Back in 1985, when artist Graham Carter first visited the two-bedroom, Victorian terrace house that would eventually become his home, it was decrepit and unloved, filled with molding, peeling wallpaper and musty carpet, all of its original details hidden by plywood “improvements” from earlier remodels.
Photography courtesy of The Modern House.
In the kitchen, as in the rest of the house, raw, reclaimed wood is the predominant theme, coupled with the art pieces and colorful accents one would expect from an artist.
Carter built the kitchen himself, fashioning cabinets out of salvaged wood panels and fire doors, with antique handles. See Trend Alert: 10 New Design Developments on Our Radar for Fall 2017).
At the center of the kitchen is an island work surface made of a Victorian-era butcher’s block on a metal base. A pot rack and countertop lighting are both made of antique parts.
The central feature of the kitchen is a white-tiled work surface that extends from the wall, held by two raw wood beams that extend from the ceiling.
Beneath the work surface is a rusted, working, radiator, reclaimed from a nearby pub that was scheduled for demolition.
Carter added shallow, built-in shelving on both sides of the kitchen, and gave it the same whitewash as the walls throughout the house. In typical European fashion, the washing machine is located in the kitchen.
Carter had all the modern, PVC windows in the house replaced with replicas of wood windows that might have been original to the house.
An antique tea advertisement hangs above the fireplace.
The kitchen has direct access to the rear garden, which has a marble outdoor dining table that seats 10.
The townhouse’s rear garden is filled with loose gravel and mature plants.