Meticulous detailing and a beautiful blend of materials add contemporary elegance and a coastal feel to homeowners Aine and Marcus D’Souza’s new kitchen extension…
After moving into their four-bedroom Victorian terraced house in 2018, Aine and Marcus D’Souza, who works in media sales, did a speedy refresh of the property. “Then we got moved to Asia unexpectedly for Marcus’ job, so we rented the house out while we were away,” Aine tells KBB journo Amelia Thorpe. “Four years later, it was time to come back – and we knew we needed to do more than a quick lick of paint to make the house better suited to our family life, now that the children are older.”
Commissioning interior designer Leo Morvillo of Behind The Door was a master stroke, says Aine. “Working long distance, as we were still in Singapore, I learnt to trust Leo completely and she did a wonderful job in revamping the house,” she explains. “By the time we were back in the UK, we still had to tackle the kitchen, because we wanted to make space for a dining table for family meals, and create a more inviting environment.”
The plans for the kitchen extension
Working with Leo again, the couple began to make plans to add an extension to the rear of the house. “Not only did this double the size of the kitchen and make space to include a dining area with views of the garden, but it also allowed us to bring more natural light into the room with wider glass doors and a new full-length skylight to replace a row of three smaller roof windows,” explains Aine.
The kitchen design
Taking inspiration from her brother’s house in Los Angeles, with its polished concrete floor and airy feel, Aine began gathering images of kitchens she admired. “We wanted some classic character and warmth to suit the age of the house, but blended with fresh, modern touches to make the space feel stylish and welcoming,” she says.
It was Leo who suggested that they panel the walls and ceiling with boards to add interest and texture, which also adds a calm coastal feel to the kitchen. “They create a cool New England vibe,” notes Leo.
The cabinetry was custom-made by Cor Domi, the wall run featuring doors with very slender frames as a contemporary take on traditional Shaker design. Painted in a soft black and elevated with textured brass linear handles, the furniture adds bold depth to the room. “The island is a contrast, made to a clean-lined design in oak for natural warmth, with a metal-framed breakfast bar as another modern touch,” explains Cor Domi senior designer Greg Daulby.
The surfaces
For Aine and Marcus, it’s the white concrete work surfaces that bring the whole look together. “We had shiny worktops before, and this time, we wanted a material that had a more subtle, yet modern, look,” says Aine. “We wanted something that felt smoothly tactile – and Leo suggested we go for polished concrete in a soft white colour; it is unusual and really very beautiful,” she continues.
Made by Woody’s Concrete Co., the worktops are handcrafted from GFRC (Glass Fibre Reinforced Concrete) known for its lighter weight and durability. “They are hand-finished, creating a softly organic look in contrast to laser-cut quartz surface or marble,” explains Izzy Taylor-Wood, managing director of Woody’s Concrete Co. “They also offer flexural strength, minimising the risk of cracking, and sealed to make them stain and scratch resistant.”
The details
To complete the design, Woody’s made a bespoke dropped sink-front detail to the island worktop, offering a modern take on a traditional butler sink, and a cut out to allow for a flush-fitted hob.
Handmade zellige tiles, produced in Morocco, and a smooth polished concrete floor complete the room. “We love the mix of materials and the way they blend together so harmoniously,” says Aine. “It was wonderful to collaborate with such an imaginative team of experts – and we enjoy all the thoughtful details of our new kitchen every day.”
Photography: Guy Lockwood
This house tour was featured in the December 2025 issue of Kitchens Bedrooms & Bathrooms magazine.
Enjoyed this post? Click here to discover how two designers came up with ideas for a coastal kitchen-diner
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