Classic Contemporary Kitchen, Crouch End

This open plan project is the end result of almost 18 months’ work restoring and renovating a dilapidated Victorian townhouse in Crouch End, London. A huge undertaking both in terms of the scale and complexity of the work involved, the finished project is now spread over five floors with the kitchen, dining area and wine room located in the basement that opens out onto a terrace and garden beyond.

As keen cooks and wine lovers, this open plan space was designed with entertaining in mind and includes a kitchen, dining area, sitting area and wine room. The focus of the design brief was to create a space that felt spacious, calm and welcoming with excellent quality appliances, low maintenance materials and finishes that would allow for relaxed entertaining and an abundance of storage.

Spenlow cabinetry is used throughout the kitchen and dining area to provide a cool, contemporary feel with H|M’s bespoke Portobello oak finish used throughout the cabinetry interiors and as an accent on the bookcases, on the table top and frames of the Havisham counter stools and Havisham dining chairs. The perimeter cabinetry is all finished in Tailored Grey, while the island and doors to the wine room and under-stairs storage are finished in Top Hat. All hardware including the Quilp knobs and taps, are finished in polished nickel for a sleek, contemporary look and feel.

The main cooking run, set within a false chimney and designed to suit the scale and proportion of the room perfectly, has a Miele gas hob with 5 burners and a wok ring for maximum versatility. Westin extraction above provides the essential removal of odours during cooking in an open plan space and has easy to remove filters that can be washed in the dishwasher. Behind the cooking area is an antique effect mirror splashback which not only bounces the light back across the room but also allows the cook to continue conversations with guests.

Built in banquette seating designed for the large bay window provides the main dining area in the kitchen. This bespoke version of the Langham dining table, designed and made by H|M, is extendable to seat up to 10 people. The table top is finished in Portobello oak to match the accent wood of the main kitchen, whilst the pedestal below has a painted finish to blend seamlessly with the banquette seating in the window behind. The comfortable yet stylish Havisham dining chairs mimic the larger counter stools which are finished in Portobello oak with the same off-white/grey leather ensuring a clean, contemporary style to this seating area.

The wine room was essential to the success of this project and is located just off the main kitchen area behind a sealed Georgian style door providing access into this climate controlled active wine storage area finished in Portobello oak, and offering optimum wine conditioning. The top racks have been designed for wine to lay horizontally with pantry-style tables below providing reduced depth countertop space and open shelving for storing cases of wine to ensure optimum wine climate conditions.