Essential Kitchen Bathroom Bedroom February 2020

When its dark and cold outside, our instinct to create warm, comfortable surroundings to hunker down in is stronger than ever. So if you have the inkling of an idea to transform your kitchen, bathroom or bedroom, now is a great time to start incubating those ideas. The process of turning somewhere with potential into our own personal protective space that fits perfectly to our taste and lifestyle is a wonderful and exciting journey. But before we start, it’s really important to consider not only what we want to achieve, but also what we have to work with. For most of us, the space we will be starting with will be less than ideal, so for invaluable advice from the experts on planning your way to success, no matter what…

Often seen as a basic construction material, birch plywood has actually got a lot to offer even luxury kitchens. On one hand, it has a warming yet minimalist colour and grain, while on the other, the right plywood is a sustainable material which can be produced with a low impact on the environment. INSPIRATIONS SHOP THE LOOK Major concession Luxury design haven Heal’s has launched into kitchen design with an exclusive collaboration with Smallbone of Devizes. A new concession – Brookmans by Smallbone – is now open at Heal’s iconic Tottenham Court Road flagship store, offering cabinetry, free-standing and fitted furniture made bespoke in the UK. Prices start from £25,000. UNDER CONSTRUCTION We think these dining chairs from Hayche are set to be a new design classic. The back metal…

As the winter sunshine sparkled on the meandering river, far down in the valley below, Nejwa and James Briggs couldn’t quite believe their luck in finding a house in such a beautiful setting in rural Buckinghamshire. ‘The views are fantastic,’ says Nejwa. ‘We can see for miles.’ The house itself, however, was less than fantastic. ‘Over the years, it had been extended several times,’ explains Nejwa, ‘creating a higgledy-piggledy arrangement of rooms. But because the setting was so amazing, we decided to buy it anyway and then set about its refurbishment.’ Moving out of London, and with their first baby on the way, yoga teacher Nejwa and investment manager James initially thought they would change the façade and make some interior alterations. But local planners thought otherwise. Eventually, the couple…

Can you tell us about the design of the cabinetry? There’s a classic-contemporary feel to the furniture because it combines traditional Shaker style with a modern, strong black finish. Made in Sweden, the natural grain of the oak shows through the black stain, which adds an element of warmth, while the industrial-style handles add a little extra edge to the design. How did you develop the island? It’s an unusual feature, but a very practical one. It is carefully ‘zoned’ so that Nejwa and James can prepare food, cook and wash up, while keeping an eye on the children at the bench seating around the table in the centre. This way, the children are out of the ‘working’ area of the room, and there’s a pop-up shelf to screen…

ARCHITECT Morsewebb Architects DESIGN Sola Kitchens. A kitchen similar to this one will cost around £65,000 APPLIANCES Similar appliances: H7260 BP ovens, £1,399 each; DG7240 steam oven, £1,349; M7240 TC microwave oven, £1,149; K37222ID fridge, £1,199; FNS374021i freezer, £2,149; KWT 6422 iG wine conditioning unit, £2,899; G7360 SCVi fully integrated dishwashers, £1,399 each; all Miele. CI282101 induction hob, £POA, Gaggenau. Delux Slimline ceiling hood, £999, Luxair. FIXTURES AND FURNISHINGS Grohe Blue K7 Pure Starter kitchen mixer with filtration kit in Chrome, £1,000, Grohe. Similar boiling water tap, Nordic Square in polished chrome, £950, Quooker. BlancoAndano 500/180-U undermounted sink in stainless steel, £466, Blanco. Neolith Estatuario polished worktops, priced to order, Sola Kitchens. Pull bar handles, from £45 each, and furniture knobs, from £30 per pair; Hero Light [above island], from…

PRETTY IN PINK Dark cabinetry teamed with soft pinks creates a sophisticated and dramatic space…