A Kitchen’s Copper Island Makes a Fabulous Focal Point
Industrial elements bring lived-in character to this new kitchen in a historical English house
Building a kitchen that looked brand new in a centuries-old home didn’t seem right to the owners of this Georgian house in Devon, England. So when they fell in love with a copper countertop, it was the starting point for a room that looks as though it has seen life and use — and with a striking centerpiece.
The floor and copper surface are paired with two shades of cabinetry. The perimeter cabinets are a slightly lighter shade than the darker blue-gray on the island. “The different colors break up the large space and help it feel less uniform,” MacPherson says.
The Shaker-style cabinets are combined with tongue-and groove end panels that create subtle variation. “The house lends itself to having some traditional features,” he says.
Kitchen cabinetry and countertops: Treyone; paint: Inchyra Blue (cabinets) and Railings (island), Farrow & Ball
The Shaker-style cabinets are combined with tongue-and groove end panels that create subtle variation. “The house lends itself to having some traditional features,” he says.
Kitchen cabinetry and countertops: Treyone; paint: Inchyra Blue (cabinets) and Railings (island), Farrow & Ball
The copper is only on the island — used for food preparation and as a place to sit — and not on the perimeter cabinets, where the sink is located. “When copper reacts with water, you get greening,” MacPherson says, “so it would age in a different way.”
The material was aged and distressed even before it was installed, however. “In an untreated state, it shows marks and scuffs straight away,” he says. “We weather it in.” Once in situ, the material acquires further evidence of use, adding to its character.
The island’s pendant lights and bar stools complement the metal, adding to the range of industrial finishes in the design.
Loko stools: Nkuku
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The material was aged and distressed even before it was installed, however. “In an untreated state, it shows marks and scuffs straight away,” he says. “We weather it in.” Once in situ, the material acquires further evidence of use, adding to its character.
The island’s pendant lights and bar stools complement the metal, adding to the range of industrial finishes in the design.
Loko stools: Nkuku
Shop for industrial-style pendant lights on Houzz
The joints in the material are deliberate. “Because of the nature of copper, if it were in one big sheet, it would bobble up,” MacPherson says. The joints allow for expansion in response to heat. “We didn’t want the joints in a row, so we created a pattern to add interest,” he says.
Hand-forged copper handles echo the work surface. “They will patinate like the top over time,” MacPherson says.
All the cooking takes place on a custom range the couple already owned. The nonstandard size made fitting it a challenge.
There are plenty of power outlets in the island and the main runs of cabinetry.
They installed a tile backsplash behind the range. “The accessories include deep red, and that helped inform the color of the tiles,” MacPherson says.
They chose a quartz countertop for the perimeter. “It replicates a Carrara-type marble. The veins are muted,” MacPherson says. “It’s … sympathetic to the age of the property. It’s also a nice contrast to the darker tones of the furniture.”
Silestone countertop in Lagoon: Treyone
Silestone countertop in Lagoon: Treyone
Pullout shelves make the cookware in the corner cabinet easily accessible.
The farmhouse sink fits in nicely with the kitchen aesthetic. It’s paired with an instant hot water faucet in a traditional design that doesn’t jar with the classic sink. (The main sink is in the adjoining utility room, or butler’s pantry.) The couple already owned the plate rack and wanted to include it in the new room.
The shelving has LED strips on the underside. They’re on a separate circuit from the ceiling lights and pendants above the island, and the combination allows the mood of the room to be easily changed.
Faucet: Quooker
The shelving has LED strips on the underside. They’re on a separate circuit from the ceiling lights and pendants above the island, and the combination allows the mood of the room to be easily changed.
Faucet: Quooker
The double doors, which are original to the house and lead into the hallway, were repainted to match the island.
Door paint: Railings, Farrow & Ball
Door paint: Railings, Farrow & Ball
The new location of the kitchen gives it a view of a landscaped courtyard. Beneath the window is a butcher’s block the couple found themselves. MacPherson had it painted the same color as the island and double doors.
Alongside the window is a pantry cabinet with door-mounted spice racks, vegetable baskets and shelving.
There’s a small fridge in the kitchen island for frequently used items, such as milk. This large refrigerator-freezer is in the separate utility room. MacPherson chose a model that could be neatly set into the cabinetry without protruding. The utility room also provides additional storage for food and other essentials. The space doubles as a home office too — there’s a desk opposite the fridge.
Cabinet paint: Inchyra Blue, Farrow & Ball; fridge-freezer: Fisher & Paykel
Cabinet paint: Inchyra Blue, Farrow & Ball; fridge-freezer: Fisher & Paykel
The utility room’s farmhouse sink was a feature of the original house and was reclaimed for use in here.
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Who lives here: A married couple
Location: Near Dartmouth, Devon, England
Size: 323 square feet (30 square meters), plus 108 square feet (10 square meters) for the utility room
Designers: Stewart MacPherson of Treyone (kitchen design) and Anna Kalnars of Infinite Design Devon (interior design)
The house needed a complete renovation and, as part of the work, the kitchen was moved to a new location.
“The owners didn’t want the space to be too crowded and were keen on an industrial theme,” designer Stewart MacPherson says. They also hoped to display items collected over many years and to squeeze in their sizable range.
But their most important wish was for the kitchen to have character, so the jumping-off point turned out to be a material. The couple fell in love with a copper countertop that would develop a patina rather than look pristine. The beautiful metallic finish and the dark floor informed the colors for the rest of the room design.
Floor tiles: Mandarin Stone
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