The owners of this beautiful storage-packed kitchen in a detached historical home in Hampshire, England, had their grandchildren front of mind when planning their space. “They look after the grandkids a lot, and also entertain,” says Darren Taylor, managing director of Searle & Taylor, who the couple tasked with designing their new kitchen. “The children get involved in a lot of the baking so it had to be practical and safe.”
Taylor ensured there were plenty of features to fulfill this goal, all within a space that maintains a balance of both contemporary and traditional. The result is an elegant room that functions well and feels relaxed and comfortable to move around in.
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A retired couple
Location: Hampshire, England
Size: Kitchen, dining area and conservatory: 430 square feet (40 square meters); pantry: 58 square feet (5.4 square meters)
Designer: Darren Taylor of Searle & Taylor
The star of the show in this large kitchen is the sizable island, which is about 15½ by 4½ feet (4.7 by 1.4 meters). “The owners even joked they could play table tennis on it,” Taylor says. There’s plenty of room around it for friends to gather and lots of countertop area for the grandchildren to help with cooking and baking. They wanted it to be clear so there isn’t a cooktop or sink on top, he says.