The Sussex Kitchen

LocationWest Sussex, UKDesignPark House Kitchens & Design

Located in the heart of West Sussex, this beautiful kitchen project was part of the larger renovation of a 1930s house in the picturesque South East of England. The incoming homeowners had acquired the property as a project, seeing its potential as a beautiful, forever-home for themselves and their two teenage children. The family had been searching for a house in the West Sussex area that offered them plenty of scope for transformation, and to create their dream family home. The kitchen was a particularly important space, as it is to so many. The family wanted to create their own space that would become the heart of the home; somewhere the whole family could congregate and be together as part of their daily routine. Aesthetically it needed to have a classic, timeless feel and also incorporate several unique elements that would distinguish it as ‘theirs’.

The couple brought Park House Kitchens & Design onboard right at the start of the project, acutely aware that internal space planning was going to be key to achieving their goals.

Their wish-list consisted of lots of storage, the potential to be able to hide small appliances away when not in use, a distinctive Everhot cooker to act as a focal point, and an island unit with plenty of seating. The original architect’s layout did not allow anywhere for a long run of tall units, so the Park House team suggested extending an internal wall to create space to position all the tall units; the fridge freezer and two double larders.

The imposing traditional Everhot stove is positioned on the back wall for maximum impact.

The clever use of an antiqued mirror splashback positioned above the stove and below the mantel, creates the illusion of more space beyond the range as it reflects the room in reverse. It also bounces the light from the garden window back into the room.

The in-frame handmade cabinetry is essentially a classic Shaker design.

However, the homeowners added in a bespoke reeded finish to some of the door panels to create a more individual look. The reeded detailing was also incorporated into the end panels, the glass panels, and the walnut drawer fronts. The cabinetry features an eclectic selection of Aged Brass knobs and handles, which echo the deck-mounted mono mixer tap with the same finish.

Because the couple really loved the warmth of walnut and how it worked with the pale chalk and darker ink colours used on the cabinetry, they decided to use a walnut veneer to line the cabinet interiors. This was repeated in the bar area to give it a richness and depth, also painted in a dark ink colour to create a different ‘zone’ in the kitchen. The bi-fold breakfast unit, with its cool off-white finish, blends in beautifully with the rest of the kitchen cabinetry, until the bi-fold doors open to expose the walnut interior which provides a warm contrast.

Another focal point in the room is the glossy white Shaws Shaker Double 900 sink.

The slimmer wall of this sink gives it a more contemporary look compared to the Shaws Double Bowl, making it the perfect option for a kitchen which features timeless cabinetry with a modern twist. The two large bowls with the dropped central dividing wall make it a highly practical choice for a busy family of four.

The sink is positioned central to the main kitchen window, as the family wanted to be able to see any vehicles approaching the house via the driveway. It works perfectly in this position, given its proximity to the Everhot cooker, the central island, and the breakfast cupboard where the coffee machine is located.

Not only this, but given the long run of cabinetry, the Shaker Double 900 also served to give this area its own ‘zone’; had the home owners opted for undermounted sinks, this could have looked ‘empty’, emphasising the long run of units and white marble worktop.

The kitchen utilises shades of white and brass throughout.

The off-white cabinetry and walls, white marble worktops and pale grey stone floors create a light, fresh aesthetic that has the feel of a traditional New England style kitchen. In fact, this beautifully designed family kitchen would be equally at home in any of the painted wooden properties of Cape Cod on the east coast of America, as it is in West Sussex – England.