BESPOKE CABINETRY Tulipwood furniture from the Woodcroft range by Cymru Kitchens has been hand-painted in Pavilion Gray by Farrow & Ball and finished with D handles WORKTOPS Verde Ubatuba granite surfaces top the base units, while a deep timber breakfast bar echoes the wooden elements elsewhere in the room

As seen in MAGAZINE

.this modern take on classic Shaker style
EMMA AND SIMON MORGAN LIVE IN A five-BEDROOM HOUSE IN SOUTH WALES WITH THEIR CHILDREN, THOMAS, 14, CHARLIE, 11, AND TESS, EIGHT, and dog BITSEY AND PUDDING THE CAT Having lived in their period home on the Welsh border for 15 years, it wasnt before time that Emma and Simon Morgan embarked on a kitchen renovation. Simon kept asking me why we hadnt redone the kitchen but I think I was biding my time until I knew exactly how I wanted it to look. I also couldnt justify moving in and ripping out a functional kitchen right away, remembers Emma. However, once the couple decided it was time to ring the changes, Emma began trawling the pages of glossy homes magazines in search of her dream kitchen. It was in an issue of Beautiful Kitchens that I found exactly what I was looking for! she reveals. I tore out the page and kept it to remind me of where I started with the idea. Working within the framework of the existing kitchen, Emma and Simon looked to Cymru Kitchens, a company they had found to be very helpful, for guidance on layout, planning and design. There were limitations to what we could do without completely restructuring the room but design is all about compromise, says Emma. We were quite adamant that we should keep the functional aspects, such as the cooker and sink, where they were, as there was no real need to relocate them and incur extra cost. Instead, we spent the money knocking down the walls of the old walk-in pantry and gained a fantastic dining space. Not only did this offer the Morgans a practical addition but a new window with views of the back garden also allowed lots of extra light to flood into the space. Knowing that she wanted slate floor tiles for their rich shade and texture, Emmas colour choice for the cabinetry
THE OWNER Emma enjoys the views of the surrounding countryside location and River Severn in the distance. A view this good makes washing dishes almost a pleasure! she laughs
I found exactly what I was looking for in an issue of Beautiful Kitchens
Once Emma and Simon Morgan discovered their cool, country-style kitchen design, it was just a case of turning the dream into a reality

Beautiful kitchens 43

had to complement the flooring. The calming pale bluegrey shade she chose does just that. It helps retain a sense of space and light but is prevented from looking too clinical with a warm wood breakfast bar on the island and a chunky piece of timber within the overmantel. Dark granite worktops elsewhere echo the stone floor. Despite having a clear idea of the stylish result she was after, Emma says that having a kitchen company look after every step of the planning, design and installation process was invaluable. Nothing could have prepared me for living without my kitchen for so long. So, having a team on which I could rely, took away any element of doubt or worry I had, she remembers. Now that the kitchen is finished, Emma concludes that the new room, and all the hard work that went into the installation, has been worth it. It took me long enough to pluck up the courage to go for it but the result is reward enough. Now the children can sit and do homework or crafts at the table, chat to me while sitting at the breakfast bar if Im cooking dinner or snuggle up on the sofa and read. All three love coming home from school and spending time doing what they enjoy. Our new kitchen has given us more quality time together, she smiles. BK
The Aga was my indulgence. It helps to keep me organised as i can leave dinner in the bottom oven for when the kids get home from school
LARDER CUPBOARD Emma asked for lots of storage in her new kitchen. This floorto-ceiling cupboard is perfect for housing dry goods, while her collection of aprons have a permanent home on the side

WET AREA A Classic Shaker 900 double-bowl sink by Shaws of Darwen is in keeping with the period style of the house, while a bridge-mounted Ionian tap by Perrin & Rowe has porcelain levers to match the sinks ceramic finish COOKER Emma replaced her existing range with a sleek, navy Aga. Our house dates back to the 15th century, so its nice to have that real mix of old and new, she says
FLOORING Grey Riven slate tiles from Mandarin Stone were the starting point for the familys smoky blue scheme BLINDS For similar blind fabric, try Austen from Laura Ashley
FEATURE Nicola Wilkes PHOTOGRAPHY Matt Cant
Slate floors look great but need to be sealed to protect them from grease, scratches and dirt. See page 144 for more about flooring choices

44 Beautiful kitchens

GU CE I Starting

15,000

for a Cymru Kitchens design

THE KITCHEN AT A GLANCE

DESIGN & CABINETRY
William Fox at Cymru Kitchens, Old Mineral Water Factory, Turner Street, Newport, South Wales NP19 7BA (01633 676767) www.cymrukitchens.com B espoke, hand-painted tulipwood cabinetry with glass doors from the Woodcroft range

WORKTOPS

n Verde n
Ubatuba granite. Price per linear m, approx Oak. Total cost, including templating and fitting

350 500

FLOORING

n G rey

Riven slate tiles, Mandarin Stone. Price per sq m, from 18.80

SINK & TAP

n Classic n
Shaker 900 double-bowl ceramic sink, Shaws of Darwen 435 4193CPWPC Ionian two-hole monobloc mixer tap with deck-mounted porcelain levers, Perrin & Rowe 251

APPLIANCES (shown)

dual-fuel Aga in Dark Blue, approx 8,000 n NNST477SBPQ built-in microwave, Panasonic 150 n Existing integrated fridge freezer, for similar try S85628SK1, AEG-Electrolux 1,575

n Four-oven,

APPLIANCES (not shown)
COOL STORAGE Emma and Simon kept their existing fridge freezer but asked Cymru Kitchens to build in plenty of storage and shelves around it. Now everyone thinks its new, reveals Emma

n Fully

integrated dishwasher, Bosch

plan scale

For stockists, see page 152 1cm:1m
DINING AREA The couple re-sanded their 14-year-old Habitat dining table and bought new chairs to go with it. For similar, try Clio chairs by Danetti. Its made all the difference and the table now looks clean and modern revived just like the kitchen, smiles Emma

microwave