This couple needs help extending their existing kitchen-diner, so we’ve asked two designers to come up with plans suited to their brief…

Sarah Burrell, a police officer, lives with her partner, Ted Nicholls, a handyman, both 60, in a 1950s four-bedroom, semi-detached house in West Sussex. They would like to extend the existing kitchen-diner so they can entertain, but are keen to explore how the space could be configured.

So, they decided to take part in our Drawing Board feature, where interiors experts come up with creative ideas for our readers’ renovations and design dilemmas. This time, KBB journo Rachel Ogden asked Shaun Lenane, showroom manager at Audus Kitchens, and Compton’s Kitchens’ designer Josh Devlin, to create a kitchen-diner extension ideal for entertaining friends and family.

The space

A three-metre extension to the rear of the property will increase the kitchen-diner to around 5.1 x 5.6m at its widest and deepest points, with a ceiling height between 2.2m and 2.4m. Some of this space will be given over to a new WC, cupboard to house the washer, and a new SVP (soil vent pipe). The boiler will remain in its existing location due to the cost of moving it.

The brief for the new kitchen-diner extension

• Sarah and Ted want to maximise their garden’s layout and views, while introducing Mediterranean-inspired plants. Sarah likes a mid-century modern look but also Shaker-style kitchens. She prefers greens, warm neutrals, and light woods, but likes bolder accents, too.
• They both like to cook, so need a practical scheme. They have a freestanding American-style fridge-freezer which they’d like to retain. Also on the wishlist are an induction hob, island if possible, sideboard or a dresser with a bar area, and a spot for feeding their cat.
• Over-counter, ceiling lights, and pendants are among the musts. Sarah would also like shelving for her cookery books and a wine rack.
• They’ll be keeping their dining table, which extends to 2.4m, to be able to host their four adult children between them, plus partners.

Designer one

Shaun Lenane is a showroom manager at Audus Kitchens and has worked in the kitchen industry for nearly 40 years. During his career, he has won numerous accolades, the most recent being two MHK’s Golden Triangle awards for kitchen design.

Solution one

“Sarah and Ted wanted an open, airy feel to the space, taking advantage of the garden and incorporating a Mediterranean feel. I decided that the best way to make the room feel integrated with the outside was to add some amazing wooden elements, with open shelving and a central wooden island section. This follows through into the bar area, with wine racks and matching open shelving.

“The furniture I chose is by Nobilia. Sand smooth matt laminate blends with the San Remo oak accents perfectly, and features a stainless-steel-finished recessed handle rail for a true handleless kitchen. Using a pale, lightly marbled quartz for the surfaces also helps to create an open feel, plus, in the evenings, the worktops will reflect light around the room.”

“I felt the space was generous enough to incorporate an island. We find the majority of our clients like to include this in the kitchen this way, as it not only assists with the social aspect, but also creates a natural division between the cooking and dining areas. I’ve given the bar zone its own dedicated corner, rather than it being part of the kitchen. This was the best way to use the space and allows visitors to access their favourite tipple, without entering the working zone.

“The same was done with the TV area, as popping a small set somewhere would possibly affect the viewing angle. Instead, I’ve selected the dining room wall for the TV and framed it with wood panelling to create interest and add another dynamic to the room.”

“For the appliances, I’ve chosen Siemens throughout. I selected a vented induction hob on the island, so there would not be a huge extractor hanging down to spoil the garden views. This can be vented out through the floor if possible, or be recirculating. Behind, a pair of ovens mounted at waist and eye level mean the couple can cook up a feast for their family and friends, making this kitchen a dream for keen entertainers.”

Sarah’s verdict

“The light cabinets make this kitchen design feel very open, with great views of the garden from both the island and dining table. We hadn’t considered swapping the position of the hob and sink, but a venting hob would make this an option. I like the open shelves next to the oven, but can’t help thinking that there needs to be something above the sink.

“Also, hiding the boiler in a unit is an innovative idea, but I worry that it sacrifices work surface area. The dining space and bar area are really fun! Putting another full-height cabinet here adds a lot of storage, and I hadn’t considered a wine fridge. Our current bar is on a trolley, so I may be tempted to put glass cabinets to show off our spirits collection. Overall, I see this as a social space that we’d enjoy using.”

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Designer two

Josh Devlin studied computer sciences before pivoting into his passion of interior design. Having worked as a designer for a mass-market kitchen chain, he joined Compton’s Kitchens where he has been a designer for three years.

Solution two

“The main challenge in this space is the number of architectural features; such as the boiler, the SVP pipe, wall nibs, and different wall steps. Kitchens should always sit appropriately in the room, and need to work with the space, not against it. Therefore, it was important to try and conceal as many of these obstacles as possible, while allowing the main focal points of the kitchen – the island and mantel – to sit in line with one another, providing balance to the glass doors and garden views.

“To achieve this, I have located tall units along one wall to house the utilities. As one of the main features, the mantel, with a sleek five-zone induction hob below, is in a practical location, completing a working triangle with the sink and fridge-freezer. I felt that an island would fit perfectly within the space, offering views to the table and beyond so that the person cooking is still part of the conversation.”

“For the furniture, I’ve selected the Langdale range by Symphony. It’s one of the more contemporary Shaker-style designs thanks to its 70mm rail and sleeker door style. Its colours are Willow, a deep green with earthy tones, and Stone, as it has a green undertone that complements. Having the bar units at the end of the tall run, and island, in this deep green shade, draws the eye across the room.

“Above the bar, I’ve added open shelving. This, together with the mantel’s material, would be our signature reclaimed antique pine, which offers an authentic richness. For the worktops, I’ve picked the low-maintenance 20mm Cashmere Carrara marble-effect quartz which adds interest without dominating the design. They also contrast with the wooden flooring and keep the look feeling modern.”

Sarah’s verdict

“The natural and earthy tones make this space feel warm and welcoming. I like how the design shows that modern appliances can make a Shaker-style kitchen look contemporary as well as classic. It’s interesting that the tall appliances and cabinets have been moved to the side wall, and the hob has been placed on the rear wall. I also like the use of reclaimed wood and that the dining table’s position makes it feel as if it’s part of the kitchen, rather than in its own area.

“However, I’m not sure the workspace on either side of the hob is as usable as it could be, as the mantel’s side supports interrupt it. Similarly, the corner with the cabinet next to the oven tower seems awkward. In our current kitchen, the fridge-freezer is next to the oven and it’s not especially practical, so I’d prefer to move this along and have a single tall cabinet on either side, instead.”

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