The Guildford Kitchen with Woods and Neutral Hues

‘The kitchen really roots the whole house with its harmony. Kitchens don’t always have to be high energy…they can be tranquil too and the gorgeous grain and calm colour of the Pluck kitchen was just the ticket!’ says interior designer Rebecca Fisher, of Home Shaped Style about this project we had the pleasure of collaborating on.

Set in a house in the beautiful Surrey Hills, this renovation is a celebration of a new chapter in life. The time when (big!) children move out and a house can be replanned to think about hosting friends and family gatherings and generally enjoying a place that has been your refuge for many years and now needs a well deserved refresh. As Home Shaped Style says ‘…it was time for the head of the nest to re-imagine [her house] for the way she lives now. Her design brief to me? A tranquil, cheerful and sophisticated home, with a strong connection to nature and to her art, music and books’.

Thus this kitchen’s design was not about storage for packing away the accoutrements of family life, it’s an adult led space.

The neutral palette includes woods and soft beiges, with Pluck’s cashmere-like hue Eccles paired with Sweet Chestnut wood. Glossy white zellige tiles with their organic, uneven surface reflect light. The blue Everhot range cooker and matching hood is a statement, our clients enjoy cooking and they chose colourful kit of the best quality to rejoice in that.

Working with the flow and shape of the room, the design includes an L shaped layout with a large central island, meaning the cook can face out to the dining table and enjoy the glorious garden views. There is storage galore, with a double door larder for consumables and plenty of cupboards and drawers.

This open space manages to feel light and airy on a summer’s day and with the fire crackling away, cosy in the colder and darker seasons, a soothing spot for the whole year.