A conservatory extension to bring light to a dark and gloomy Victorian kitchen
We take a look at designer Nick Anderson's Victorian kitchen renovation; from garden views to all things cabinetry
Victorian houses aren’t well known for their light, and after ten years of living in one Helen and Peter Sands say they’d had enough of the gloom.
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They made the bright decision to totally change the plan of their ground floor; moving the kitchen from the front to the back of the house.
Here’s how it all came together.
The project in a nutshell:
Who lives here? Helen and Peter Sands, and their two daughters
Location: Wiltshire
Property style: Victorian farmhouse
Designer: Nick Anderson, Guild Anderson
Helen explains that “the kitchen was dark and gloomy without any view of the garden, and we had wanted to do something about it for years. One day we agreed it was daft to have put lots of work into creating a beautiful garden, without being able to see it from the house.” It was time to make a change.
A conservatory was added, which became the new kitchen-living dining area and the old kitchen became a study. Change made, natural light and views of the garden now flooded in.
Guild Anderson helped the couple to design the kitchen in a way that made the most of this new bright space.
Shades of blue/grey were used on the walls and lighter blue/grey on the cabinets, to make them stand out – all of which were tied together by using natural oak.
The new island, three metres long, blends usability with calm vibes.
“It works well when I’m cooking,” says Helen, “but the room also feels relaxed.” A hidden pantry also provides extra storage room.
The circular oak bar, which was made by the local blacksmith, is the perfect place to sit and appreciate the garden.
Designer Nick Anderson explains that he started the project by thinking about the appliances that would be included, like the Everhot range cooker.
How did you incorporate it?
The cabinetry is symmetrically arranged around it.
To complete the design, the double-door entrance to the walk-in pantry is part of the run of tall cabinets, deliberately disguised to create a streamlined look.
Helen says, “I’m glad we didn’t let another 10 years go by before making the change.”
