open-plan space for clients who wanted a state-of-the-art kitchen with a classic aesthetic. Photos by Paul Craig.
Q: What type of property was it in and who was the project for?
A: The owners of this Hampshire home wanted to renovate their existing kitchen and make the most of their lovely far-stretching views out to the garden that was blocked by a wall. Jane, the cook, loves having her friends over for drinks and dinner. She wanted the kitchen to be very much her zone and for her friends to be in the room but without crowding the cook’s space.
Q: What was the brief from the client for this project?
A: At the top of their wish list was a large 1500 AGA, and they expressed their love of traditional cabinetry with a warm, modern look. They enjoy having their friends over for drinks and dinner so wanted the kitchen area to be the cook’s space but achieve a design where the room would allow them to comfortably entertain their friends without over-crowding when preparing food.
Q: How did you go about meeting the brief?
A: We chose a U-shaped kitchen space for this bespoke kitchen design so that the kitchen and open-plan living space was maximised and allowed for defined cooking, entertaining and relaxing.
Q: What type of cabinetry did you choose?
A: We went for bespoke Lincoln in-frame kitchen in Dulux Timeless and island in Farrow & Ball Elephant’s Breath with Cup handles and knobs in pewter-coloured finish from Armac Martin. The style and colours continue on through into the Utility/Boot room space which has dual entry from the kitchen and is purposely designed to accommodate all of the client’s utility items such as an ironing board, vacuum and dog food storage as well as a large double pantry cupboard which provides additional storage to house the non-essential items such as tins and Tupperware.
Q: What were the particular challenges that you faced and what were your solutions to overcome them?
A: As the owners wanted the new layout to include the far-stretching views of their garden which had been blocked by a wall, a new floor-to-ceiling bay window was added opposite the U-shaped kitchen layout that increased the light in and allowed the owners to enjoy the valley views of their outside space. The new layout meant that the owners were led more towards the dining area side of this open-plan space to enjoy views of the garden whilst steering guests away from entering the cook’s space.
A U-shape provided ample space for storage cabinets, an AGA, butler sink, and a central island that serves two functions – to create an inviting atmosphere and keep friends away from the kitchen area at the side. With this in mind, we designed a hidden pop-up TV in the peninsula that divides the kitchen and dining areas. The TV can also be rotated as required when up depending where the homeowners or guests are sitting in the room.
Q: Are there any design elements that you’re particularly proud of?
A: The overall kitchen design is now light and spacious with defined cooking and entertaining zones, encompassing the beautiful far-stretching views of the Hampshire countryside. The ambience is warm and welcoming with a traditional theme.
Q: What is the client's favourite part of the finished project?
A: They love how we took time to understand how they wanted to use the kitchen and were prepared to be a bit radical in producing something that met their needs. They told us: "The kitchen has been a delight to use" – you can't ask for more than that!
