Essential Kitchen Bathroom Bedroom – February 2019

A kitchen is just a kitchen, right? Well, yes and no. Obviously there is a practical, formulaic element to creating the perfect cook space – in order for it to be a fully working kitchen, you will always need work surfaces, sinks and brassware, cabinetry, appliances… Functionality dictates this part. But the way these working parts are put together, and the aesthetics surrounding them, is where you can make your hub a reflection of your personality. After all, we’re all different, so why shouldn’t our kitchens be so? Our real-life case studies are the perfect examples. In Island Dreaming on page 24, Ellie Deal’s personal love of East Coast style firmly influenced the overall appearance of her kitchen, to stunning effect. Meanwhile, Steph and Ryan Lothian worked their whole barn redesign around their penchant for the cool and contemporary, from the streamlined kitchen to the hugely proportioned bedroom suite – see Pale & Interesting on page 36 for more insight. For Ben and Kate, it’s all about family – their kitchen is the ideal blend of style and practicality, with even a nappy changing station (accidentally) included! Flick to page 48 for Fashionably Flexible. As keen entertainers, Laura and Glyn Davies wanted a warm and welcoming social space, working with their kitchen designer to create the perfect blend that represented them so well in Mixed Materials, page 60. Of course, when it comes to couples, personalities can clash, which you would think might cause problems when deciding on an interior style. Luckily for Jane and Andy Hunter, their designer managed to find that happy medium between the raw/recycled feel that is so Jane, and the sleeker, smarter appearance that her husband would have preferred, with both making clever compromises along the way – flick to Heart of the Home on page 72 to read more.