Kitchen of the Week: Modern Glass Brightens an 1845 Home

A historic home’s quirks, nooks and crannies can lose their charm when it comes to the kitchen. As the homeowners of this 1845 London home discovered, a 19th-century kitchen is no treat to cook in, no matter how cute it looks. Tired of cramming into their 40-square-foot cooking space, the family hired architect Andrew Dunning to bring in more room, functionality and sparkle. His solution: a stunning glass addition that floods the space with light.

Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A family with grown children
Location: Islington district, Greater London
Size: 350 square feet (including dining room)

Dunning’s priority was to bring sunlight into the old, dark kitchen. “The clients always had to switch on the lights when they walked into the kitchen,” he says. Not anymore.

The owners love to cook and entertain, so Dunning had to figure out how to fit a fully stocked kitchen and a dining room into 350 square feet. His U-shape design manages to squeeze in a dishwasher, a wine refrigerator, a stovetop and an oven into the peninsulas.

Countertops: solid surface, Maia Worktops; cabinetry: custom designed and supplied by APD interiors; stovetop, refrigerator: Miele; wine fridge: Miele; sink, faucet: Blanco; range hood: Westin





The original house had plenty of charm but squished the kitchen into 40 square feet, with little light or air circulation. The adjacent dining room, on the other hand, was much larger than necessary. There was also a small utility shed, seen here, that had the laundry and hot-water heater inside.


AFTER: Dunning moved the laundry and hot-water heater inside to extend the kitchen and open the entrance.


The modern glass addition celebrates the contrast between the new part of the home and the original brickwork. The superstrong structural glass is welded to the house for a sturdy construction.





Dunning evenly divided the added square footage between the kitchen and the dining room.

A wood-burning stove and heirloom furniture pay tribute to the home’s age, while white walls and tile floors nod to the owners’ modern tastes. Walnut accents bring warmth and color to the mix.

Flooring: Reed Harris Tiles

URL: Kitchen of the Week: Modern Glass Brightens an 1845 Home http://www.decor-ideas.org/cases-view-id-22076.html