This industrial style shaker kitchen was installed by bespoke kitchen manufacturer Tom Howley for a client who wanted a design that would complement the architectural elements of their new home.
The beautiful industrial style shaker kitchen was created for a family living in Cheshire who were looking to downsize from their previous family home. After seeking design and build advice for their new property from creative architectural studio Architecture:M, it was decided they would convert and extend a redundant barn building they already owned into an eco-friendly house. Keeping the footprint of the building the same, the client practically rebuilt the building into a modern, light space full of character.
The main challenge for this project was the fact that the space needed to be designed to be multi-functional. It had to work as a kitchen, dining room and living space, but at the same time the client wanted it to feel cosy, despite the industrial inspired feel of the open-plan room. The kitchen needed to be aesthetically pleasing, but also fully functioning.
A lot of thought went into the use of space in this project to ensure that the kitchen didn’t dominate the seating and dining areas, but still remained the focal point of the house. Luckily, the clients were very open to adopting new ideas and working differently in their industrial style kitchen. There is a small ‘back of house kitchen’, for example, that has been designed to absorb any additional mess when the family entertains.
The most striking element of this kitchen project is the successful balance between refinement and the edgy undertones of the industrial look. By proudly displaying building features such as exposed beams and brickwork, Tom Howley has created a thoughtfully designed industrial style shaker kitchen that really mirrors the style and taste of the client.
The exposed brick wall is a fantastic feature and is actually the original outside wall which has been sandblasted to expose the beautiful red brick detail. Because the architectural features are so strong and the client was choosing to include a concrete fireplace, exposed beams and glazed metal doors, it was easy for Tom Howley to suggest a kitchen model that would work well in the space to complement all these features.
“The low level furniture in this project allows the texture of the exposed brick to add warmth and raw beauty to the room for the perfect industrial style kitchen with a twist.”
The Hartford kitchen is an inspired modern update on the classic Shaker style kitchen and is the perfect choice for this project. The intention was for the kitchen cabinets to dominate the look rather than the appliances, so most of them are actually built in apart from the homeowner’s own AGA which adds a touch of tradition and comfort to the industrial space.
The homeowner was looking for a kitchen design to complement the architectural elements. A dark colour palette was an obvious choice in order to contrast the exposed brickwork, but it took some time to decide what shade would work best. The homeowner chose a charcoal paint finish in ‘Nightshade’, a dark grey paint from Tom Howley’s own paint range that adds a nod to the industrial metal structure within the space while retaining an element of contemporary sophistication. Rather than a feature island, it was decided to paint the island and perimeter cabinetry all in the same colour to create a bold, industrial look for the space.
The low level furniture in this project allows the texture of the exposed brick to add warmth and raw beauty to the room for the perfect industrial style kitchen with a twist.
The exposed brick wall is actually the original outside wall which has been sandblasted to expose the beautiful red brick detail.
The space has to work as a kitchen, dining room and living space, but at the same time feel cosy, despite the industrial inspired feel of the open-plan room.
