Roman Holiday: A Home Without Boundaries
Glamour and scale are the two things that strike you upon entering this immaculate culinary space. On the outskirts of historic Colchester, surrounded by vast swathes of garden and mature trees (visible through equally expansive sliding doors), this contemporary kitchen would be just as at home in a five-star hotel as it is in the domestic bliss of South East England.
Such a sizable space would present both a challenge and an opportunity for any designer, with so much to play with you are spoiled for choice. It requires smart decision making and bold choices in equal measure to optimise it both functionally and aesthetically, and it is clear that such a challenge has been met with finesse.
Fit for a five-star hotel
Taking its cue from the rest of the house, this is a space that’s made to be experienced – both by the residents going about their daily rituals and by illustrious guests. Where bathrooms feature huge marble effect tiles, elaborate fixtures and private steam rooms, the kitchen is where, at any given moment, you could throw the party of the ages or simply enjoy breakfast with the family with equal ease.
To make best use of the space, designers have configured it into clearly defined zones that flow from one to the next. There’s a cooking area, a utility space (separate from the home’s utility room), two immense islands (one in the shape of an L), a lounge area and a dining room, all with their own sense of intimacy and conviviality.
Scale has been embraced with unapologetic largesse. The expansive stainless steel Sub Zero Fridges & Wolf ovens, including a state-of-the-art glass-fronted wine fridge, stand pride of place. Favoured by the world’s finest kitchens and celebrity chefs, they are nestled between smoked wood cabinets and are intended to be on display, right down to the precision presentation of the Dom Perignon.
The threads that bind us
You get the distinct sense that nothing is by accident in this home – the nickel gloss vitrine cabinets; the strategically placed plants- the green of which reflects the outside and introduces a tone that threads through the other spaces on pine green full grain leather bar stools; a marble effect stone wall backdrop – perfectly positioned for pouring the Cristal and holding court during an evening of entertainment.
In the living space the soft fabric of the sofa reflects the concrete tile floor, while the mid-room glass fireplace has an aged bronze chimney that mimics the back painted glass behind a mounted Bang & Olufsen television. It is the second of two televisions, with the other located by the kitchen workspace.
Under the Romans, Colchester was the UK’s capital city and while time may have marched on in that respect, this is a property that such masters of civilisation would surely be proud of.
