An Essex Kitchen with Autumnal Shades

The brief for this project was to create a new kitchen that would be the centrepiece of the family home, with an autumnal colour scheme and a lived-in feel. Our clients worked with their architect to reconfigure the ground floor of their 1920s home, transforming disjointed rooms and ill-considered extensions into a large open-plan kitchen diner. Every room has its own quirks, and here we designed cabinetry to work around structural beams.

Tall cupboards in Bonnington Green create a dark, evergreen tree backdrop along the centre of the back wall. The peninsula and skirting throughout are Terracotta, the rusty red of Virginia creeper in autumn. Meanwhile, Cherry wood introduces natural texture and grain, with veneers carefully arranged by hand in our London workshop to enhance the timber’s stunning pattern.

Home to a young family, it was important that this kitchen offered plenty of storage, including the iconic* Pluck larder. Here with a Verdigris drenched interior, a brilliant idea of our client who adores the soft green-blue. *self acclaimed

At the centre of the kitchen is a peninsula with a terrazzo worktop by Diespeker, its flecks echoing the room’s earthy hues. A custom bench seat along one side creates a sociable perch for family and friends, while a drawer beneath provides toy storage.

Elsewhere, fluted glass wall cabinets add a layer of softness. Lit from within, they glow day and night, casting a warm pink hue through the reeded glass. It’s easy to imagine cocktails being poured here and wine served straight from the fridge, an inviting nook for the adults at the end of the day.

There’s also three different shelving designs in this kitchen. The bookshelves built into the peninsula soften the transition between the kitchen and what is currently the play area, with plenty of room for toys too. A tall bookcase breaks up the run of cupboards while neatly working around a structural beam, and a single floating shelf by the window is reserved for prints and curiosities gathered from years of globe-trotting. 

This kitchen is full of texture, colour and personality. A joyful space for the whole family to gather and though this is a large room, it also feels so cosy, a real hub and heart of the home.