There were several "must haves" with this kitchen. It had to be painted cream, it had to have a large mantel, with working cupboards, over the Lacanche range cooker and it had to have a large island with a sink in it. The owners of this large square kitchen had lived for years with the sink on one side of the room and the cooker on the other (with a large table in between).

There is a big housekeeper's cupboard to the right of the mantel, for storing and using small appliances and for storing the cookbooks, whereas the worktop to the left of the cooker, nearer to the sink, was left clear. The island forms the main worktop area and also gives perching space for chatting to the cook (the table has been moved out into a spacious conservatory).

To preserve an unfitted look, the only wall cupboard is a diagonal one in the corner with double doors. On the opposite side of the room a dresser has been fitted around the window, where the sink used to be, and this has two different types of worktop to give the impression of individual pieces of furniture – it also gives lots more storage space.

On the end wall is a practical pull out larder and a top box, providing a housing for the Amana fridge-freezer. Fluted pilasters have been added to this housing and to the open shelves of the dresser area, to add just that touch of grandeur.

The bespoke, hand painted furniture for this kitchen was made and fitted by Baker Street Cabinet Makers