A BOLT FROM THE BLUE

Photography by Matthew Smith

Go blue or go home. A design that plays with dramatic colour and contrasting shape, rejuvenating a tired kitchen and dining space with a serious injection of personality in this Cambridgeshire home.

This space deserved a fresh face, and whilst the well-worn 90s kitchen had seen better days, the owners’ love of its colour scheme, in particular the rich blue of the old splash back tiles, certainly had not, and they bravely embraced it as a key element.

The layout was adapted to make better use of the space, removing an octagonal breakfast bar that divided the space, easing the through route to other rooms; a diagonally laid floor guiding the eye across the space.

The new kitchen cabinetry was arranged to increase storage, extending up close to ceiling height and introducing a larder unit beside the doorway in an area previously unused. The site of the hob was moved from a bulky corner cabinet to form a more balanced and conventional work triangle, a seamless Corian worktop providing an expansive surface space. 

A playful use of colour creates big impact and unifies the space, the bespoke blue of the kitchen carried throughout the room, simple slabs of intense colour offset by a mix of classic materials; pale oak grain, porcelain tiles and crisp off-white tones. It was out with the Artex ceiling, but in with geometric print and curved forms in a nod to the 1970s origins of the property.

Bold curtains and statement artwork provide distinct areas of enticing pattern, restrained within clean lines and a contemporary, minimal feel. The juxtaposition of sharp lines and smooth arches is repeated throughout the space; angular dining furniture alongside the painted doorway, and curved tap against graphic wall tiles.

Staggered ledges within the dining area create a focal point to rival the kitchen end of the space, accessorised to allow for the perfect ‘shelfie’, whilst deep navy wool seating and wave headed curtain soften the hard finishes.