When Esther and Yan Franklin set about extending their pretty Victorian terraced house in Stamford, they knew exactly what they wanted to achieve. Not only had they lived in the house for five years, they also knew the property very well before that because it used to be Yan’s mother’s home.

“The kitchen at the rear of the house was a long, dark, narrow space,” says Esther, who lives with her husband and their little boy. “During lockdown, I spent lots of time in the kitchen on my own because there wasn’t enough space for us all to hang out in there. So the time came to extend into the side return to create a lighter, brighter space we could all enjoy.”

TAKING THE TIME TO LISTEN

“We had a really clear idea of what we wanted,” says Esther. “My husband is an architectural designer so he's really good with space. We knew we wanted a big island in the middle and units down one side of the kitchen, but we still needed some help to get the layout absolutely spot on.
“We approached companies like Howdens and Magnet, but they wanted to do what they wanted to do rather than really trying to address our requirements. Our builders recommended Intone Design, and from the beginning it was clear they were willing to listen to us and help create our dream kitchen.”

A DRAMATIC TRANSFORMATION

Getting the layout right for Esther and Yan’s new kitchen was absolutely key to the success of the project as they embarked upon transforming what used to be a dark, cramped space into a bright, light-filled kitchen-diner.
The couple wanted the island to line up with the hob which meant they had limited space into which to fit floor-to-ceiling storage cupboards, two ovens, a warming drawer and a microwave.
“We didn’t want too many cupboards above worktop height because previously the space was quite dark so we wanted to keep it really light and open,” says Esther. “It was a bit of a challenge, but with Laura from Intone’s help we were able to find a way to make it all work. We’re so pleased with the end result.

“I love the open feel the kitchen has now, and it’s so lovely to be able to have more than three people in the room at a time. That still feels like a novelty!”

ADDING PERSONALITY AND WARMTH

As a fan of Mid-Century design, Esther was keen to bring some additional warmth and texture into her kitchen by displaying some of her vintage finds. “I love visiting car boot sales on the hunt for bits and pieces for our home. I particularly like West German pottery and I’m always drawn to orange accents.”

There are a range of colourful, vintage ceramics on display as well as a pair of retro dome lights suspended above the dining table. These add a welcome pop of colour which ties in perfectly with the tones of the exposed brick wall.

A FEW OF MY FAVOURITE THINGS

What do you love most about your new kitchen?

“The way everything in the new space just works. We’d thought about this kitchen for so long, we knew exactly how we wanted to live in the space. From positioning the bin so that I can wipe crumbs straight into it, to the gorgeous Neff Slide & Hide oven, everything we planned has worked out brilliantly.”

What’s your favourite part of the new kitchen and why?

“I love the island because it’s great when we have people over. Everyone gathers around it and the kitchen becomes such a sociable space. We’ve had some lovely gatherings here such as Christmas with all the family and a party for my son's birthday. We still can't quite believe we’ve got all this space in which to entertain!”
What was the best thing about working with Intone Design?

“Their customer service and communication has been amazing. The whole process was absolutely seamless. We can't thank Intone Design enough and we’ve recommended them to lots of our friends.”

FACT FILE

Unit colours: Off-Black by Farrow & Ball
Worktops: Quartz
Appliances: Neff
Flooring: Portuguese stone tiles and oak parquet

THINKING ABOUT A NEW KITCHEN?
WE'RE HERE TO HELP

We'd love to help you create your dream kitchen. Give us a call on 01832 275743 or email us.