Finding the View

04 Dec 17

The owners of this house moved to Jersey when they retired, buying an impressive chateaux-style property with exceptional views across the splendid bay. The kitchen however, situated at the back of the house, was shut off from that view. To remedy this, the layout was changed entirely, moving a staircase and replacing the rear wall with an orangery extension, opening the space up to the sea and sky.
 
Pam Baker at Martin Moore had designed their previous kitchen in England and came to Jersey to see the new space and take a brief. The clients asked her to create an inviting new kitchen with soft styling and a light, coastal feel. It also had to have a built-in bar area for weekend entertaining.

Inspired by its setting, the colours throughout this kitchen are determinedly soft and natural, from the American Black Walnut island to the aged limestone floor and antique mirror glass behind the cooking zone, which is defined by a generous mantel. The cabinetry too, is painted in rich neutrals - with a splash of stunning sea blue on the full height cupboards which conceal the fridge and freezer. There is a strong sense of this kitchen having always been there.
 
The same blue, Little Greene’s ‘Bone China’, a gentle reference to the seaside location, is picked up inside the twin glazed cupboards, highlighting carefully chosen pieces of china and glass displayed inside.
 
The cabinetry is in Martin Moore’s New Classic design; perfectly suited to the house. Decorative detailing is minimised, letting the quality of the traditional cabinetmaking, the timber and the other materials in the kitchen shine through. Window treatments and upholstery have also been kept to a minimum to maintain focus on the coastal views. 

Jersey’s warm climate means that the Aga is switched off for several months of the year. Back-up is provided by eye-level built-in ovens and a pair of two-zone induction hobs which flank the Aga to maintain symmetry. A Quooker boiling water tap and a warming oven were other must-haves, as were the two dishwashers; one serving the kitchen and one, located within the island, serving the separate bar area.
 
Every Martin Moore kitchen is designed and built as a one-off. There are no standard components and everything is made, by hand, to order, in their Yorkshire workshops. This allowed Pam Baker to respond in every detail to the brief. This included three different sink areas, one on the island and the other two within the long L-shaped run of cabinets, which houses many of the kitchen essentials in a carefully planned array of drawers and cupboards.

Worksurfaces throughout are in Caesarstone, contrasting the marble-veined ‘Dreamy Marfil’ colourway on the island with the tonal ‘Shitake’ on the perimeter cabinets.  There are subtle contrasts in the cabinetry colours too, with the kitchen hand-painted in Little Greene ‘Rolling Fog’ and the bar in Farrow & Ball ‘London Stone’.
 
Situated halfway between the kitchen and the comfortable seating area, the bar area is a luxurious, flamboyant centrepiece. The tall cabinets for glassware and bottles have mirror-backing and special glass shelving imbued with LED lighting, making the whole area sparkle by night.
 
The L-shaped bar which defines the area has beautiful American Walnut top and wall cladding, matching the kitchen island and giving a ‘gentleman’s club’ feel.  Specially fitted out cupboards hold bar equipment and accessories.