Project Name: Bishop’s Stortford

Location: Hertfordshire, United Kingdom

Date Completed: February 2020

Interior Designer: Mairead Wright, Wild Hearts Wonder

Architect: UCHI Architects

Construction Company: AJD Builders

Herringbone Kitchens designed this showstopper kitchen as part of a house-wide renovation of an old Victorian boarding house, back to a family home. The client is renovating an old Victorian house which had spent the last 100 years as a boarding school. Initially two houses, then split into flats and rooms, the client renovated it back to a family home. As part of the renovation, the back of the house was knocked off and a larger kitchen space was built.

The client wanted a space designed that worked for them – a bespoke finish to make the kitchen work as hard and efficiently as it can. The client knew exactly how they wanted the kitchen and what the space would allow, but wanted to hear other ideas to see if there was anything better to add. For the clients, a boiling tap and coffee machine were a must above all else!

Scale aside, the colour palette pulls together the architectural detailing of structural columns, cable tires and crittal windows. What could be a ‘cold’ room aesthetically, the warmth is brought into the room from the use of brass fittings and ironmongery, exposed brickwork, timber accents in the stools and dressing of exposed shelving and bookcases. This colour scheme is simple but has a large impact with the wider project.

There is an incredible amount of expert joinery in this kitchen and huge level of craftsmanship. For example, the elevation of the bookcase and larder shelving offer a side elevation with no additional framing required – joinery is key to this project with a deep level of details which you can’t get off-the-shelf. The grandeur of the room really complements the kitchen and vice versa. The symmetry of the cabinetry, shelving, reeded glass, work top and lights absolutely make this a showstopper kitchen.