Contemporary Copper Kitchen

A small, dark kitchen in the middle of the house is opened up by knocking down two walls and removing internal doors and a window. The cooking area has been moved so the chef is now at the centre of the action, and a sofa and armchair have been added to create a sociable family space.

A tall bank of kitchen units makes the most of limited wall space and provides a huge amount of storage.

Touches of black echo the colour of the original fireplace, and help to balance the whites and pale colours used elsewhere.

A soft, muted pink on the walls makes the kitchen units almost disappear, and works perfectly with the warm copper tones of the lighting and breakfast bar. A washable but matt paint finish is also practical for a hardworking family kitchen.

The period features have been retained, keeping the house's character, but the kitchen is everything you'd expect from a modern family home.