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A Kitchen with Soul - Martin Moore

07 Dec 20

An accusation often levelled at new-build homes is that they lack “soul”.  This new six-bedroom house in Surrey disproves that, with a splendid kitchen built around a family of five, all of whom love to cook and to entertain. Martin Moore’s bespoke design and traditionally hand-made furniture bring both heart and soul to an extraordinary new space.

Given the family’s focus on food and entertaining, the architects created a floorplan with three rooms; bar, snug and dining - all leading into the kitchen, where William Rudgard, a Senior Designer with Martin Moore,  created a layout to ensure that sensational views across rolling countryside could be enjoyed from anywhere in the kitchen. 

Early plans for a single enormous island were quickly replaced with a far more elegant and ergonomically practical centrepiece of two islands; one a ‘wet’ zone, serving the main cooking zone, and the other focused around prepping and informal eating.

Working outwards from the islands, this kitchen is planned in every detail; allying sheer practicality with an almost classical degree of symmetry.  The cabinetry itself reflects this, using Martin Moore’s New Classic concept, with its inherent fusion of past and present, to create real presence within the space. 

As well as the enormous floor area, extremely high ceilings had to be taken into account, but sensitivity in both the design and the choice of colours and materials have prevented the sheer volume of cabinetry becoming overwhelming.   

From the home office to the large walk-in pantry fitted with catering style shelving, the entire space is minutely planned in every detail to create the working and social flow of the kitchen.

The lighting too is carefully designed throughout the kitchen, combining several different sources all independently controlled to vary the mood as needed.  Natural stone floors and worktops add a subtle sheen and the vintage mirror glass splashback acts as a virtual ‘window’, as effective by night as by day.

The sheer pleasure that this family take in using this kitchen is evident throughout.  Beautifully planned and highly equipped, it forms a vibrant centrepiece to a busy life and happy home. 

Paint Colours: 
Cabinetry from Martin Moore’s New Classic Collection
Hand painted in Martin Moore’s Soft Grey (main units), Slate (island) and Dove Grey (butler’s sideboard) 

Worktops: 
Cooker Run and Breakfast Cabinet - Steel Grey Granite 
Island - Bianca Eclipsia Quartzite 
Butler’s Sideboard - solid Walnut top with Walnut veneer interior
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