The designer: Libra Dalligan at PAD

The story: PAD designed this elegant, bespoke kitchen within an Edwardian detached family home in Mid-Sussex.

The owners, who have two young children and a dog, had purchased the property to extend and renovate it into a modern family home, which now includes a large kitchen-dining extension.

Photos: Paul Craig

Designer Q&A:

Q) What was your brief from the client?

We were introduced to the owners by their interior designer, Karen Comber, and were tasked with creating a kitchen that combined elegance with a traditional edge to suit their period home.

They wanted their new kitchen to become a central welcoming space for socialising and entertaining, but one that would also be functional and easy to keep tidy. A request was also made to create a space for their large coffee machine.

Q) How did you answer that brief?

To meet the brief, I considered the flow of the renovated ground floor, as the new kitchen adjoined a formal living room and a TV snug, which were separated by Crittall double doors.

Given the large rectangular space of the extension, I created dedicated areas for casual family dining, entertaining with friends and family and a formal dining space. Plenty of storage cabinetry was key in the layout, so the family could keep the kitchen tidy and organised.

The centrepiece of the design is an oversized statement island, which features a sleek Bora Hob and a wine cooler, and was designed to comfortably fit three stools on either side for everyday casual dining, children’s homework or simply enjoying a coffee. Whilst in the design phase, we explored the island in all different shapes and sizes but overall, this option felt like the right fit.

Q) Which products did you use and why?

To achieve the contemporary look with a traditional edge, the clients’ preference was modern Shaker-style solid wood cabinetry, which features a subtle grain finish from our bespoke St John’s Wood Elgin collection.

Ensuring the colour tones were perfect for their kitchen and surrounding interior scheme, a statement Carbon grey-blue was chosen for the rear wall and island, which contrasts beautifully with the warmer Pebble tone chosen for the side wall cabinetry.

The low-level cabinetry was handleless to bring in modern elements. Polished Calacatta Fantasy 20mm quartz worktops were matched that resemble an opulent Calacatta marble.

The rear wall cabinetry integrates a wish-list of appliances and matt black big knurled handles were added to the appliance cabinetry doors to create definition and ease of opening.

The left-side wall cabinetry provides extra-deep storage for larger items in the sink area. With a wider worktop, this area became the ideal spot for the large coffee machine. A large Blanco stainless steel sink with a Quooker tap and integrated waste and recycling bin were also included in this cabinetry run.

Q) Which design elements do you think make the scheme so successful?

The kitchen ensures flow and functionality to meet the needs of the family – for example, the breakfast station allows for easy morning set-ups whilst the walk-in pantry is positioned next to the wide worktop area for unloading shopping and keeping the space tidy and organised.

Q) Any advice for anyone who may be planning their own kitchen project?

Thinking about style, colours and wish-list appliances is the fun part, but it’s equally important for your designer to focus on the overall flow and functionality of your space.

A well-designed kitchen should reflect how you and your family plan to use it in the future. For example, understanding where you’ll do most of your meal prep should align to ensure that essentials like utensils, bins, chopping boards and storage are conveniently placed.

Similarly, having enough worktop space near cooking zones is an important planning detail so you can set down hot items easily once ready

Beyond functionality, it’s key for your designer to consider how you’ll relax, entertain and dine in the space. Within that, you might want to incorporate different seating options, such as bar stools at an island or peninsula, a dining table and, if space allows, a comfortable sofa or reading chair to ensure you have a relaxing and functional environment for all your family needs.

The details:

Kitchen by PAD

Cabinetry hinges and drawer runners by BLUM

Appliances by Bora, Siemens, Liebherr, Miele and Caple

Sink and tap by Blanco and Quooker

Hayley loves: the well thought-out storage solutions, which give this space its calm and tranquil look and feel.