Case study: Joined-up thinking
Graham Robinson, showroom manager Halcyon, Wigmore Street, explains how a collaborative approach with the client helped him transform the kitchen space in this Georgian property.
It’s always great to work with a client again and similar to the first time we created a kitchen for them in their previous house, it was a real collaborative approach. The old kitchen being removed followed the walls, and our suggestion to use a large island and straight run gave the room purpose and created a great entertaining space – one of the key functions of the new kitchen.
THE PROPERTY: A large Georgian period property in Hertfordshire, set in established gardens.
THE CLIENT: A professional couple, and their Jack Russell, with a keen eye for detail, one half of the couple runs their own interior design business, Rivela Interiors.
THE BRIEF: To create a clean lined kitchen with a statement island that worked well for day-to-day use, and also for entertaining. The kitchen also needed to work with the adjoining reception spaces that also had a rich moody feel.
In addition, it gives access to windows and the stunning views beyond, which were somewhat blocked before. While entertaining is important, we did not want to lose sight of everyday practicality and the bar is great for catch-ups and meals as a couple.
When it came to materials, we wanted to use rich colours and textures, to firstly create drama but also to match and accentuate the grandeur of the property.
We used dark stained oak veneer from Eggersmann for the majority of cabinets, opting for a feature of fluted veneer on three wall cabinets as a nod to a trend with option of replacing them in the future.
We clad the island entirely in Dekton St Laurent, chosen for its practically and to give a substantial monolithic feel. Optidek were meticulous, ensuring they matched veins from the worktop with those on the fronts of the drawers. The island is seen from two adjoining reception rooms so its view from all angles were important.
To continue the sleek look of the kitchen all units were handleless and the recesses supplied in the same colour so not to distract the eye and enhance the seamless flow of the kitchen.
Our client’s previous kitchen from us allowed them to try appliances, so they knew they wanted the same models again, with a few tweaks on oven functions and the addition of a fully hidden ice maker. We went with a Miele vented hob, firstly for excellent extraction but also so not to block the view and allow us to include pendant lights above the island.
We wanted the appliances to be cohesive within the colour scheme, opting for all black with no steel elements, and handleless to make them even sleeker, plus a matt black Quooker tap to blend with the Dekton wall cladding behind.
As with any kitchen design it’s often the final touches that really make it. One of the clients, Kat, runs Rivela Interiors and she styled the area and interior-designed the rest of the property too. Kat chose the accessories perfectly including seating and neighbouring furniture, with the rust velvet of the bar stools matching perfectly to the veins in the kitchen surface.
Since completing this project, we have been commissioned to do a number of designs using the idea of a fully clad ceramic island to create a stunning centre-piece. Now there are so many ceramic finishes available it allows virtually endless possibilities to create very individual kitchens.
The fully clad statement island is ideal for creating timeless, unique kitchen spaces with the luxurious look many clients are currently aiming for.
Installer Comment
Everything went smoothly with this project. With a sleek kitchen like this, a lot of the detail is hidden. We took great care to scribe fillers around period details but as always this extra attention to detail was really worth it for the end result achieved.
We also suggested when making the bespoke doors for the island it would be worth making a spare of the two sizes just in case they were needed in the future.
About Halcyon, Wigmore Street
Established in 1981, by Stephen and Susan Gobel, Halcyon is still family run, now by the second generation and remains fully independent.
Following success in their founding showroom in Hatch End, North- West London, Halcyon opened a flagship showroom in Wigmore Street which is managed by Graham Robinson (pictured).
Halcyon is a specialist in German kitchens and has a reputation for providing an excellent customer experience. Halcyon’s ethos is to create luxury kitchens that transcend fashion trends yet still have a distinctive edge that stand the test of time.