How Humphrey Munson designed a classic kitchen for a light-filled orangery

Fri 1st May 2026 by KBBFocus

Feature by KBBFocus | Fri 1st May 2026

We hear how the team at Humphrey Munson created a family kitchen on a grand scale for a new-build home with an exquisite new orangery flooded with natural light.

This new space is at once graceful and welcoming; a kitchen to enjoy from first thing to last with just each other, or a house full of family and friends. It works on any scale.

Set within a leafy Essex suburb, this grand new-build home, unapologetically generous in scale, is softened and brought to life through an elegant orangery extension – an architectural centrepiece defined by soaring arches, abundant glazing and a seamless connection to the beautifully manicured gardens beyond.

At its heart lies a kitchen designed to perform a delicate balancing act: expansive enough to host many guests with ease, yet considered and intimate when occupied by just 2.

The space is intentionally calm and composed, with a strong emphasis on clarity and order. A large central island anchors the room, painted in Humphrey Munson's bespoke ‘Top Hat’ to ground the volume, while the softer, more natural ‘Tailored Grey’ was used on the cabinetry wrapping the perimeter to ensure warmth throughout. The worktops are Verona from CRL Stone's Quartz Collection.

Entertaining was cleverly woven into every detail of this design. A discreet drinks bar offers a moment for aperitifs before dinner.

A large television is cleverly concealed behind countertop cabinetry, maintaining the room’s refined aesthetic.

Banquette seating at one end of the island creates a more relaxed, sociable dining alternative – perfect for informal suppers for 2, along with a pair of counter stools to be used as an everyday perch.

The architecture played such a crucial role in shaping the atmosphere and the overall design intention of the room. Full-height glazing floods the orangery with natural light, while thoughtfully placed windows (favoured over additional doors) allow for gentle ventilation without disrupting the rhythm of the space.

An antique-effect mirror splashback enhances the sense of light and space, while curtains and soft furnishings further temper the scale, introducing texture and helping to define more intimate zones within the open plan.