October 5th 2020

Harry and Tash’s kitchen successfully navigated the transition from the 1920s area of the home to the contemporary area. Boom! No shortage of bench space with that 4.3m island (AKA the catwalk), and, in a world where deep island benches are the trend, it was exciting to see a longer, narrower version. Bonus points for not putting a sink in the island bench, which gives it multipurpose flexibility. I liked how Harry and Tash zoned their kitchen: a hanging out zone near the coffee machine, a cooking zone and an entertaining area. The simplicity was beautiful, and played well to their house’s 1920s origins, taking Art Deco to modernism, sleek, simple and powerful.

Harry and Tash’s butler’s pantry was well-appointed with its dishwasher and bin combo, and I liked the black framed glass shelves combo.

Sarah and George’s kitchen gave us a new take on the 1940s, and the craftsmanship in stone island bench was exquisite. To have trades that can execute faultlessly in that time Fram is mind-blowing. Personally I wouldn’t have put a sink in that beautiful curved bench top – it limits the ways you can use that space – but otherwise it was faultless. I’d have liked their overhead cabinets to have been lower – they were too high for a shorty like me!

Sarah and George’s butler’s pantry was so glamorous, and I could have played with those louvred climbers all day! The position of the sink and bench at the window gave the pantry a lovely open feeling.

Our winners this week, Daniel and Jade had their heart set on their Christian Cole island bench, and boy did it deliver. Artisan, bespoke, and hand-fluted, it was another mind-blowing bench that will comfortably seat six and will last a lifetime. Again, I wouldn’t have put the sink in the bench, but it was better positioned than in some of the houses this week. I loved their choice cabinetry and handles – oysters and champagne was so appropriate for a luxury kitchen, and the integrated whiskey cabinet was very 1930s.

Daniel and Jade made their butler’s pantry a workhorse, which was great, and by adding a door they gave themselves the flexibility to close this area off from their entertaining space.

Curves are becoming Luke and Jasmine’s signature, and they gave us not one but two this week, with their beautiful curved, fluted entrance and their curvaceous island bench. Elsewhere in the kitchen they kept the look white and sleek, light and fresh, which carries you seamlessly from the period area of the house, through to the modern section. I loved the cabinetry profiles, the handles and light fitting, but it was a shame to see the sink in the island bench where otherwise you might serve, or sit and entertain.

Luke and Jasmine’s butler’s pantry offered maximum functionality with its extra dishwasher and pull-out pantry.

Jimmy and Tam’s kitchen gave us a welcome pop of colour, and. reminded me of an old school Vesper (will we see one in their garage I wonder?) It is a beautiful colour palette that gives us a modernist rockabilly twist to the 1950s. This kitchen was infused with Jimmy and Tam’s sense of fun, and you could almost hear the chatter of people being entertained, enjoying the space and loving it. It was filled with sunshine and energy and buzz. The layout, plan, appliances (including that amazing wine fridge with its investment wines) were all incredible, and the only disappointment was the height of the bar stools.

Jimmy and Tam’s butler’s pantry was small but incredibly functional, and with a kitchen that size it didn’t need to be any bigger.