With bespoke design features and a creative brief, this kitchen and home renovation hits all the right notes for its music-loving homeowner.
When a client requests something a little bit extraordinary for their home renovation, it’s music to the ears of designer Stuart May, founder of Style Kitchens by Design. “A fundamental characteristic of design craftsmanship is the creation of one-of-a-kind pieces,” he says. “Everyone is unique so every environment we create reflects their individual taste and needs.”
In this case, the owners, a retired couple with extended family and grandkids as frequent visitors, were dreaming big when mapping out the next phase of their Stafford home. The property enjoys a leafy, elevated aspect with coveted city views — but this renovation would take it next level. The brief? A new kitchen as well as beautiful storage updates throughout, including custom cabinetry for the dining room, wine cellar, lounge and bathrooms, and new matching wardrobes for the bedrooms.
“The owners (one of whom is a passionate musician with a very creative mind) wanted innovative and new features with modern wow factors throughout” explains Stuart. This creativity inspired several unique elements of the design, including custom storage for an extensive speaker collection in the studio.
And when it comes to standout features, it’s hard to go past the kitchen where an illuminated acrylic splashback (yes, those are real feathers inside!) is mirrored by a feature skylight that floods the space with natural light. Another favourite of both the owners and the designer is the custom stone island: a sculptural beauty sure to enhance the area’s position as the hub of the home. This all-important space also includes luxury appliances from Winning Appliances, a quietly powerful Italian-made Falmec range hood and sleek two-pac cabinetry delivering a place for everything a home cook or chef could desire.
For Stuart, who oversaw the design, supply and installation of all cabinetry and stonework, one of the project’s highlights also presented its biggest technical challenge. “The curved timber feature wall was very complicated to achieve but it’s one of our favourite inclusions,” he says. “We had to make up templates to create the ‘sphere’ shape then manufacture those from solid timber and install them around the solid sandstone wall.”
The result, like everything in this project, is both highly functional and beautifully bespoke. On that note, a special moment can be found in the studio, where a beloved collection of speakers now has a dedicated storage wall — something of an art installation for music lovers. Custom brass mesh cabinetry inserts add a layer of luxury to the space, seeming to glow from within.
With eye-catching moments at every turn, this home benefits from a combination of designer vision, expert craftmanship and stunning materials. The balance of clean lines with warm cabinetry tones is particularly effective, bringing a cohesive level of luxury throughout.
For Stuart and his team at Style kitchens by Design, it’s all about the client feedback: which, unsurprisingly, is absolute delight. “Being able to design and deliver a completed custom project for our clients is what makes us most proud,” he says.
We hear the owners plan to pick out a few favourite tracks, select a special bottle of wine, and toast their new home.
Words: Nicole Deuble // Photography: Luisa Bellini
