The Dalston Mews Kitchen

Where to start, we asked ourselves, with our words on this kitchen – there is so much to talk about here, such a fascinating and unusual space, a building with a rich history. So we will start at the beginning, that is to say the story of this quirky building, before the space looked anything like this. On a sleepy mews in bustling inner city London, this striking Victorian brick building has been through many identities. 

Originally a stable block for the Mayor of Hackney’s horses – bales of hay, the sound of hooves, tacking up, a carriage. At the time part of the Rhodes family estate… the kin of colonist Cecil Rhodes – who had invested in Dalston. They sold up and a period of neglect followed, then at some point during the World Wars, perhaps an entrepreneurial tailor or maybe an industrialist, took over and a garment factory was established. The glass roof was installed for natural light – the sound of people, chatter, the ‘rag trade’, long hours. A postwar shift in viable industries and the closure of the factory, years empty and then a conversion to domestic dwellings. The building divided up, homes created.

There is something moving about this building’s change through the ages, a vignette of London’s history and also time passing. It is a privilege to now be part of creating this unique, incredible open plan space for our clients, a couple who took on a white and steel room and worked magic to introduce colour, texture, warmth and stripes!

We created custom cupboards to nestle under the curved ceilings, whilst the generous island provides an enormous worktop. Cooking is a passion for one half of the couple, both are fabulous, welcoming hosts. The furniture throughout is vintage or gifted by family, so there is a well loved, homely feel instantly, though actually the move was recent. 

The material palette and colours are bold and work so well. Rich, brooding Aubergine, inspiration taken from our show kitchen at The Mix, combined with beautiful speckled London Plane. The Ruskin Blossom of the recessed handles echo the soft pastels of the painted stripes, introduced to accentuate the sensuous curve of the wall. Storm grey steels were painted pistachio green, another playful element by a joyful couple, who have ensured the next chapter for this extraordinary building is one where friends and family will gather for food, chat and laughter.