Inspired by the original ceiling and cabinets that flanked the chimney breast, the couple chose to combine the Victorian features with a contemporary update. 'The cupboards looked so rough with peeling paint and broken handles but we knew that once refurbished, they would look amazing and could form the basis of the kitchen,' explains Keith. Armed with a brief of exactly how he envisaged the room, he chose companies from either end of the bespoke market and asked each to create a design. 'I knew where I wanted everything, right down to the number of cupboards, but I needed someone who could translate my ideas,' says Keith. 'It was Mat Davies at Landmark Bespoke Kitchens who listened and came back with exactly what we wanted.'
Despite Keith thinking that his occupation would have little bearing on his kitchen at home, more and more elements of a professional scheme were introduced as Mat's plans began to take shape - from the flourishes of steel and a hard-wearing floor to the spacing between zones so that two people could work together. 'Once we ripped the original kitchen out, we used the cabinets to make a mock-up of the new layout to ensure what we were doing would be right for us,' says Keith. It was an act that paid off as Keith realised that he wanted the island further away from the sink than he had planned.
Designer Mat worked closely with the couple to ensure that the kitchen didn't just look good but fulfilled its hardworking potential. Base units offer copious storage while the island serves as dedicated working space and eye-catching open shelving means Keith's dry and preserved goods are close to hand. 'We consciously chose to keep the kitchen as simple as possible and brought colour in to add to the design rather than the other way round,' explains Keith. 'It's my little heaven where I have everything I need in one room. After all, the kitchen really is the hub of the house.'
