Designing a kitchen is perhaps the most important decision you can make when it comes to renovating a home, and it is a decision that musician Lily Allen and actor David Harbour took seriously when it came to their Brooklyn townhouse.
With the expertise of interior designer Billy Cotton and architect Ben Bischoff of MADE, Lily Allen and David Harbour have cleverly combined traditional English, Italian, and American design to create a delightful kitchen that doesn't disappoint.
It was an Italian designer and architect, Lorenzo Mongiardino, who said that the secret of decorating was to ‘mix the high with the low’. This space is the decorating equivalent of an outfit that mixes vintage, designer and Main Street. It requires a good eye and a certain aesthetic courage. If you get it right, it should seem effortless.
In fact, despite the beige kitchen color scheme and predominantly traditional kitchen design, nothing is boring about this Plain English kitchen. The almost seamless combination of differing styles and eras is truly inspiring.
There is no standard template for a traditional kitchen with flair and intrigue, similar to Allen and Harbour's, simply it must be warm, welcoming and filled with heritage-inspired elements. Get the look by embracing softly-grained woods, natural materials, enduring quiet luxury color schemes, marble kitchen countertops, and shelving displaying things you love.
In the high-end kitchens of the past, marble was an essential material. Its high thermal conductivity means that the stone is typically a few degrees cooler than room temperature – something that was invaluable pre-refrigeration. Marble is also heat resistant and can be durable when repeatedly treated. If you love the look but have a smaller budget, marble-effect worktops are a cost-effective alternative.
Another important element to point out is the cream kitchen color scheme. The ultimate neutral, it's just as timeless as white or gray, but sunnier and more welcoming for larger or light-starved kitchens that will feel less like home in cooler tones.
Using a neutral like cream opens up the opportunity to use color and pattern because it’s so versatile. We love the idea of incorporating decorative gingham, as shown here – it creates a focal point and adds an exciting element to the space. Decorating with gingham is a great way to bring a touch of pattern and softness to kitchen diners, especially those with strong architectural features.
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