It’s hard not to be seduced by the all-white kitchen, but for those willing to make permanent decisions, think colorful ranges and painted cabinets, the payoff can be huge. Take this pastel kitchen designed by Nicola Harding for a couple living in a renovated Georgian manse. On color, Harding explains: “We used dark colors to make large or shady spaces feel more intimate, and warm, uplifting tones to make grand spaces feel more relaxed.” With Plain English cabinets, factory lights, antiques, and the children’s artwork, the result is a gentle elegance. Here is our list of sources to match the look.
Above: The house’s original wood floors are painted with Farrow & Ball Slipper Satin to “bounce more light into the interior.” Above: The walls in the kitchen are painted with Farrow & Ball Setting Plaster. Says Harding: “It works for any light level, any time of day, any time of year. Calm, warm, fresh, comforting.” Above: The Plain English cabinetry is painted in a cool grey similar to Farrow & Ball Mole’s Breath (not the exact grey used, but close). Above: Worth a mention: the Howe oak dining table and chair are custom painted with Blue Gum, a color from Paint & Paper Library.
Materials
Above: The kitchen counters, fitted by Plain English, are Black Basalt. For something similar, source black basalt through Stone Source or a local yard. Above: The work island and cabinets are from Plain English, along with the custom steel edge pulls seen here.
Appliances & Lighting
Above: For a similar streamlined British-style range, the Esse 990 ELX Matt Black is available from Walter Dix & Co. For other options see our post 10 Easy Pieces: Retro Kitchen Ranges. Above: A trio of industrial factory lights over the kitchen island are from vintage industrial lighting dealer Skinflint of Cornwall. Shown here are similar lights from Skinflint, the XL Eastern Bloc Industrial Lights; £540 each.
Above: The upholstered barstool near the work island is a Howe design, the Whippet Bar Stool constructed from three different timbers and custom upholstery. Contact for price and ordering information. Above: The dining table is the Howe Arts & Crafts Round Breakfast Table that comes in a range of painted wood and finishes. The table in Harding’s kitchen is painted in Paint & Paper’s Blue Gum (see above). Contact for price and ordering information. Above: Also designed custom, the Howe Camembert Chair with Italian Goat Skin Seat is painted Blue Gum with a seat to match. Contact for price and ordering information. Above: Similar to the antique Windsor style chair is the Howe Charred Comb Back Windsor Chair in blackened ash. Contact for price and ordering information. For more ideas see our post 10 Easy Pieces: The Windsor Chair Revisited.
Large Accessories
Above: Leaning against the back kitchen wall is a French apple picking ladder that functions as a dish towel rack. For something similar, 1st Dibs has listed a Vintage Tall French Bamboo Orchard Ladder for $1,325. It’s a style that is often found by scouring eBay, Etsy, 1st Dibs, and local antiques sellers. Above: The fireplace mantel is the Howe Bolection Fire Surround, n English 17th century style made in Scandinavian Redwood pine. Contact for price and ordering information. Above: Available from Howe, the Vita Spetsporten Swedish Kilim by Märta Måås-Fjetterstrom is a half-pile or ‘halvflossa’ kilim that is one of many rare kilims in the Howe collection. Contact for price and ordering information.
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