East Molesey

The design for this kitchen space involved a complete rethinking of the spatial plan and the orientation of the working parts of the room. A view onto the garden seemed a natural fit with the relaxed seating area, while the kitchen commands a central position where it can serve both the needs of a young family – whether they be cooking, eating, playing, or relaxing – and the transitions to be made from kitchen to dining, to relaxation and/or access to the outdoors.

Colours are tonally sympathetic with each other and with the world outside, while timber details and reflective surfaces create textural harmonies with nature and enable light to bounce off or be absorbed by various matt or shiny surfaces in imitation of the air flow, cloud cover, sunshine or other light sources that impact the space over the course of a day.

A Bora PRO hob, with induction surface on one side of its elegant downdraft ‘fresh air’ flow mechanism, and a heavy duty steel teppan on the other, is placed on the island looking out to the room – so that a cook can be sociably connected while engaged in their work rather than trapped with their back to the room. Ovens are stacked into tall units at heights both ergonomically calculated for the adults in the room and safely out of harms way for small children.

Three bathrooms and a cloakroom prioritise colour, pattern and texture – each in its own unique way. Chunky monochrome tiles in the family bathroom add a bold touch of fun at bath-time, while the clever placement of glazed tiles elsewhere create illusions of grandeur.