A traditional style kitchen

Click on gallery images to view larger pictures.

Gerry and John Newton transformed their period home with a traditional-style kitchen where they can entertain their large family.

After two decades in the Georgian house where they brought up their family, Gerry and John Newton moved to Surrey, where they found themselves with a project on their hands. Gerry describes their home, which dates from 1891, as ‘beautifully solid’ and ‘built by a man with a keen eye for detail’. Previous owners, however, hadn’t shared their appreciation for period features, so under their sympathetic watch attractive mouldings, cornices and original wooden floors were gradually uncovered and restored.

The kitchen, which was rather small and with an uninspiring outlook, needed updating. Gerry was determined to make improvements and create a spacious room for cooking and entertaining that faced out towards the garden and river. They knocked down an external wall and extended, opening up a new space that leads through to the formal dining room. What they needed was a designer with a shared vision to help them develop their ideas.

‘I visited a Martin Moore showroom in Esher,’ recalls Gerry, ‘and I immediately clicked with the designer.’ Andrew Wantnaby, who has worked for the company for 11 years, took the same view as the Newtons on the importance of making changes to the property with its age and integrity at the heart of every decision. ‘They had a clear understanding of design which was reflected in their home,’ Andrew says, ‘so I knew that the kitchen had to flow and look in keeping with the rest of the Edwardian property.’

Gerry and John had already bought some appliances and the positioning of these was fundamental to the plan. The Mercury cooker is set within a chimney surround supplied by Martin Moore and Andrew suggested recessing the refrigerator, from Sub-Zero, into a wall. This also created a walk-in larder, providing useful storage space. One of the greatest successes in Andrew’s view is the free-standing feel of the room, which was achieved using the sink cabinet and central cook’s table with solid teak top.

Getting to know his clients was absolutely essential to bringing their plans to life and today the room reflects their passions, in particular Gerry’s interest in vintage crockery. ‘I have been collecting English china for the last 30 or 40 years,’ she says, ‘and wanted to have some pieces displayed in the kitchen to soften the effect of the hard lines and avoid a sterile look that kitchens sometimes have.’ Eye-catching examples are on show throughout the room and a cool palette used on the walls and floor really lets the colours shine.

John and Gerry chose cabinets with a traditional flat panel and ogee mould, which were painted on site in Cream by Martin Moore. The floor is Aged Farringdon English limestone, seen in situ at Andrew’s showroom, and good for reflecting the natural light that pours in through the windows, roof light and doors. The granite and teak worktops give a sense of luxury as well as durability, while the splashback has a simple border design and is from Welbeck Tiles.

The Newtons have made the most of the property by embracing its period charm and making some sympathetic changes to bring it into the 21st century. Completing the kitchen has marked an end to a huge renovation project, and now they can finally appreciate living in their new home. Gerry has nothing but praise for Andrew and his team and says she wishes more firms could be as effective at bringing together people who work really hard to help a house become all it can be. The end result is exactly as she and John had hoped and is somewhere the whole family can enjoy spending time together, whether cooking at the island, eating at the table, admiring Gerry’s collection of china or taking in the views of the garden.

Read about another kitchen renovation...

FEATURE KATHARINE CLEMOW PHOTOGRAPHS NICHOLAS YARSLEY
Featured in the September 2011 issue of Period Living