DREAM OPEN SPACE TO COOK AND ENTERTAIN
The London Kitchen company was delighted to work with Leyton-based foodies Tam and Mark
As avid chefs, having a practical space to work was a must.‘ Cooking is my principal hobby. I wanted a space to socialise while cooking, but in the tiny old kitchen, which could barely fit 4 people, I had to chase people around as I worked- a bit like musical chairs.” explained Tam.
To accommodate, the couple had an extension built which involved knocking through walls to expand the 10-foot room into a large open plan space leading out to the garden- perfect for hosting social occasions.
Armed with a strong vision- as having a bespoke kitchen was a lifelong aspiration- Tam worked closely with Sebastian and the builders throughout the design process:
“ It took a long time- with lots of thinking, talking, bouncing ideas and changing minds in between … but one of the amazing things about working with Sebastian is his patience. Nothing is‘ oh god no’- he always finds a few options and makes it a reality.””— Tam
Sebastian enjoyed the process of working with a client who had a clear goal in mind- a dream team scenario!
“ I really enjoyed working with her because she was so passionate... She had a real purpose in mind for her kitchen- that this was going to be a place to cook, to entertain. When a client gives you lots of information it’ s clear how you can help them. That adds a lot to the job.“
Sebastian also noted the importance of working with builders from the get-go to save design headaches later on:‘ Often people get extensions built, then add the kitchen … but there are so many details, like where the plumbing goes, out-of-line walls, etc. Working with builders from the start allows us to plan ahead and avoid potential problems down the line.’’
Materials
One of the team’ s first discussions was about materials. As the kitchen would be used for Tam’ s mastercheffing, Corian was chosen for the work surfaces and sinks for its easy-to-clean and anti-bacterial properties. Tam commented:“ there are no joins- it’ s very hygienic”.
Sebastian installed a coved upstand on the edge of the worksurfaces, which means the surfaces are effortless to maintain as there are no sharp edges for dirt to hide in. It’ s an approach which is also used in hospitals.
Another notable material was the kitchen’ s bespoke oak shelves and window sills. Already a feature throughout the house, Oak was a particular attraction for Tam, and was chosen for design consistency. Sebastian hand-made the shelves, and used the off-cuts to create oak window sills overlooking the garden. He also created an oak sink cover to continue the theme, doubling up as a chopping board
16- REFURB & RESTORE