Elk Kitchens doing it differently
Architects George Gardner and Peter Foulk have set up ELK, producing bespoke kitchens that feature their own patent-pending storage solutions, which are designed to ensure that all cupboard and shelf space is used to the maximum. These include their striking, triangular-shaped V-drawers, intended as ‘function centres’, with contents visible and accessible.
‘Unlike most kitchens, which are built from boxes, ELK’s designs are based on a framework, which frees the designers from standard restrictions and uses less than 50% of the material of a conventional kitchen,’ explains Mr Gardner. Each kitchen is constructed at ELK’s workshop in Hampshire, using responsibly sourced timber engineered to produce a stable framework, often using light and dark woods for contrast and to highlight the unusual shape of the furniture. ‘Our aim is to produce beautiful, sustainable kitchens that are genuinely innovative,’ Mr Gardner says.
Kitchen prices start from £50,000 — www.elk-kitchens.com
Tom Howley’s colour confidence
Dusky Pink is one of two new shades that join the range of more than 20 hues available at Tom Howley, introduced in response to the demand for elegant kitchens with confident use of colour. ‘The possibilities are endless, but for a truly classic look that marries refinement and playfulness, I would suggest pairing these bolder tones with white,’ advises Mr Howley.
‘A stark white paint or worktop acts as a marvellous contrast to the depths of these two new colours. Think about bar stools with upholstery in the same tone, or even vases, plates and glassware in pinks or greens for a creative and imaginative touch.’ Prices from £20,000 — www.tomhowley.co.uk
Perrin and Rowe’s top of the pots
No more lugging heavy pots of water from the sink to the stove: the Perrin & Rowe Traditional Pot Filler in Aged Brass is designed to be installed above the hob. After use, it can be folded neatly and safely against the wall.
£767 — www.perrinandrowe.co.uk
Officine Gullo’s multiple choice
Known for professional-style performance, range cookers by Italian kitchen specialist Officine Gullo are available in more than 1,000 colours and 50 different finishes to help you choose your perfect design. Shown here is the Fiorentina dual-fuel 92cm range cooker.
£14,920 — www.officinegullo.com
Smallbone’s art of craft
Featuring curbed cabinet doors, made by hand from Rift Cut oak veneer with beautifully consistent grain, the Icarus kitchen collection by Smallbone highlights the company’s reputation for skilled craftsmanship. The kitchen features suspended cabinets — they almost appear to be levitating — with scalloped glass doors made using an ancient slumping technique.
Prices start from £200,000 — www.smallbone.co.uk
Plain English’s lighter look
Inspired by the classic kitchen worktable, this Osea island on legs by Plain English is designed to create a lighter look, an effect that is accentuated by its soft shade of mid blue, which differs from the fitted dresser and tall cupboards.
Kitchens from £35,000 — www.plainenglishdesign.co.uk
Martin Moore’s island life
Painted in Nantucket Blue to enhance its role as the focal point of this spacious Martin Moore kitchen, the large island draws family and friends to the heart of this Cotswolds home.
Kitchens from £35,000 — www.martinmoore.com
Otto Tiles’ light fantastic
Natural light creates subtle reflection on the surface of these Moroccan handcrafted and glazed natural-clay tiles, changing as the day progresses, making them an interesting choice for a wall or splashback.
Dusty Pink zellige tiles, £153.60 per sq m — www.ottotiles.co.uk
Julian Chichester, sitting comfortably
Finding a bar stool that’s both comfortable and elegant can be a challenge, so the Dakota is a welcome find. Shown here in Firmdale Grey oak and Beluga Black leather.
£1,314 — www.julianchichester.com
Quooker on the boil
Flex is an all-in-one tap in a black finish from Quooker that not only delivers water at 100°C, but also has a flexible pull-out hose for use with ‘standard’ hot and cold water. Add on a Cube to the tank system below the sink and the tap will dispense sparkling and chilled water, too.
Tap £1,490, Cube £1,150 — www.quooker.co.uk
LG’s wine zone
The LG Signature LSR200W wine cellar holds 65 bottles in three adjustable temperature zones for storing all wines at their best, plus fridge drawers (one can be converted to freezer mode) and an Auto Open Door, which can be operated by a wave of your foot — useful if your hands are full.
£5,999 — www.lg.com
Beyond 50 shades of grey: Subtle colours for your home
Amelia Thorpe goes in search of new hues.
How to make a hallway that’s more than just a dumping ground
The best hallways create a bold statement. Amelia Thorpe explains.
Credit: The Fabric Collective
Transforming a space with paints and wallpapers, from natural hues to velvety bold colours
Amelia Thorpe rounds up the latest wallpapers and paint colours.
Credit: Chris Warren / Marston and Langinger
What to grow in a conservatory, from cacti and succulents to orchids and herbs
Conservatories are once again being used for cultivating and enjoying plants. Amelia Thorpe reports on a growing trend.
-
The Country Life guide to Somerset: What to do, where to stay and how to eatSomerset is rich in natural beauty and history, but it is its wealth of small-scale food and drink producers, farmers and makers that really set it apart from the competition. Find out how to make the most of it all with our indispensable guide.
-
How to make a gloomy city garden into a haven of colour and natureTiffany Daneff discovers how to transform a typically dark London back garden into a light-filled green haven that is always in use. Photographs by Clive Nichols.
-
How to create a serene, yet hard-working kitchenPlain English worked with antique dealer Robert Young to make this traditional kitchen with an effortlessly relaxing colour scheme that marries perfectly with the views over beautiful gardens.
-
Why kitchens are going green — literallyGreen is the perfect colour for a kitchen, says Amelia Thorpe.
-
A modern kitchen perfectly framed by the exquisite ancient beamsArtichoke designed a discreet and timeless kitchen to complement a converted granary. Amelia Thorpe takes a look.
-
Yes, you can put a new kitchen in a Grade I-listed house — and this beautiful example shows howTraditional cabinetry was a key ingredient in the sympathetic restoration of a Grade I-listed Tudor house in Shropshire.
-
A London townhouse kitchen transformed to be sociable, practical and charmingThe new owners of this London townhouse have reconfigured it to create a sociable space for cooking and entertaining.
-
A beautiful new kitchen sympathetically created for a 16th century manor houseLimewash walls, a large island and plenty of open shelving combine to create a kitchen that’s sympathetic to this 16th-century manor house in Somerset.
-
10 things I wish I'd known about doing up old houses before I started, by Country Life's interiors guru Giles KimeCountry Life’s executive editor and resident interiors expert Giles Kime shares the lessons he’s learnt from the experience of dragging a succession of houses into the 21st-century.
-
Seven beautiful new looks in kitchens, from classic cabinetry to 80s revivalThe latest looks in the kitchen, selected by Amelia Thorpe.
