Sometimes, the only way to make a room feel right is to carve it in two. That’s just what London-based interior designer Mark Lewis did in this inviting family kitchen, the heart of an 1870 townhouse facing the city’s historic Hampstead Heath park.
Inspired by back-of-house kitchens in English country estates and on shows like Downton Abbey, Lewis created an intimate pantry off the main space for a more functional use of the square footage. A wall with glass panes lets sunlight stream into the windowless main room. “It’s a modern style—very practical,” he says, “but it doesn’t feel out of place in a Victorian house.”
To maximize utility, a fluted ceramic sink, modeled after vintage versions, sits atop exposed brick supports and creates a genius nook to hide a step stool. Above it, a drying rack frees up precious counter space. Rather than using drawers that all look alike, Lewis designed a produce holder that recalls apple crates at a farmers’ market (this keeps the refrigerator less cluttered during cooler months).
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With so much function relegated to the pantry, the main room works for entertaining. An existing fireplace was expanded to fit a Lacanche range and hood, and custom Shaker-style joinery in a blue waxed finish gives the room a rustic vibe. Flame-textured granite countertops, inspired by those in old stone houses, are paired with Lewis’s own hand-cast brass hardware, modeled on antique drawer pulls, to tie the look together. “Nothing shouts at you,” he says, noting how the lack of upper cabinetry, a stylistic decision made possible by the pantry’s storage, contributes to the sense of openness.
Keep It Open
Produce stays fresh (and doesn’t clog crisper bins) in these airy, crate-like pantry drawers.
Let in the Light
A simple glass-paned pantry door allows light from the window to stream into the main kitchen space.
Clear the Air
Bare bulbs and zero upper cabinets make the small room feel airy.
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Elevate the Details
Wide-plank oak flooring gives the narrow aisle a more generous feel.
Free Up the Counter
An antique drying rack, raised above a farmhouse sink, clears prep space.