The Yellow Canterbury Kitchen

The Design

By sheer coincidence, the owners first came across the property when an old school friend was in the middle of renovating it and applying for a change of use. “This house had been a doctor’s surgery until 2021, it was actually my doctor’s when I was a child! You could still see where the receptionists sat, where the ceiling rail was for the curtain round the examination couch! Even then I recognised what a great house it was, the rooms were so generous and the ceilings so high, and it felt solid.”

Before the sale went public, the couple visited. “I dragged Jo along to see it and she fell for it just like me.”

They both knew this was a house with incredible bones and good energy, but it needed space to breathe.

The couple knew they would need an extension for the property to work for them, the kitchen was not large enough for a table of more than 4. Once they moved in they immediately began the work in turning the property into their forever home, although there was a delay when the council required they have an archaeological dig.

“By March 2024 we’d submitted our plans, which were granted in June that year. Then we had to wait while the archaeologists took about two months to scratch around in the mud (for nought sadly) which cost us £10,000 for the privilege! Finally, we started to dig the foundations in early October.”

In the kitchen, one layout challenge became a design opportunity. “We couldn’t fit the wine fridge into the U-shape unless we lost the bookcase at the end of the run next to the tall fridge and freezer. I really liked the bookcase where it was planned to be and thought a big slab of yellow as an end to that run without it would be a bit overwhelming.”

The solution came through Ella their designer. “She designed a drinks cabinet that incorporated the fridge but also looked very smart with hanging racks for glasses and an antique mirrored back. It stood opposite the kitchen and actually made a nice link to the colour and design, creating a kind of holistic arc.”

Details mattered, too. “We had to decide whether to spend a little more on antique brass for the tap and Quooker tap, glad we did. Jo thought the antique brass pot filler was an unnecessary expense, but I thought it served a design function as well as being useful. We both like it , it breaks up the large splashback, it’s central but with a little asymmetry, and it’s useful.”

The new kitchen has become the real hub of their home. “We are in here all the time! The kitchen has rather made the front reception room a bit redundant … but we haven’t done a Christmas here yet so maybe it will come into its own as a quiet space. The new kitchen is definitely a party space.”

The Details: Colours, Handles & Bespoke Details

The client chose a bespoke colour for the cabinetry in the project, with a walnut interior! The handles are beautiful Armac Martins in Burnished Brass. The tap is from Perrin and Rowe and a boiling water tap from Quooker. The worktop is Dekton Laurant, which looks wonderful with the black sink.

The client sourced their island from a vintage reseller, which looks great in the space.

The couple were drawn to Herringbone’s confident use of colour and commitment to craftsmanship. “We loved the bold colours and found that we could rely on you for great communication. We loved that you used solid wood and made everything yourselves here rather than bringing it all in from China like some well-known firms that pretend to be authentic British made. The design seemed immaculate with great attention to detail. ”

The experience extended beyond the design. “Your new showroom in central Canterbury is even more inspiring, it’s a pleasure to visit. We didn’t know this at the time we chose Herringbone but it turned out that the quality of installation was incredible.”

We are so happy to have had the pleasure to get to know this lovely couple and help transform a doctors surgery into a beautiful home for them to rest and socialise in.