Paul Dyer

Architecture & Interior Design: David Heide Design Studio -- Photos: Susan Gilmore

Situated just south of Kensington Palace and Gardens (one of the most prestigious locations in London), we find this lovely slim U-shaped kitchen full of style and beauty. Smaller in size but the sleek lines are still evident in this project within the tall cornices and external skirting. We loved working in this stately Victorian building! Our client’s luxury bespoke kitchen journey began with a visit to The Handmade Kitchen Co showroom. The couple were able to see the exquisite quality of our furniture for themselves which would provide them with a unique and personal space that would be loved for many years to come. Our client wanted to showcase their impeccably good taste and opted for our Traditional Raised shaker. It has been highlighted with a black paint hand-painted onto the cabinets known as Black Beauty by Benjamin Moore. It’s a rich shade of black with a hint of warmth. Versatile and sophisticated, black is a colour that can enhance any style of home, whether cosy or chic, soft or bold. Incorporating black paint, whether subtly or boldly, can make a significant impact on interior design. This kitchen isn’t just a culinary experience but is designed to make memories with loved ones in the space they call the heart of the home. Enhancing the cooking journey is the Rangemaster Classic Deluxe 110cm Dual Fuel Range Cooking in Black & Brass Trim which has been put alongside the cutting-edge Westin Prime extractor. Having a clear direction of how our clients wanted their kitchen style, they opted for a Nivito Brass sink, Quooker PRO3 Fusion Round Tap in Gold & Quooker Cube and a Quooker Soak Dispenser in Gold. All three items instantly add grandeur to the space, while maintaining a balanced and understated presence. To offset the boldness of the Black Beauty cabinetry, the Calacatta Viola Marble Honed worktops provide a striking contrast with their pristine polished finish. This juxtaposition creates a visually captivating and inviting kitchen space. The intricate features make up the kitchen design and the ones in this space are the decorative cornices and the Armac Martin ‘Bakes’ cabinet handles in burnished brass. Throughout this London townhouse, there was beautiful scribing in each room. Our client wanted it to flow nicely throughout the whole property and added it to the rooms we designed – the kitchen and bedroom. Adding to the theme and grandeur of the building, these decorative cornices look beautiful amongst the high ceilings.

This beautiful kitchen is full of clever details and wonderful materials which make it a totally delightful space

2019 Chrysalis Award Winner for Historical Renovation Project by Advance Design Studio Photography by Joe Nowak Design by Michelle Lecinski

Michael J. Lee

Дизайн проекта - студия Enjoy Home, стиль - Дарья Соболева, фото - Михаил Лоскутов.

Curtis and Peggy had been thinking of a kitchen remodel for quite some time, but they knew their house would have a unique set of challenges. Their older Victorian house was built in 1891. The kitchen cabinetry was original, and they wanted to keep the authenticity of their period home while adding modern comforts that would improve their quality of life. A friend recommended Advance Design Studio for their exceptional experience and quality of work. After meeting with designer Michelle Lecinski at Advance Design, they were confident they could partner with Advance to accomplish the unique kitchen renovation they’d been talking about for years. “We wanted to do the kitchen for a long, long time,” Curtis said. “(We asked ourselves) what are we actually going to do? How are we going to do this? And who are we going to find to do exactly what we want?” The goal for the project was to keep the home renovation and new kitchen feeling authentic to the time in which it was built. They desperately wanted the modern comforts that come with a larger refrigerator and the dishwasher that they never had! The old home was also a bit drafty so adding a fireplace, wall insulation and new windows became a priority. They very much wanted to create a comfortable hearth room adjacent to the kitchen, complete with old world brick. The original cabinetry had to go to make way for beautiful new kitchen cabinetry that appears as if it was a hundred years old, but with all the benefits of cutting-edge storage, self-closing drawers, and a brand-new look. “We just wanted to keep it old looking, but with some modern updates,” Peggy said. Dura Supreme Highland Cabinets with a Heritage Old World Painted Finish replaced the original 1891 cabinets. The hand-applied careful rubbed-off detailing makes these exquisite cabinets look as if they came from a far-gone era. Despite the small size of the kitchen, Peggy, Curtis and Michelle utilized every inch with custom cabinet sizes to increase storage capacity. The custom cabinets allowed for the addition of a 24” Fisher Paykel dishwasher with a concealing Dura Supreme door panel. Michelle was also able to work into the new design a larger 30” Fisher Paykel French refrigerator. “We made every ¼ inch count in this small space,” designer Michelle said. “Having the ability to custom size the cabinetry was the only way to achieve this.” “The kitchen essentially was designed around the Heartland Vintage range and oven,” says Michelle. A classic appliance that combines nostalgic beauty and craftsmanship for modern cooking, with nickel plated trim and elegantly shaped handles and legs; the not to miss range is a striking focal point of the entire room and an engaging conversation piece. Granite countertops in Kodiak Satin with subtle veining kept with the old-world style. The delicate porcelain La Vie Crackle Sonoma tile kitchen backsplash compliments the home’s style perfectly. A handcrafted passthrough designed to show off Peggy’s fine china was custom built by project carpenters Justin Davis and Jeff Dallain to physically and visually open the space. Additional storage was created in the custom panty room with Latte Edinburg cabinets, hand-made weathered wood shelving with authentic black iron brackets, and an intricate tin copper ceiling. Peggy and Curtis loved the idea of adding a Vermont stove to make the hearth-room not only functional, but a truly beckoning place to be. A stunning Bordeaux red Vermont Castings Stove with crisp black ventilation was chosen and combined with the authentic reclaimed Chicago brick wall. Advance’s talented carpenters custom-built elegant weathered shelves to house family memorabilia, installed carefully chosen barn sconces, and made the hearth room an inviting place to relax with a cup of coffee and a good book. “Peggy and Curtis’ project was so much fun to work on. Creating a space that looks and feels like it always belonged in this beautiful old Victorian home is a designer’s dream. To see the delight in their faces when they saw the design details coming together truly made it worth the time and effort that went into making the very compact kitchen space work”, said Michelle. “The result is an amazing custom kitchen, packed with functionality in every inch, nook and cranny!” exclaims Michelle. The renovation didn’t end with the kitchen. New Pella windows were added to help lessen the drafts. The removal of the original windows and trim necessitated the re-creation of hand-made corbels and trim details no longer available today. The talented carpenter team came to the rescue, crafting new pieces and masterfully finishing them as if they were always there. New custom gutters were formed and installed with a front entry rework necessary to accommodate the changes. The whole house functions better, but it still feels like the original 1891 home. “From start to finish it’s just a much better space than we used to have,” Peggy said. “Jeff and Justin were amazing.” Curtis added; “We were lucky to find Advance Design, because they really came through for us. I loved that they had everything in house, anything you needed to have done, they could do it”.

A full refurbishment of a beautiful four-storey Victorian town house in Holland Park. We had the pleasure of collaborating with the client and architects, Crawford and Gray, to create this classic full interior fit-out.

This all white kitchen is in a completely renovated historic Victorian mansion in Lakeview and has traditional detailing with all the bells and whistles of a modern design. Photos by Jim Tschetter