EKBB May 09
Page 17-19
Can’t find the house you want? Then the answer is to build one from scratch, say Adrian and Sheree Wymer. Standing in their light-filled contemporary home in the Essex countryside gazing out at the pool and landscaped gardens, it’s hard to believe that the plot was, until recently, the site of a “rat’s nest”, as Adrian describes the shabby 1950s-built chalet bungalow.
Ambitious project though it was to demolish the bungalow and build a brand new three bedroom family home, admiration reaches new heights when we learn of its eco-friendly credentials. “If everyone does a small bit to help the environment, we can make a world of difference,” says Adrian, who runs a home improvements business, Soft View, with Sheree, who is also a practising councillor psychotherapist. Heat in the new house is provided by a ground source heat pump, rain water is harvested and filtered for use in the pool, waste is biodegradeably treated through the house’s own Klargester system, lights are all low energy and reclaimed oak has been used for the structural beams.
So, when it came to the kitchen in their new home, it had to have similarly strong eco-aspects. As well as A rated appliances, large built-in recycling bins and a macerator waste disposal unit to feed the Klargester, Adrian and Sheree wanted furniture that was built to last. “I hate waste,” says Adrian, “so we wanted something that wouldn’t date or quickly end up on the scrap heap.” Instead, they opted for the classic good looks of Davonport furniture, which is both durable and constructed using sustainable timber from FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) sources. “We had chosen a Davonport kitchen for our previous home, so we knew the quality of the workmanship,” says Adrian.
Working with freelance kitchen designer Jemma Leppich, the couple set to work to plan the room. “I like things to be funky and a little bit different,” says Sheree. She and Adrian had seen a serpentine-island at a restaurant in Key Largo, Florida. “It inspired us both and we agreed that it would be lovely to have something similar at home,” she says. “In our old house, I was fed up with being stuck in the kitchen, cooking away with the door shut, while everyone else was enjoying themselves in another room. The whole idea of this new island was to create a much more sociable space with room for both cooking and for friends and family to sit at a breakfast bar.”
Fortunately, curved cabinetry didn’t remotely faze Richard Davonport, owner and director of Davonport. “Curves are one of the things we specialize in and set us apart,” he says. “Because we are a bespoke company with all the furniture made in our workshop, we really can produce almost anything – within reason – that a client wants.” While the island snakes across the room, creating a dramatic centre piece, it is a fully functioning cook’s asset, complete with tepan plate, induction hob, boiling water tap, sink and plenty of well utilized storage space below. “I really appreciate the fact that there is so much well thought out storage – every inch of space has been carefully used and it all works beautifully,” enthuses Sheree. “I hate clutter and being able to store everything out of sight creates a restful look in what is a very busy room.”
To add to the “classic contemporary” looks of the kitchen, a run of tall cabinetry in rich walnut contrasts with the cream painted furniture. Bright metal inlays are encapsulated within a chamfered solid walnut frame for extra detail. “It’s a quirky touch,” says Sheree, who also selected chocolate brown hand stitched leather clad handles to add still more individuality. “In a world where nobody gives a damn about customer service, it’s rare to find a company like Davonport,” she says. “You just know they’ll keep on pushing and pushing until they’ve got a kitchen that’s entirely right.”
Client wish list
It can’t be bland or boring, went the Wymer’s brief.
Problem
With the island positioned on the higher of the two floor levels in the kitchen, the breakfast bar stools would have been perilously close to the edge. “One false move and the bar stool would tip back over the edge, and you’d be a gonner,” says Adrian
Solution
By moving the whole island further away from the windows, the breakfast bar could be made to over hang the lower floor level. The bar stools too would be on the lower level, making nasty accidents much less likely.
Product specification
Classic Shaker and Silverline bespoke furniture, with sections of walnut and Davonport Cream painted finishes