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Furniture - maker Nick Clayton mixed business and pleasure when he built a new kitchen for himself and his wife Linda.
To have a work - live home has been a long - held dream for fumiture - maker Nick Clayton and his wife Linda, a writer. So, while their property search was initially prompted by their need for a bigger, more family - friendly home, the focus soon turned to workshop/showroom and office space. In the end, neither of us took much notice of the house, it was all about cubic feet for the business and vehicle access for deliveries/ recalls Nick, who set up his bespoke furniture company, Clayton Cabinets, in 2001.
Finding a suitable yet affordable location in Devon within their price range was no mean feat. When a dilapidated cottage and a series of bams came onto the market just eight miles from where they grew up, the Claytons were quick to act. As is often the case, the building work on the workshops blew the couples budget and there wasnt much left for a showroom, nor the refurbishment of their home. We needed a new kitchen for the house and also a display area to showcase my kitchen - making skills to potential customers. With our first baby on the way, money was tight, so it made sense to combine the two, explains Nick.
PLANNING THE LAYOUT
Once a warren of dark rooms on several levels, the house was originally a bam with a narrow extension that had been used as a pigsty. It was converted into rental dwellings 20 years ago on a shoestring budget, so Nick and Linda took the building back to its roots, installing new foundations, insulation, windows and replacing the leaky tin roof with tiles. They also removed a number of walls and a ceiling, creating an L - shaped kitchen - diner that is open to the roofs apex on one side. We did a lot of levelling with a digger, but its still quite an awkward shape, with steps up to the dining area and a rather low ceiling in the main kitchen, says Nick. The layout was partly dictated by the range cooker, which could only be sited on one wall because of the flue position, and Linda also wanted the sink under a window so that she could look out to the garden and yard. I tried to get as much worksurface as I could around the cooker and sink, and added a curved breakfast bar in oak, which also provides a good area for baking, explains Nick.
Installing pale painted cabinets in the lower ceiling area helps improve the sense of light, as does a scattering of low - energy downlights in the ceiling, plus spotlights on the extractor hood and inside the bookshelf alcove. The large front door is fully glazed and also has glass side lights to bring in more sunlight, adds Nick.
A STYLISH COMBINATION
To maximise the business potential of their kitchen, Nick wanted to feature as many door styles and cabinetry construction options as possible. The challenge lay in creating a harmonious blend of different designs without it looking like a "dogs dinner", recalls Nick. To do this, the design features a contemporary flat - fronted door, a more classical Shaker version, and then a traditional Georgian design.
The choice and combination of finishes helps unite the separate styles. "While there is definition between the modern and classic parts of the kitchen, there are small accents of each material choice throughout. For example, the modern side is primarily walnut, but it has an oak and painted plate rack and glass wall cabinet that helps link it to the more traditional furniture opposite, explains Nick.
On a more practical level, the cabinet construction covers lots of options, from solid - oak pan drawers with dovetail joints, to inexpensive melamine with mass - produced steel sides and runners. While the walnut doors sit on the base units, the Shaker and Georgian are both in - frame. "The choice of construction has an impact on the end price you pay for a kitchen, so I wanted to show as much as I could. That way, customers can make an informed decision and understand what theyre getting in terms of quality and feel, explains Nick.
ALL THE BELLS AND WHISTLES
Initially, Linda was a little apprehensive about the idea of clients visiting her kitchen, and of having to keep it show - kitchen clean with a baby, two cats and a dog in residence. However, she was soon won round by the promise of getting top - spec features installed in her kitchen. One she particularly likes is the Le Mans corner unit. Its by far the best way to make the most of a corner unit, but it can be hard to explain on paper, so it was worth the investment, says Nick.
To demonstrate the benefits of choosing bespoke, all the drawers are fitted with individual storage separators - sized to suit the familys utensils - and Linda is especially pleased with her larder cabinet. The drawers and baskets are the perfect height for the foods that we love to eat. The top drawer is very low and tin cans are laid horizontally so I can see the labels rather than the tops. Ive also been promised spice racks on the inside of the doors, she says.
MAKING IT WORK
As their forever home, Nick was conscious that it had to function as a proper family kitchen and couldnt be for display purposes only. He was quite keen to install a continuous - heat range cooker as he grew up with one, but was also interested in the speed and efficiency of the latest induction hobs and electric fan ovens. We have a large extended family and Linda loves baking, so all the cooking appliances are in frequent use, but its also helpful to have back - up for the summer months when the range is turned off. says Nick.
Most importantly, the couple wanted to achieve a homely kitchen that feels welcoming to both their friends and customers alike. The traditional cabinets, with the mantel over the range, is particularly inviting as you enter, while the more exotic walnut units have that all - important wow factor. Balancing the needs of both my family and the business was quite a challenge, but weve managed to achieve our dream lifestyle and prove that you can enjoy a wonderful bespoke kitchen without breaking the bank, concludes Nick.
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