Grey Lynn Cottage

This historic cottage on a small Grey Lynn site needed to be modernised and extended. In response, the original kitchen/bathroom lean-too that was tacked onto the back of the cottage was demolished and replaced with a new extension, following the main roof lines. Inside, the newly formed open-plan living/kitchen/dining area opens up to the northern courtyard garden via a full-height wall of glass doors. In the kitchen, it was decided to run the new timber flooring under a floating island and up the back wall. This new timber wall is a modern nod to match the lining of kitchens of old and also acts as a textural contrast to the white cabinetry. The island is the kitchen as there is no back workbench. This was conceived due to the limited width available in the room. It has a Corian top with waterfall ends and an integrated Corian sink. The drawers have a paint finish and cut-out handles for a clean line whilst adding visual interest. The tap is a Zenith that dispenses both boiling and chilled water and normal 'tap' water, so only one unit is required. The island also houses a dishdrawer and hob. The floor behind the island is in a practical, hardwearing slate. At one end of the island is a wall of cabinetry, which continues into the open-plan living area. At the kitchen end, it contains a large pantry, an oven, an integrated fridge, and crockery cupboards. The fridge and pantry handles are custom-made from Corian. The window above the oven gives a view out to the street. At the other end of the island is a round, built-in table for six, which sits adjacent to the sliding doors that open out onto the courtyard. A skylight over the island provides additional lighting by day, with strip LEDs on magnetic track and ceiling spots and feature pendant, by night. The challenge with the ensuite bathroom was space. The critical decision was to have the wash hand basin in front of the villa window, facing the street, which allowed a free-standing bath at one end of the room and a shower and toilet at the other. The free-standing wash hand basin has a tower tap at its side, with a mirrored vanity cabinet supported by a stainless-steel pole above. The shuttered window is adjustable for light and adds texture to the room. To gain more light into the ensuite, the door from the walk-in wardrobe is glazed. And to keep the ensuite as spacious as possible, a white shower curtain was used, which also provides a softness to the room. The free-standing bath has a feature light, and there are two vertical heated towel poles to drape towels over. The wall tiles have a linen pattern, chosen for texture. The result is a quiet, uncluttered retreat.This project is the winner of the prestigious TIDA Architect-Designed Kitchen Award 2022. Photography Credit: Jamie Cobel.