Kitchen of the Week: Eclectic English Kitchen, Color Included

Meet the state-of-the-art kitchen that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Situated in a timber-clad new addition to a farmhouse in Kent, England, the design–from playful reverse-peaked ceiling to who-invited-you? jewel-toned accents–is both glamorous and cheeky. And fresh.

Photography via Light Locations.

Above: The space is anchored by a high/low combo: a marble-topped island with integrated sink and birch plywood base (with built-in storage on two sides). The below-counter walls of cabinets are also birch ply–ending with an exclamation point: a raspberry-color fridge. See refrigerators in a rainbow of options in today’s Trend Alert. Thinking about a marble for your own kitchen? Take a look at Remodeling 101: Marble Countertops and 11 Kitchen Islands Gone Glamorous.

Above: The kitchen has a gloriously tall, wooden-paneled cover ceiling and a wall of steel-framed windows and doors that open to a terrace and garden. The polished concrete floor works well for indoor-outdoor living. Get the lowdown on concrete in the kitchen in our posts Remodeling 101: Polished Concrete Flooring and Remodeling 101: Concrete Countertops.

The island’s overhang accommodates vintage stools. For colored pendant lights akin to the pair here, see 10 Easy Pieces: Colorful Glass Pendant Lights. And if you’d like your own festive bunting, go to 10 Easy Pieces: Party Garlands.

Above: The back wall is lined with outsized subway tiles in an offset brick pattern. Learn about ways to use inexpensive white tile in Remodeling 101: Tile Pattern Glossary. The counters are made of down-to-earth butcher block.

For wall light ideas, see 11 Best Industrial Sconces for the Kitchen.

Above: Tiles and paneling create an interesting contrapuntal moment. (See A Finnish Style at Home for another example of inspired, bespoke paneling, and Rehab Diaries: DIY Beadboard Ceilings for the economy approach.) In lieu of hardware, the cabinets have cutout handles (see 10 Easy Pieces: Cutout Kitchen Cabinet Pulls).

The old-fashioned enameled range is an Everhot; read about it and other heart-of-the-home classics in Object Lessons: The Great British Range Cooker.

Above: A pantry with open wood shelving (and mascot fox head) is conveniently tucked into one end of the kitchen. Note the drainboard on the marble island.

For more UK kitchen inspiration, go to Kitchens. Here are some favorites:

• Endless Summer in a London Victorian and Steal This Look: The Endless Summer Kitchen
• A Culinary Space Inspired by a Painting
• Steal This Look: A Classic English Kitchen for a Oscar-Winning Costume Designer
• Greatest Hits: 12 Favorite Kitchens in the UK
• Steal This Look: A Glamorous London Kitchen by a Designer with “Shitloads of Talent”

And take a look at dozens of inspired uses for Plywood, including headboard walls (Trés DIY: The New Hotel Henriette in Paris).