As part of a large extension to a 1920’s house in Surrey, we undertook all the joinery requirements for the ground floor refurbishment, designing the kitchen, home bar, boot room and this utility room. We were recommended to the clients by Hampshire-based interior designers, Emily Steen and Danielle Marsh, founders of Wells and Maguire, with whom we have collaborated on numerous previous projects, and who created the overall interior design scheme.
This spacious 4530mm x 2400mm utility room leads directly from the open plan kitchen and living space and is accessed via a sliding pocket door with a fluted glass front next to the home bar. It was agreed in advance that the style and colour palette for the utility would reflect and complement the Shaker handmade furniture created for the in frame Classic Bespoke Shaker kitchen, except using oak MFC carcases and 22mm thick lay on doors which were then handpainted in Hage Blue by Farrow & Ball, the same colour used for the kitchen island and home bar.
While it needed to look aesthetically pleasing, the functions of this room are manifold being both a laundry room and a utility space. Housed within tall cabinetry is the boiler for the home next to a stacked washing machine and tumble dryer. Due to its proximity to the boiler, it is an airing and ironing room as well, and a hanging rail suspends from overhead cabinets to air clothing. It has a Belfast sink by Shaws, used for cleaning muddy boots and larger domestic items for the home and garden, and it is a herbarium. Potted plants sit alongside cooking and gardening books on open shelving and on the 30mm thick Misty Carrara Satinato quartz worktops, which have matching upstands. In addition, there are cupboards and top boxes for storing household items.
Searle & Taylor has been designing and creating beautiful traditional bespoke and contemporary kitchens for clients since 1991.
