A Signature Bespoke Shaker Kitchen in an Historic Location

We were commissioned to create a classic hand-painted Shaker kitchen by a couple who have a house in an historic Listed former army barracks in Winchester. Our clients chose a Searle & Taylor Signature Bespoke kitchen because of the unusual and detailed design twists that we presented to them.

The kitchen comprises part of an elegant dining space in a large room with lots of natural light from two aspects. Our clients wanted a functional kitchen with an island and a breakfast area together with classic Shaker oak cabinetry in 30mm and 90mm thicknesses. They also wanted an unusual design feature - a sloping canopy over their hob, which was to be lower than the separate wall units on either side. They also knew exactly which paint colours they wanted for the scheme, as they were to perfectly complement existing furniture in the dining space.

Given the unusual shape of the room with its tall ceilings and recessed layout, we designed the kitchen to be in keeping with the architectural style of the property. Tall cabinetry, hand-painted in Manor House Grey by Farrow & Ball, features break fronts to add a sense of depth and to also complement the canopy and wall units. Housing a bank of Miele cooking appliances including a pyrolytic single oven, a combination microwave and a warming drawer, this run also includes a tall integrated larder fridge by Liebherr. At the centre is an overhead shallow depth cupboard for coffee and tea above a 30mm Silestone work surface and breakfast preparation area. Beneath are deep soft-close drawers that include solid oak dovetail drawer inserts.

The canopy run also features a break front design to accommodate deep dovetailed oak pan drawers at the centre with two-tiered dovetailed condiment drawers on either side and a spice drawer above. On the left is a 60cm storage cupboard and on the right is a 60cm integrated dishwasher by Miele. The canopy overmantel is in polished oak and the specially-designed canopy also has a sloping chimney to the ceiling. Within the base is a Westin 900mm concealed canopy extractor that sits above an 80cm flex-induction hob by Miele. On either side of the canopy are two separate overhead cupboards with beadboard end panels.

The kitchen island, hand-painted in Hague Blue by Farrow & Ball, also features classic beadboard end panels on either side. The task area facing the dining room incorporates under counter storage and utility cupboards with a mix of ball knob and cup pull handles in a satin nickel finish, all by Armac Martin. On the facing side to the dining room is a run of nine symmetrical drawer fronts, all with cup pull handles. However, as part of the Searle & Taylor Signature Bespoke style, not all is quite as it seems and the right-hand section is instead a door front to an integrated under counter freezer, by Liebherr. 

The 30mm worktop in Suede Lagoon by Silestone extends at one end to accommodate bar stool seating beneath. Within the work surface is a one and a half bowl stainless steel undermount sink by Franke together with a matching stainless steel Quooker Flex Boiling Water Tap and drainer grooves have been routered into the surface itself. Pendant lights are by Jim Lawrence Lighting.

Designer: Darren Taylor

Photographer: Paul Craig

As seen in: Country Homes & Interiors Magazine, homesandgardens.com, theenglishhome.com