A Blend Of Urban Industrial & Modern Rustic Kitchen Design

Interior Designer Lucy Dickinson first walked through the doors of Burlanes Sevenoaks back in 2014, and worked with our Sevenoaks design team to transform an unused bedroom in her beautiful family home, into a practical, hardworking home office space. A little over 6 years later (with the home office still as beautiful as ever!!), Lucy commissioned us to design, handmake and install her new family kitchen and dining room.


Burlanes bespoke Wellsdown kitchen in Kent. ©Sarah London Photographer.

The Brief

A busy working family with 2 sons, 2 cats and a puppy, Lucy and her husband wanted to create a practical, open-plan traditional style kitchen-diner, with all the benefits of contemporary living. A beautiful detached listed building in the heart of the Kent countryside, we had to work closely with Lucy to ensure that all relevant regulations regarding planning permission and building works were met, as well as creating a bespoke layout design to suit the low ceilings, wonky walls and characteristics of a listed property.


Burlanes bespoke Wellsdown kitchen in Kent. ©Sarah London Photographer.

The Layout
Originally a very open plan space with two archways through to the dining room supported by wooden beams and a low dividing wall, we bricked up one arch so there was more of a division between the two rooms, and we sourced reclaimed timber beams to match what was already in place, allowing open-plan living, whilst the kitchen remained a room in its own right.

Lucy initially wanted a small round table in the kitchen with banquette seating, however due to the low ceilings and window placements, we struggled to make this work, so our design team presented their ideas of a large central island, with space for a breakfast bar, which the homeowners loved.


Burlanes bespoke Wellsdown kitchen in Kent. ©Sarah London Photographer.

With such a busy family, Lucy wanted a large corner fridge, so we made this a focal point of the room, and actually designed most of the layout around it!


Burlanes bespoke Wellsdown kitchen in Kent. ©Sarah London Photographer.

The sink was originally at the other side of the room, facing the brick wall, so we moved this under the window to look out over the beautiful acres of countryside, and we shifted the AGA by just six inches so it cleared the window, allowing us to create a beautiful tiled splashback using Spitalfields Encaustic tiles by Ca'Pietra.


Burlanes bespoke Wellsdown kitchen in Kent. ©Sarah London Photographer.

The Cabinetry
In line with Lucy's brief, our Wellsdown shaker cabinetry with cockbead detail was the perfect choice. Lucy wanted to keep the original terracotta tiles that run throughout the house, so it was important to find a colour that not only complemented the tiles, but worked well with the cabinetry and style of the property too. Lucy tried a rainbow of tester pots before settling on 'Artillery Ground' by Mylands, combined with quartz worktops and beautiful burnished brass handles and hardware; delivering the modern, rustic feel without compromising the period features.


Burlanes bespoke Wellsdown kitchen in Kent. ©Sarah London Photographer.

Storage Solutions
Our design team worked with Lucy to configure the best use of space, and clever storage solutions were designed to fit around the original 17th century supporting beams that dominate the kitchen and dining room.


Burlanes bespoke Wellsdown kitchen in Kent. ©Sarah London Photographer.

A mixture of drawers and cupboards were a must when designing this kitchen, as Lucy wanted to ensure everything had a place from the outset, making meal times and preparing food much easier! The rubbish bins were also integrated into the kitchen island, as was the dishwasher too, all within easy reach of the kitchen sink; the perfect kitchen working triangle. Open shelving was also created in the island for recipe cards and cookbooks. 


Burlanes bespoke Wellsdown kitchen in Kent. ©Sarah London Photographer.

The Details
Making the AGA work within the new kitchen design was also a priority, as it was inherited by the previous homeowners, and something Lucy really wanted to keep and use. 


Burlanes bespoke Wellsdown kitchen in Kent. ©Sarah London Photographer.

Opting for a Quooker boiling water tap not only saves time and energy, it also frees up worktop space as there is no longer the need for a kettle. Lucy opted for a Perrin & Rowe mixer tap, a pull out pan wash and a Quooker boiling water tap. She says next time she would splash out on brass taps in keeping with the rest of the hardware in the kitchen.


Burlanes bespoke Wellsdown kitchen in Kent. ©Sarah London Photographer.

With such low ceilings and small windows, the room is dark at all times throughout the day. Opting for the white worktops helps balance brightness, and Lucy's choice of mix and match lighting around the room finishes off the look perfectly. The urban styling of the finished kitchen brings the look together so well; we love seeing how our customers style their new spaces!


Burlanes bespoke Wellsdown kitchen in Kent. ©Sarah London Photographer.


Burlanes bespoke Wellsdown kitchen in Kent. ©Sarah London Photographer.

The Dining Room
Bricking up one of the archways from the kitchen to the dining room was such an essential design feature to the overall finish of this room, and it was definitely the best decision to make! Open-plan living is fantastic, especially when you have children, but it still gives Lucy the essential space needed in the kitchen for prepping food and meal times. 


Burlanes bespoke Wellsdown kitchen in Kent. ©Sarah London Photographer.

Lucy first saw our flamingo mural on the wall at Burlanes Sevenoaks back in 2014, and knew all along that she would one day like one similar in her home. When designing her kitchen-diner, it slotted perfectly into our Sevenoaks design team's vision!


Burlanes bespoke Wellsdown kitchen in Kent. ©Sarah London Photographer.

Our design team are specialists in what they do, and our bespoke service means that we design, handmake and install your furniture to suit your needs and lifestyle perfectly. If you are looking for inspiration or advice on your project, pop into one of our showrooms for a chat with our design team, or call us to book an appointment or home visit.

We provide a bespoke service from the first meeting to the final handover of a project. By listening to our clients' needs and working with them closely every step of the way; the result is a living space that works for lifestyle and budget.

Lucy's fabulous kitchen has been featured in both Essential Kitchen Bathroom Bedroom Magazine, and Country Homes & Interiors Magazine too!

Visit our press page to read more about the press coverage Burlanes have received. 

Burlanes bespoke Wellsdown kitchen in Kent, featured in November 2021's Country Homes & Interiors Magazine. ©Sarah London Photography.


Burlanes bespoke Wellsdown kitchen in Kent, featured in December 2019's Ekbb Magazine. ©Fiona Walker Arnott.