Our client requested “a simple shaker kitchen in a strong colour. A mix of marble and oak worktops, a pantry cupboard and large island. There were to be no wall cupboards but open shelving along the back wall”. Rachel was excited about the extension of her 18th-century cottage in Oxford and wanted to achieve the best outcome for her kitchen, without compromise. The cottage was grade II listed and there were restrictions on keeping a large column in the centre of the room. Christopher worked out a solution for Rachel wanting a reasonable size Island. This incorporated the pillar and made the best use of the space. The Island flows around the support giving extra workspace and cupboards. This sits across from the oven housing and sink run and separates the kitchen from the dining room. It was a great solution and pulls the kitchen together. Aged brass fittings - bridge taps, pull handles and knobs sit perfectly with the furniture painted in Farrow and Balls ‘Inchrya Blue’. An aged blue grey inspired by the dramatic Scottish skies that act as a backdrop for the classic Georgian Inchyra House. To complement this deep colour and to add some light, the pantry cupboard was painted in ‘Purbeck Stone’. The colour ties in well with the natural earth colours of the garden and the stone walls of the cottage. The final result was a minimal kitchen with the island taking centre stage, creating a sense of space. Aesthetically pleasing, relaxed and a calm place to enjoy meals with friends or cosy suppers at the island.