Page 26 - ESPC Premier Living AW19

Premier LIVING

Fiona Mercer of Kitchens
International reveals how AMERICAN

she was inspired to design
both classic design elements with highly INFLUENCE
this statement room

CREATING a kitchen that would combine

contemporary furniture was a dream for
Kitchen’s International’s Designer Fiona
Mercer. With a love of New York State Housed in a new three by nine-and-a- top, as well as a ceiling feature to bring
houses, especially those in the Hamptons, half-metre extension, incorporating the additional light over the cooking area.
Fiona drew on these designs as inspiration existing kitchen and dining room, the To give the client hidden storage,
for this large family kitchen. The client new kitchen was a large open-plan space Fiona created two slide back units
loves to cook and entertain, regularly filled with light from large glass windows with additional worktop space inside.
hosting dinner parties for 10 to 12 and doors. With a desire for a rough This meant that items such as food
people, so Fiona had to design different industrial look, brick detailing was included processors that needed to be permanently
areas for cooking, dining and relaxing. and the Timothy Oulton bar stools were plugged in could be hidden away.
Originally the client wanted to build wrapped in sheets of industrial metal. The clients were not prepared for the
an entirely new house, but after running Stoneham kitchens were employed final look – they describe it as “having
into unexpected issues they decided to to manufacture the kitchen, with a real wow factor” and “absolutely
transform their existing kitchen into an special cornicing and curved panels stunning” and couldn’t be happier with
open-plan, state-of-the-art space that to exude elegance. Painted in it. The new kitchen allows for endless
met all their demands. Fiona said: “We Thunder Grey and Dove Grey, the entertaining with ease, as well as being a
worked closely with the client from the cabinets were complemented by very comfortable everyday family kitchen
beginning, looking at everything from the large Sub Zero appliances, notably for the couple and their teenage children.
size and shape of the room to the best a wine cooler, fridge, freezer, A design like this is what singles
design layout. The kitchen was about warming drawer, hobs and ovens. Kitchens International out from the
making a real statement which would be Given that the kitchen has a unique crowd and earns them accolades such as
the main focus of the house, incorporating design, special bespoke units were created Kitchen Retailer of the Year 2019. Even
the highest quality finishes and to house all the appliances. Fiona also Fiona, the designer, is thrilled at how
equipment, which made the design both designed an office area in the kitchen well this contemporary kitchen works.
interesting, challenging and satisfying.” with a filing system and pull-out table p kitchensinternational.co.uk
26 ESPC Premier Living

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