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Calm colours, natural daylight and elegant details combine to create this classic kitchen, perfectly suited for family living.
Owners of this stunning five-bedroom detached house in the village of Bowdon, Cheshire have lovingly restored the charming Arts and Crafts 1970s property into a stylish, family friendly home. It’s not the first time they have taken on a project, in fact it’s their 7th property renovation, which meant they knew exactly what they wanted when it came to their new kitchen.
We were drawn to the location, and we could see the house had potential
Emma and Chris were planning their new extension when they came across Tom Howley kitchens. After sitting down with an expert designer in our Alderley Edge showroom, they decided the timeless designs were perfect for what they wanted to achieve in the space. The kitchen needed to be both functional and beautiful, the heart of the home, a place to eat, play, relax and gather as a family. Emma really wanted a space to cook and prepare dinner whilst the children did their homework and played.
We always work closely with clients on the design to make sure the finished outcome exceeds expectations. The room needed to work as a whole, a versatile kitchen, living and dining space with glass doors that make use of the gorgeous garden views.
The L shaped kitchen has a main run of cabinets along the back wall with an abundance of practical storage and integrated appliances on the other. Floor-to-ceiling cabinets utilise every inch of space, making the kitchen feel grand. With busy lives it’s often hard to control everyday clutter, keeping all belongings well organised. Cleverly concealed pantry style storage creates much-needed space for essential food items and utensils, whilst an adjoining utility room provides a separate space for cleaning goods, dirty boots and washing.
The kitchen links to the outdoors through large full-length windows and glass doors, this feature allow fresh air to flow throughout the space, wonderful for warm sunny days and social gatherings. The Natural daylight creates subtle shadows that shift across the kitchen, highlighting beautiful handcrafted details.
The impressive island adds much needed extra storage and work surface space, perfect for busy family living. Placed in the centre of the kitchen, it creates a hub for friends and family to gather. A large sink, with Perrin & Rowe taps creates a practical prep area and because it’s positioned between the Aga and fridge it creates an ideal work triangle.
To add depth the island is painted in a slightly darker grey than the rest of the cabinetry. Our Marjoram paint colour, combined with elegant polished chrome handles and bright quartz creates a sleek seamless look.
For the appliances, the client was very keen to achieve a streamlined look that didn’t compromise the overall style of the kitchen. The space is packed with state of the art appliances and features that are both beautiful and functional.
The traditional style range cooker is everything you expect from an Aga but with the flexibility of gas and electric. This model is much more suited to modern families where we need instant heat to cook on daily. The cast-iron classic design is finished in a soft grey called Pearl Ashes, perfectly balancing the whole kitchen scheme. Other appliances such as the Miele fridge are cleverly integrated behind floor-to-ceiling cabinets.
To create contrast the cabinets are painted in our fresh bespoke colour Orchid and the island in Marjoram. The Hartford kitchen is classic and symmetrical in its design. Using a neutral palette softens the overall look forming a calm and peaceful atmosphere that’s perfect in a versatile living space like this.
Touches of understated elegance bring the whole look together, the client was keen to accommodate a stunning Swarovski crystal chandelier that had been a centrepiece in previous kitchens. To create interest and bring a luxurious element to the space, a gorgeous rough antiqued mirror was chosen for the splashback. This stunning personal feature reflects natural daylight giving the illusion of more space.
Philippe Starck for Kartell Masters Bar Chair
Aga S-Series Six-Four Gas Hob in Pearl Ashes
Rough Old Glass, Really Rough Splashback
Kolarz Lighting, Stretta Crystal Chandelier