Creating a kitchen for entertaining

When Sam and Amy Dowell moved into their beautiful detached house in Chepstow, they soon realised the layout was ill-suited to their lifestyle. After some deliberation the couple rolled up their sleeves and embarked on a renovation project, knocking down a wall to create a big open-plan kitchen and living space. The existing closed-off kitchen just wasn’t suited to the lifestyle of a young family and they also wanted a more generous entertaining space.

First decisions

The search was on for the perfect kitchen to suit the newly opened up space. Unfortunately, after countless showroom visits and strenuous research, the couple felt disheartened by the standard of kitchens they had seen. And some of the bespoke open-plan kitchen options came with hefty price tags.

Finally, Sam and Amy stumbled across Masterclass Kitchens. From here it was plain sailing to create a traditional open-plan kitchen with a contemporary twist – one that would work seamlessly with the rest of the house. Masterclass Kitchens also offered the practical storage options they needed.

Setting the scene

Sam and Amy opted for Masterclass Kitchens’ Hardwick shaker range for its design features and traditional styling. The painted doors provide a subtle glimpse of the wood grain beneath, and neatly link to the Tuscan Walnut drinks cabinet and wine drawers. For a contemporary twist, the units are in Graphite and Farringdon Grey with solid white quartz worktops.

The ideal island

As with most open-plan kitchens, the freestanding island plays an essential role in the look and functionality of the space. It neatly divides the kitchen from the dining and living area without blocking views and allows whoever is cooking at the hob keep an eye on young children or chat to guests. A downdraught extractor whisks away cooking steam without obstructing the room. On one side, the island has a seating spot for casual eating, and on the other, spacious drawers.

An eye-catching focal point

With their love for entertaining friends and family, a drinks cabinet was a must-have for this couple’s open-plan kitchen. They opted for the Connery cocktail cabinet to give the kitchen a sense of occasion. The open cabinet with a luxurious Tuscan Walnut finish makes an eye-catching display and provides the couple with ample drinks storage.