The Decolane Family Kitchen In Upminster

Nestled away in a quiet street in Upminster is the most unassuming house from the road side, which opens up into a stunning array of rooms with so much charm and personality. 

The homeowner, Charley, had undertaken a huge renovation project of the horseshoe shaped property, and wanted to create an open-plan family kitchen and utility in keeping with the eclectic style of the rest of her home. 

"I visited a number of kitchen showrooms, but struggled to find a designer that really understood my style. Helen at Burlanes was great. The Chelmsford Design Studio is so welcoming and Helen really took the time to understand what I wanted to achieve, and designed the perfect space for us." - Charley Davies. 

Helen Gulutu, Burlanes Chelmsfords' studio manager, worked closely with Charley to create a kitchen design that maximised all available space in the long, narrow room. 

An unusual layout, the kitchen is a long, narrow space, so maximising storage solutions was essential. 

A combination of tall cabinetry, wall units and a stunning kitchen island ticks all the boxes of the brief, with an overhang of worktop creating a breakfast bar area too.

Handpainted in Borough Market by Mylands, our Decolane cabinetry was the perfect choice; a contemporary twist on the classic shaker kitchen.

Initially an unused space between the living room and the open-plan kitchen, Helen created a unique slimline breakfast pantry design to slot seamlessly into the walkway. 

"A breakfast pantry is the perfect design choice for an area that may be a little way from the main kitchen run" says Helen. "Bi-fold doors conceal lots of storage for cereals, breads and condiments, and plug sockets even allow for a slimline toaster and a Nespresso machine too." 

Bi-fold doors are a great design choice for breakfast pantries, as they can be left open when needed without causing an obstruction in the room.

With limited worktop space, a Quooker boiling water tap eradicated the need for a kettle, and the 3 litre tank is the perfect compact size to fit seamlessly into a base cabinet beneath the sink. Charley opted for the Classic Round Quooker tap in a gold finish, complementing the finish of the handles and hardware perfectly. 

Just off the kitchen is a small utility space that was in need of a unique design to ensure there was enough space for both the washing machine and tumble dryer.

We were able to create a truly bespoke floor-to-ceiling storage solution to stack the appliances safely, within reach, and allowing room for storage for cleaning supplies such as washing tablets, the ironing board and the vacuum cleaner.

The boiler was also taken into consideration when designing the utility space too; with Helen ensuring the cabinetry would be deep enough to conceal and house the boiler and pipework. 

Yet another little nook of unusable space, Helen worked with Charley to create the perfect dog food storage by the back door of the property. Truly bespoke furniture gives you the option to create beautiful furniture in even the smallest of spaces!

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 design studios 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.