Nestled in the tranquil, semi-rural village of Hurst in Berkshire, Westbourne Home²õâ€� development called for the creation of four bespoke kitchen and utility spaces. The brief was clear: to design kitchens that were uniquely tailored to the new homes, while also offering broad appeal â€� spaces where future families could imagine cooking, dining and unwinding together.ÌýÌý

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When Westbourne approached us with the project, it was the natural next step in a partnership founded on shared values of craftmanship, sustainable materials and timeless design. As a trustedÌýpartner in our contract client network for several years,ÌýWestbourne had already collaborated with us on several high-end commercial projects. â€�The kitchen is a pivotal point in our buyer²õâ€� decision-making process,â€� says °Â±ð²õ³Ù²ú´Ç³Ü°ù²Ô±ð’s head of sales and marketing, Lucy Clifton. â€�The level of attention to detail and enduring beauty found in ±·±ð±è³Ù³Ü²Ô±ð’s designsÌýmade the brand an obvious choice for our bespoke properties.â€�Ìý

Familiar withÌýour three kitchen collections, Westbourne felt that the grand, country feel of Chichester, with its intricate mouldings, would be the perfect fit for the four properties. Our design team set to work, balancingÌýtimeless looks with functionality to craft spaces that would appeal to a wide range of families. â€�Every design choiceÌýhas the potential homeowner at the forefront of our minds,â€� says Becky Smith, our commercial team lead. ‘We think meticulously about how they will use the space.â€� The utility rooms, for example, incorporate °ä³ó¾±³¦³ó±ð²õ³Ù±ð°ù’s cleverly hidden appliance cabinets and laundry baskets to ensure that everything has its place.Ìý

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While each space had a unique layout, certain elements were included acrossÌýthe homes to ensure a shared sense of character and practicality. ‘Each kitchen had some form of larder cabinet, whether full height or countertop,â€� Becky explains. ‼«³Ü°ù pull-out chopping block and tray are alwaysÌýfavourites, as isÌýour hidden double bin. These are the details that make the space work harder, while adding to its charm.â€�Ìý

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The kitchens were brought to life in Flax Blue, one of our most beloved shades, while the utility rooms were finished in the warm, welcoming tones of Saffron. ‘We wanted to bring a sense of playfulness into the design,â€� explains Westbourne designer, Maddy Coleman. The result is a pairing that feels both livelyÌýand grounded, infusing character into the newly built homes without compromising the refined elegance that defines Westbourne’s developments.ÌýÌý

â€�From the design consultation to installation, the process was seamless,â€� says Maddy. Neptune provided out-of-the-box box solutions to all our feedback, which was invaluableÌýas we strive to createÌýtruly unique spaces.’Ì�As for the families who now call these homes their own, each received a welcome pack following the installation of their kitchen, complete withÌýtheir lifetime guarantee. These kitchens have proven to be far more than just functional spaces. ‘T³ó±ð²â’r±ð not just buying a new home with a new kitchen,â€� says Lucy. â€�°Õ³ó±ð²â’r±ð acquiring a space ³Ù³ó²¹³Ù’s brimming with character. The island, in particular, has become the hub of each home â€� a place for hosting, where children and friends gather.'

To begin your kitchen journey, book your free consultation today or visit your nearest store.

The couple bought the brand new property back in the winter of 2022 and started the renovation process shortly after. ‘The whole back of the house was an aluminium concertina door, which did lend itself to an awful lot of natural light, but it restricted us with wall space and layout,â€� explains Katarina. The answer was to divide the space up with a set of French doors and windows with a custom-built window seat. It still providesÌýan outlook to theÌýgarden and welcomes in natural light, but created designated nooks within the large kitchen.Ìý

After spending over seventeen years living together, Katarina and Matt knew how they best used a kitchen space and what would be utilised more often and suit their lifestyle. ‘We divided up the back of the house with a slightly controversial wall (which we love!) as this created a kitchen-dining space and then a little snug TV room at the other end.â€� This division meant that they were able to achieve a cosy feel in a large functional space.ÌýÌý

Katarina was no stranger to her choice of kitchen for their new home. â€�°Â±ð’v±ð had a Chichester kitchen before and we just love the traditional look and the timeless cabinetry. I hate clutter, so having lots of enclosed storage and deep drawers to one side of the cooker and a tall larder cupboard that hides a multitude of sins was a must,â€� says Katarina. Christina Parsons, kitchen designer at Neptune Reading, recalls her initial conversations with the couple, working together for a second time. ‘When we began making plans for the new kitchen’s colour scheme I remembered that I had spotted a few Neptune furniture pieces painted in Honed Slate in Katarina’s previous home and it has this lovely antique feel, so I suggested colour tones that would complement furniture in the dining area (and throughout the house), opting for Shell for the painted cabinetry, Limestone tumbled flooring, light Quartz worktops and an elegant tiled herringbone splashback in shades of beigeâ€�. Matt adds with a smile, â€�Katarina has a very tight colour palette. Well, ¾±³Ù’s just neutrals.â€� And when it came to layout there was one key theme: symmetry. ‘We were looking for the perfect balance. The island (with a sink and equal workspace either side) is centred opposite the large range cooker (complete with an ornate cooker surround). It meant compromising on a functional 900mm walkway beside the window bench, but achieved the symmetry that Katarina was looking for,â€� says Christina.ÌýÌý

While this kitchen is similar to the one in their previous home, Katarina and Matt had a couple of new requests. ‘I shared my vision of a calm country kitchen with Christina and she magically bought it to life, while Glenn, our installer, made the fitting process seamless. Working together previously to add character to our smaller new-build property meant we felt comfortable being really open with Christina about any of our ideas,â€� says Katarina. A preference for modern country style and timeless furniture tied in beautifully with the ornate detailing and classic features of the Chichester kitchen. ‘I suggested bronze hardware and hinges this time for their cabinetry to work in harmony with the existing hardware and lighting fixtures in the house. I also recommended that Glenn create an architectural cooker surround to create the illusion of a traditional country fireplace,â€� says Christina. This time the couple also opted for a slightly bigger island which has additional storage, plus a specially designed window seat. ‘It is a little treat to sit there with a morning coffee looking out on to the garden. I love that I can dress it and accessorise it through the seasons.â€�Ìý

For many the kitchen is more than just a place to cook dinner. Katarina agrees, â€�±õ³Ù’s where we eat, where we entertain, where we relax. I spend time working from the dining room table. However cliché it is, it is the heart of our home.â€�ÌýÌý

Katarina’s tips for adding a characterful kitchen to a modern extensionÌý

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The couple bought the late Victorian house in September 2021 as a gradual renovation project, living in the property throughout (along with Leo the dog) to save money. 'Originally, the kitchen was situated in the middle reception room of the classic terrace layout,' recalls Stacey. 'But as soon as we saw the beautiful original French doors, which led into the garden, via a dilapidated conservatory, we knew the kitchen had to go in this back room.'

By Spring 2022, Stacey and Jack were ready to embark on the kitchen. 'We visited lots of companies but when we discovered the Neptune franchise at in Blackheath, everything felt just right. The superior quality of the cabinetry was on a par with other more expensive designs and the team were really accommodating, so it was the perfect pitch point for us.'

Alicia Turner, co-owner of Woods of London, recalls discussing the brief with the couple. 'The room had high ceilings and original cornicing which they were renovating, so, in keeping with the period of the property, the brief was to not look like a modern, fully fitted kitchen. The Chichester collection, with its elegant traditional details, was the perfect solution. As we were dealing with small spaces either side of the chimney and different depths of cabinetry, the options of smaller size cabinets within the collection gave the design lots of flexibility.'

Top of Stacey and Jack’s must-have list was a large American fridge (Stacey is a New Yorker, after all) together with space for a (reconditioned) range, plenty of storage and a large island. The range was planned to slot into the old chimney recess and Stacey was keen to incorporate a decorative over-mantel. 'We discussed sourcing a piece of weathered wood, but felt it would look too ‘country�,' recalls Stacey. 'Then Alicia had the clever idea to use some extra Chichester moulding to create a bespoke mantel which gives the room a real customised look.' To keep the room feeling open and bright, Alicia recommended avoiding wall cabinets. 'I suggested using a bifold countertop cupboard on the short wall instead, so that the range cooker and mantel would be features,' she explains.

When it came to a colour scheme, the couple wanted a timeless neutral palette, using Snow on the cabinetry and Farrow & Ball’s on the walls. In contrast, the original floorboards were stained a rich chocolatey brown and the couple opted for an antique brass finish for the hardware. The marble island worktop was the only hint of colour. 'My husband is a geologist and refused to consider anything that wasn’t natural when it came to the work surfaces,' says Stacey.Ìý 'We found this stunning cut with green veining which in some parts is a Hunter Green shade and in others a bright Chartreuse.'

Two years on and baby Iris has arrived, meaning the kitchen is a busy family hub. 'We spend a lot of time in the kitchen, making one million snacks every day,' laughs Stacey. 'We’d wanted a kitchen where we could prepare a quick meal and be comfortable but also a space to host friends at the island and a place where we could sit to eat as a family. I’m proud of what we’ve achieved � a kitchen that is a beautiful space to relax in but also practical and high functioning.'

To begin your kitchen journey,ÌýbookÌýyour free consultation today or visit your nearestÌýstore.

When the decision to build an extension on the front of their Victorian cottage left their relatively new Chichester kitchen in need of more light, it was the catalyst for an unexpected kitchen makeover for interior designer Vivienne Cutler and her husband Matthew. ‘We lost a big window when we added the extension and it really impacted the amount of light the kitchen got,� explains Vivienne. ‘Suddenly we were needing to have the lights on in the middle of the day and our Chichester kitchen, painted in moody Smoke, felt too dark.�

For Vivienne, who regularly shares design inspiration in her West Sussex home on her popular Instagram platform , it was important to land on a look that felt fresh and unseen. Introducing a light colour was important, but it was only when she decided to create a two-tone scheme that things started to fall into place. ‘For the top half of the room, it had to be a clean white and so I went with Shell for the walls and ceiling,â€� says Vivienne, ‘but I wanted a warm neutral for the lower cabinetry and spent months looking for the right colour. It was when I looked back at my Neptune colour chart and spotted Lead Light that I found the right solution.â€�Ìý Even then, it wasn’t an immediate win. ‘It was only when I also painted the woodwork, doors and walls into the adjoining garden room in Lead Light that the room completely worked,â€� recalls Vivienne. ‘The feedback was crazy on Instagram with some of my kitchen posts going viral. To this day, the most asked question I get, is ‘what colour is your kitchen’s cabinetry?â€�.â€�

While the kitchen’s layout stayed the same, the extension had created a wall where a window had once been. It allowed Vivienne to add simple panelling, cupboards on either side of the existing stove and a faux chimney to conceal the extractor. ‘±õ³Ù’s made a feature of that space,â€� she adds. ‘You would never guess that just introducing a new colour scheme, adding some panelling and tiling a splashback could give the kitchen a whole new lease of life, but it has.â€�

The last � but important � touch in this makeover was new hardware. Previously, the Smoke-coloured kitchen had classic cup handles which lent a traditional country kitchen feel. But having introduced bronze hardware in her utility room, Vivienne was keen to carry the texture into the kitchen. ‘I saw the collaboration with Neptune at the Tonbridge store and loved the look,� says Vivienne, who opted for the small sized bronze handles. ‘The updates made my vision come to life,� she adds. ‘The original kitchen felt like a classic Neptune kitchen but with the new colours and hardware, it now has a contemporary feel while remaining a country kitchen.�

In practical terms the remodelling was straightforward. ‘We worked with two tradesmen, a carpenter and painter,â€� says Vivienne. ‘And it was all done in a week when we were on holiday!â€�Ìý Back at home, the new look kitchen quickly became a hub for family life while the room transforms into an entertaining space at weekends. ‘It is the heart of our home and where we spend all our time,â€� says Vivienne. ‘It doesn’t feel like a separate kitchen but blends seamlessly into our living space which is just what I had wanted to achieve.â€�

Vivienne’s three key kitchen tips

1. Layout. Think about how you will use the space and make sure it is practical. Is the dustbin near the food prep area? Is the pan drawer next to the stove? They are common sense considerations but can get easily forgotten.
   
   
2. ÌýStorage. One can never have enough storage, but it is good to consider everything you will want to store at the planning stage, from cookbooks to worktop appliances. And then decide if you’d prefer open shelf storage or want everything tidied away in cupboards.
   
   
3. ÌýLighting. Lighting is how you give your kitchen a mood. We created a wonderful ambience in the room using a combination of LEDs tucked behind the cornicing and dimmable wall lights and spotlights.
   
   

To begin your kitchen journey,ÌýbookÌýyour free consultation today or visit your nearestÌýstore.

For this much larger kitchen with scullery area, Nigel reverted to the Chichester collection, cabinetry he’d previously used in a similarly large Edwardian property. ‘I love the simplicity of the Suffolk design but there is just something so appealing about the Chichester collection,� says Nigel. ‘The cabinetry feels so solid and classic, and the finish is such good quality. Plus, you can customise it easily which is what I did in this space.�

But first, back to that refurbishment.

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The kitchen was planned to sit on the lower ground floor, but while the space had windows, it felt too much like a basement. For Australian-born Nigel, light was of huge importance, so the decision was made to dig down and extend out to create a large open plan space with lofty ceiling heights of up to 2.7 metres. And rather than a predictable box-like, modern extension, Nigel echoed the curve of the windows of the upper floors with a floor to ceiling bay window and door to create what would become a relaxed seating area.

‘I was keen for the kitchen to feel light and bright and a desirable place to live in,� says Nigel, ‘but I was concerned that it was on a separate floor, so I made the staircase leading into the kitchen wide, giving it a generous half-landing, and positioned a skylight above the stairs to connect it with the rooms above.�

With the structure resolved, Nigel set about planning the kitchen space. His first instinct was to create an enclosed scullery but as the project developed, he decided to section off the study area at the front of the property with glazed doors and simply create the sense of a separate scullery with the use of partial stud walls. ‘The scullery area is fantastic,� says Nigel, “it has a Belfast sink, a small larder cabinet and a large American style fridge. All the food prep can be done in that area, leaving the kitchen as an entertaining space.�

Nigel positioned a line of Chichester pan drawers, with backlit display shelving above, along the wall under the stairs. The effect is suggestive of a super-long dresser while making good use of the space in the shade of the stairwell. On the opposite wall, he ran a length of cupboards and drawers from scullery to the far end of the kitchen, keeping the effect light by using just one continuous oak shelf on the wall above and a discrete, bespoke cooker hood.

Working with Becky Smith from ±·±ð±è³Ù³Ü²Ô±ð’s commercial team, who helped with advice on cabinetry placement, Nigel avoided the temptation to fill the large central space with an enormous island. ‘I wanted a good flow through the room and wanted the island to feel more like a table than a big square box,â€� says Nigel. ‘It needed to play a role but not dominate the room.â€�

To give the island that dining table feel (and do away with the need for an actual dining table), Nigel designed bespoke wooden ball leg supports in each corner, which he had carved in Latavia by a source he discovered on . ‘The oak legs work really well with the dark green painted cabinetry � I used a shade called by Morris & Co � and they also talk to the oak shelf and the narrow oak trim ceiling architrave which conceals LED lighting.�

When it came to the stone surfaces, Nigel wanted to make a statement. The Carrara marble worktops are more veined than in previous projects and he opted for a double bull nose edge to give the kitchen island character. The striking chequered floor is a tumbled marble by which Nigel choose for its imperfect finish and soft colouration.

The finished result is a combination of contemporary design with classic period details. ‘It was a conscious decision to combine authentic British kitchen design that talks to the heritage of the building with less fussy, more modern elements to keep it streamlined,� concludes Nigel. It is a project full of good design decisions.

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Nigel’s three design tips

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1. A kitchen island needs to feel in proportion to the space, bigger isn’t always better.
2. If you like to keep things tidy, consider giving some space to a scullery or pantry, they are great for organising family life and help define the room as an entertaining, cooking and working space.
3. Consider using two single taps rather than a mixer tap. There is something simple and purely functional about them that makes them feel rather modern.

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A traditional property and a traditional kitchen collection, but together Zalene and ourÌýChichester kitchen show the light, bright and more modern-day side to classic character.

Home profile

Behind the dark grey front door of this Georgian mid-terrace in the very centre of Winchester, you’ll find Zalene, her husband Damian, their two daughters Evie and Beth. They bought the property as an investment and planned to renovate it and let it out as a holiday home for others to enjoy. After falling more and more for the building as they decorated, they now typically spend weekends there � a bolthole from the family’s main home in Chilworth.

The project

Once upon a time, Zalene and her family lived far further north than both Chilworth and Winchester, first falling for Neptune through the pages of a magazine � 'It was a washstand. That was the first Neptune thing I ever clapped eyes on and I loved it. I’d never seen one like it before,' she told us. When the family relocated to Chilworth, it was here that she really began her love affair with Neptune � 'I remember walking into Neptune Winchester thinking, can I bring my suitcase next time and just clear the place out!', she recalled, laughing. One day, they hoped they might be able to live in the heart of Winchester, but at the time, it wasn’t the right setting for their young family. However, when the opportunity to purchase a second property arose, the family leapt and immediately began renovation plans for their weekend retreat cum holiday home.

'We all knew this was going to become our second Neptune home, because I’m not going to lie, there’s a heck of a lot of Neptune in our house. ±õ³Ù’s not just the kitchen either (Zalene has a Suffolk kitchen in Chilworth). There’s Neptune in the bathroom, the bedrooms and the living room. Our sofas are Neptune, our breakfast table is Neptune, our lamps â€� ¾±³Ù’s everywhere really. People keep saying ‘how do you find pieces like these?â€� and I’m there thinking, do I tell them or don’t I? I sort of want Neptune all to myself!' Zalene continued.

When it came to decorating their Winchester property, Zalene knew she wanted a second Neptune kitchen but felt like this time, Chichester might be more fitting than the Suffolk kitchen she already had and loved. Because of the age of the property, her feeling was that the Chichester kitchen was more sympathetic and yet still had room for the odd contemporary touch. But her husband had other ideas. 'Damian was keen for me to consider, let’s say a cheaper alternative, but I wanted Neptune and nothing else. My proposal to him was that a Neptune kitchen will last a lifetime. I’ll never fall out of love with it, I’ll never want to replace it, I’ll just change the paint colour at some point many years down the line and it’ll be like a brand new kitchen again. A Neptune kitchen lives on and on I told him,' Zalene told us. Needless to say, plans for her new Chichester kitchen commenced shortly after.

When designing a new kitchen, everybody’s wishlist of items is different, but having already experienced life with a Neptune kitchen, Zalene was clued up on exactly what touches she wanted her city kitchen to have. 'That chopping board and tray block was a must. I know some people see it more as a filler but I use it all the time and I love how it looks. Everyone wants a pantry don’t they, but I had to be realistic with what we could fit. The Neptune team made it work though and gave me a mini larder section that I am in love with.' Zalene also longed for a kitchen island which proved difficult in her small kitchen, but the Winchester design team came up with a solution. 'They made me a made-to-measure Charlecote island and I was just over the moon. I knew the kitchen was too small for an island but they found a way to make it work for me without sacrificing how the kitchen looked or felt â€� quite the opposite. It was made to be the exact width of the window at the back of the kitchen so that we can turn it and tuck it out of the way, using it as an extra prep surface when we have a big gathering and extend our Carter table fully down the middle of the kitchen. ±õ³Ù’s all very clever and thoughtful I have to say. Another reason why I wanted Neptune â€� you don’t get this sort of detail from anyone else.'

Nobody might live in the family’s Winchester home on a full-time basis just yet, but it gives Zalene somewhere to escape to during the week when her husband is away on business and her daughters are staying with their partners. ±õ³Ù’s their home from home when they fancy a change of scenery at the weekend, and ¾±³Ù’s a little slice of heaven for her and Damian to retire to one day. 'I feel very lucky because I am very lucky. Two Neptune kitchens in my life is like a dream come true,' Zalene concluded.

Life in their kitchen

What’s your favourite thing to do in your kitchen?
'It might be a tiny space but I’ve got a little armchair by the stove that I love to sit down in with a glass of wine, with the fire on, and gaze at our lovely home. We don’t have wifi or a television here and have no intention of changing that. We just sit in the kitchen and hide away from the world!'

What’s your favourite part of the kitchen and why?
'That whole side of the kitchen with my sink and the cabinets over the top. ±õ³Ù’s my favourite part to look at and to use.'

What could you now not live without?
'My island. I’d have been so disappointed had we not got one to work, and it might be a tight fit but I wouldn’t be without it. ±õ³Ù’s our little hub.'

If you'd like to discuss starting your own kitchen design project, just get in touch with yourÌýlocal Neptune store.

Home profile

A stone’s throw from Clapham Common, Lucy and Will’s home of seven years is a spacious, Victorian terrace house which they share with their rescue cat, Buzz, and, for the last 14 months, their son, Raffi. Coming up with creative and original ideas comes quite naturally to Lucy, who runs her own experiential marketing company, Jackanory. Not surprising, therefore, that she had a few up her sleeve when it came to their house renovations.

The project

When they first moved south of the river in December 2013, Lucy and Will had to be patient. Initial work was purely cosmetic and extending and renovating their kitchen was put on hold. But when work did begin six years later, disappointments were to follow: what was promised to be a 16-week project by their builders ended up taking a year and it was, in Lucy’s words, “disastrous�.

Lucy had had her eye on a Neptune kitchen for years. “My husband’s father had worked alongside Sir Terence Conran so, when he drew our attention to Neptune, I took notice.� Naturally, Lucy did her homework and researched other companies, but Neptune won the day. “Nothing compared to the quality of the kitchens,� said Lucy. Standing the test of time was of upmost importance to Lucy and Will, but they were also drawn to the classic style of the Chichester kitchen. They loved the traditional, farmhouse style of the Chichester design, but they were keen to personalise it or, as Lucy put it, “give it a twist�.

Top of their wish list was a drinks bar, as opposed to the popular central kitchen island seen in so many houses. In their new kitchen, the drinks bar replaces an exterior side wall and runs parallel to the cabinets and cooker on the opposite side. This provides them with an open space in the middle and, on the other side of the bar � in a lean-to extension � a place for their kitchen table. To accommodate Lucy’s wish to avoid harsh edges, Nicki, their kitchen designer at Neptune Fulham, advised bespoke curved cabinets. Lucy wanted it to be modern but also soft, so Nicki recommended antique glass for the cabinets and marble surfaces as well.

One hiccup was discovering a waste pipe which ran down from the bathroom above. “I couldn’t bear the thought of hearing gushing water every time the loo was flushed upstairs,� laughs Lucy. Nicki’s solution was to conceal it in the right-hand mirror cabinet of the bar, where sounds are muffled by double insulation.

Installing a cat-flap was another challenge. “We didn’t want to spoil our Crittall windows by inserting a hideous cat flap,â€� Lucy explains, “so Nicki came up with the idea of concealing it in the back of a cabinet and creating a bed for Buzz at the same time.â€� Lucy did have to forfeit one thing on her wish list, which was a broom cupboard but, in its stead, she has a much-loved pantry. No further compromises needed to be met and the new kitchen has display cabinets for their glasses, lots of storage space and hiding places for their appliances. “±õ³Ù’s everything we’d imagined and more.â€�

Three months after completion, Lucy decided to continue the dark green paint (a custom-mixed colour) used on their bar for the rest of the kitchen floor cabinets. “We’d been nervous about being too bold with a dark colour throughout,� says Lucy, “but having become accustomed to it, the colour combination of dark green with bright white is very striking.�

Lucy tells us the kitchen is the heart of their home. “We’re hardly ever in our living room now,â€� she laughs. “We love it, ¾±³Ù’s a very happy space.â€�

Life in her new kitchen

What’s your favourite thing to do in your new kitchen?
To sit at the bar, a gin and tonic in hand!

What’s the best part?
Looking out of the Crittall windows onto the garden whilst standing at the sink. ±õ³Ù’s a Butler’s sink which is something I’ve always wanted. I love it.

What could you now not live without?
The cat flap. It gives Buzz his own world and is one of the first things people notice walking in.

What’s next?
±·±ð±è³Ù³Ü²Ô±ð’s Ardingly cabinet. I’d like to turn it into a storage unit for Raffi’s toys so the dining room doesn’t look like a playroom!

Enjoyed reading about Lucy’s kitchen? There are more Neptune stories to be told, just here.

A childhood spent growing up in Australia had imbued Nigel Hunt with a love of open-plan, lateral living spaces, something that he and partner David were keen to replicate when they moved into their Edwardian home in Ealing three years ago. The property’s proportions were a great starting point for the aesthetic the couple were after � three-metre-high ceilings and huge French doors leading into a lush garden. Thanks to Nigel’s previous job as marketing director of Sanderson Design Group, creative ideas weren’t short on the ground. Nor was this the first Neptune kitchen they’d developed together, having discovered Neptune some 14 years previously when admiring a friend’s barn conversion kitchen in Oxfordshire.

Nigel and David had been collating moodboard images and materials for some time before they visited Neptune Chiswick to start the design process. ‘I had some strong ideas already but it was great to work with the designers to see how we could translate them into a reality,� recalls Nigel. They opted for the Chichester kitchen because, as Nigel explains, ‘We loved the quality and the simplicity of the design but it has enough elements to add interest and integrity too.�

The couple were keen that the space worked as a kitchen but also as a place to entertain and to relax together at the end of the day. While they wanted a large island, they realised that putting the dining table in the usual spot between the island and facing wall would feel constricted. Instead, they located the table towards the doors and designed a glass-fronted unit using narrower wall cabinets as the base and softly backlit shelving above. The bespoke pillars on either side concealed a building support, and the shelves became a home to Nigel’s ever-growing collection of vintage glassware.

Nigel wasn’t afraid to be brave with some of his decorating decisions, especially with the expert advice of the Neptune design team to support him. The flooring is actually York stone slabs made for patios which have a textured sawn finish to them, and Nigel sourced bespoke, blackened ‘burnt� oak shelves to sit either side of the range.

And there were yet more stand-out design decisions that led to the final look. The choice of heavily silvered, foxed glass along one wall � and even over the cooker hood � adds a hint of glamour, and carefully planned lighting means the kitchen can move easily from practical cook zone to atmospheric chill space. Even the bar stools around the island were selected to feel like comfy armchairs at a smart bistro bar.

Colour was a key factor in the look. Having already had a Neptune kitchen painted in off-black, this time they were keen to move to the lighter � though still moody � end of the palette for a more contemporary look. They selected Shell for the lower cabinets and, after a few trials, Ink blue for the upper woodwork, island and display cabinet. ‘That’s the great thing about these kitchens,� says Nigel, ‘you can easily tweak the colours to adapt to the look you’re going for.�

Decorative elements were always going to be part of the design. The Morris & Co. paper from the Ben Pentreath collection worked as a link to bring a sense of the garden inside, while a comfy armchair is covered in Zoffany’s ‘I love customising pieces,� adds Nigel, ‘and with this kitchen, we’ve been able to create a well-functioning but very personal space.�

Life in their new kitchen

Favourite part?
‘±õ³Ù’s between the shelving cabinet for my glass collection and my comfy armchair with its view into the garden.â€�

Go-to recipe?
‘We love entertaining and our speciality is canapés and cocktails.�

Best unseen aspect of the kitchen?
‘Underfloor heating!�

Find out more about just how versatile our Chichester kitchen collection can be here. And see more of Nigel and David’s space in our ‘Your stories on film� series on

In a secluded Berkshire village is the home of Louise and Henry Peto and their three children, Atlanta, Jake and Rosa. Built in 1812 for farm labourers, the house was originally a pair of ‘two up, two down� cottages before it was joined together by the previous owners.

The project

Over fifteen years ago, with a young family in tow, Louise and Henry left London in search of a house in the country with a specific brief: space to build a tennis court. The property they discovered had the ideal garden but it was another 12 years before they got around to reconfiguring the inside of the house with its awkward, narrow layout, which Louise describes as ‘a long building, one room deep and a bit like a train carriage�.

But with a new kitchen as part of the renovation plans, Louise persuaded her family to take a detour via our Winchester store on their way to a family holiday in Dorset. ‘I had heard friends talking about Neptune and I loved the look of their furniture,â€� she explains. ‘As soon as we entered ±·±ð±è³Ù³Ü²Ô±ð’s showroom, it felt like home. And when we walked into the Chichester kitchen, it was love at first sight.â€�

The newly conceived kitchen space, which was basically two separate cubes with low ceilings, needed to flow as one (whilst functioning as a kitchen and dining area) and accommodate the whole family � including Leo, the cat and Snoopy, the pointer. Bethany, the kitchen designer in the Winchester store, suggested incorporating the structural features of the house rather than knocking everything into one open space, and the family were convinced. ‘The column is actually a unique design feature which I’m very fond of now, but before, I resented it,� Louise admitted. ‘Bethany was an amazing listener. She immediately saw what we could do with the space and, along with Trevor, the fitter [affectionately nicknamed ‘Treasure� by Louise], had a great attention to detail and ability to solve problems.�

On the couple's wish list was a larder, two dishwashers (for easily entertaining), an Everhot stove, an island with bar stool seating and an oven and sink area with expanded ceiling height. Henry is 6�4� and the space was exactly his height. Louise wanted the new kitchen to be a place her husband could stand in � comfortably. ‘I didn’t want him to have any excuse not to cook or wash-up!� she laughs. One side of the kitchen’s ceiling was therefore opened up to expose old rafters and became the obvious spot for the sink and Everhot. The ceiling above the island was too low to accommodate the bar stools so one end of the island was lowered and two Wardley chairs installed, and whilst Bethany couldn’t fit two full sized dishwashers in, a compromise was made with a full-sized one and a mini one.

When it came to choosing colours, Louise opted for the combination of Shell, Shingle and Cobble. She’s subsequently used them in other rooms in the house - 'I love the combination of the three colours. They are the perfect compliment to the textures in the kitchen, like the marble worktops and the glass screen behind the Everhot.� Pops of bright green, from the velvet armchair in Isla Mallard to the framed foliage on the walls, have been thoughtfully incorporated to bring the outside in, and a double-sided wood-burning stove links the kitchen and dining space.

Life in their kitchen

What’s your favourite thing to do in your kitchen?
'Baking - I have glass domes which I like to fill with cakes - and entertaining. Finally, I have a space where people are happy to linger.'

What’s your favourite part?
'Everything! ±õ³Ù’s the sum of all the parts that make it, and even after three years of use, it still takes my breath away. ±õ³Ù’s worn very well.'

What could you now not live without?
'My kitchen! During lockdown, it was a kitchen, an office, a place for my daughter to revise for her AS Levels, my son to test out new recipes and we played lots of games of Risk together. ±õ³Ù’s the beating heart of our house that we didn’t have before.'

What’s next?
'Bathrooms. I wonder what Bethany would make of them..? °Õ³ó±ð²â’r±ð quite unusualâ€�'

Home profile

Down a quiet country lane in the village of Bolney, West Sussex, is the red-brick, Victorian home of Vivienne Cutler, her husband, Matt, their two boys Luca and Isaac, one Neptune kitchen and one Neptune laundry room. It all began with an extension, but one thing lead to another, and very soon they were embarking on an entire home remodel. They rewired, they re-floored, they knocked down walls, they changed a staircase, and it became what Vivienne describes as a ‘mahoosive� project that had them moving out for two months because they had no ceilings. But the part that Vivienne described as the anchor to their renovation and a half was her long-awaited kitchen and adjoining laundry room.

The project

‘I walked into Neptune Hove and I fell in love,� were the words that Vivienne used less than a minute into our conversation. She was already more than acquainted with who we are and what we do, following us on Instagram and reading about us in the press, so had a good idea of what she wanted for her own home. It was a trip to her local Neptune store that brought it all into focus though. She told us: ‘I liked both the Chichester and Suffolk ranges, but in Hove, I spotted their Chichester laundry room and it was love at first sight. Luckily my husband agreed!� It was the prospect of a cohesive scheme that led Vivienne to ultimately pick Chichester. ‘In my home, one room joins the other, so I liked how everything would coordinate absolutely perfectly. We have, I suppose, what you’d call a utility room � a space that comes off our kitchen � but I had big plans to rebrand it as my laundry room with a little (or a lot!) of help from Chichester.�

Working with Lee as her designer, he suggested a kitchen split into two sections and a laundry room split into two as well â€� one part with appliances and the sink, and another with ladder shelving that Vivienne calls her ‘laundry pantryâ€� because ¾±³Ù’s where she keeps stacks of table linen, oversized dishes and laundry ready to go back upstairs. ‘My experience with Neptune wasn’t just about designing what cabinets go where, but the architecture and design of the entire space. It was a huge project and there were lots of on-site decisions made, because we needed to come off paper and screen to do things properly, and Lee was there with us every step of the way. He advised us on colour, on lighting plans, on layout, the lot,â€� Vivienne explained.

In terms of layout, all of the day to day activity takes place in the main part of their kitchen, with a separate run of ‘entertaining cabinetry� (including an ice trough that Vivienne had spied on Instagram and Lee sourced for them) by their dining table. There’s also a beer fridge, a wine fridge, a filter tap and plenty of cupboard space for glassware. ‘It means people can be all together in one space, but without anyone getting under my feet,� she continued. ‘I think everyone’s encouraged to help themselves to everything too, which is great for me as I just want people to feel at home.�

And in her new laundry room, Vivienne’s able to wash muddy football boots and wellies away from the heart of her home and away from freshly washed linen ³Ù³ó²¹³Ù’s airing around the corner. She treats one cabinet as a cleaning closet, full of sprays and cloths to free up space in the kitchen, another has the washing machine, and another is home to the vacuum and ironing board. There’s a full-height fridge-freezer too, where she stores all of the things that she doesn’t use every day. ‘±õ³Ù’s meant I just need a little fridge in the kitchen, which is where you’ll find things for cups of tea and bacon sandwiches,â€� she laughed. Having seen the tongue and groove panelling at Neptune Hove, Vivienne asked Lee if she could have the same in her laundry area â€� a wish he, of course, granted, painting it in the same paint colour as her cabinetry.

‘Lee was like my fairy godmother, making everything happen and run like clockwork. I couldn’t have asked for more.�

Life in her new kitchen

What’s your favourite thing to do in your new kitchen?
‘I’m certainly not the best cook but I do know how to host a great party! We do everything in here. ±õ³Ù’s such a great entertaining space. Everyone loves coming into the kitchen and nobody likes to leave, us included.â€�

What’s your favourite part?
‘Out of the whole space, my laundry room is my favourite. We’re all about multi-use rooms these days and I find it really calming that this is a single-use space. ±õ³Ù’s just so nice to not have part of your kitchen taken up with a washing machine, tumble dryer and cleaning stuff, or washing spread around the house. ±õ³Ù’s all contained and the most chilled-out part of the house. And the cabinetry work is ingenious â€� ±·±ð±è³Ù³Ü²Ô±ð’s thought of everything.â€�

What could you now not live without?
‘In the kitchen, the bi-fold larder cabinet. Everything’s so well organised and it just makes my life better day to day. Honestly. Neptune just makes everything so easy! And in my laundry room, the spray tap â€� it sounds silly, but ¾±³Ù’s the handiest thing, especially for cleaning the boy²õâ€� muddy boots!â€�

What’s next?
‘We might have moved back in, but we’re still not quite done! Next, I’m after a separate boot room near the front of the house so I can stash all of our coats and shoes rather than traipsing them through the house. I’m already talking to Neptune Hove about their bespoke workshop doing it all for us!�

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Home profile

This Chichester kitchen is living amongst a very famous face in the world of house music. Nathan Duvall is one of the three members of the band Disciples (he had just returned home from a world tour when we arrived for our photoshoot). While Nathan is busy making music, his wife, Leoni runs her own hamper business called where she brings together personal shopping and hamper gifting. And then there’s their 12-year old, football-obsessed son, Casey. This creative household moved from Surrey to their 17th-century, listed barn in Kent, which was a working farm until only four years ago. It had already been converted into a home when they bought the property, but they’ve since completely reconfigured the layout and redesigned the interior. And it all started with their Neptune kitchen.

The project

Leoni knew all about Neptune well before she started designing her dream kitchen; she would often pop into Neptune Wimbledon on trips to London. When it came to deciding on her own one, we pinged to mind and into Neptune Wimbledon they went. ‘Before we’d even moved in, I knew I’d want to start by sorting out the kitchen. Nathan took some persuading, surprise surprise, but I dragged him along and took him to the Wimbledon store so he could see why I was obsessed!� Leoni told us.

They started by buying our Seaton flagstone flooring. ‘That’s where it all began,â€� she laughed. ‘Then we nipped back a few more times. I thought I’d wear him down gradually. We had our complimentary design consultation and quote, but the team actually suggested we speak to the designers at Neptune Tonbridge because it would be our closest store when we moved, which was nice of them. We were wowed with it when we went. ±õ³Ù’s huge!â€� By this point, Leoni and Nathan had almost settled on the Chichester kitchen and, with the help of Ellie, their kitchen designer from Neptune Tonbridge, they decided to stick with the collection they had loved from the start. ‘Chichester definitely stood out to me the most. I loved the light and bright colour. It made the space seem bigger but wasn’t too clinical and I liked that it had a bit of a traditional character to it.â€�

With the Chichester collection decided, the design of their new kitchen really got underway. Like most people, Leoni had more than one or two things on her wishlist. ‘I wanted an island with a big Belfast sink in the middle and I loved the Everhot cookers I’d seen in the Neptune stores. Nathan wanted an American fridge with one of those water dispensers and we both wanted a wine fridge and lots and lots of storage. We have all of that â€� ¾±³Ù’s hard to say it without smiling â€� and more storage than I could’ve ever imagined. °Â±ð’v±ð got a larder, huge drawers, little drawers, corner carousel cabinets. I know where everything is and I can get to it all so easily,â€� Leoni continued.

Leoni found the design process smooth and bump-free and gave high praise to Ellie, especially for how she was able to develop their ideas further and add things to the design that they might not have otherwise done. ‘Ellie suggested a breakfast pantry area a bit like what the Suffolk and Henley kitchens can have with those bi-fold doors. She made that work in Chichester for us. Nathan wanted to add a cooker hood too but it wasn’t easy to do. Ellie figured it out though and it makes the room feel so cosy. I honestly couldn’t fault Neptune in any way. The communication was excellent and the whole process was incredibly smooth. Even down to the tiniest detail, like how they gave us extra touch-up pots of paint, because they knew how, with Casey around, there would always be a ball in sight threatening my lovely Shell-coloured cabinets! I thought that was a really considerate touch that just summed up the whole experience for us.�

Life in their new kitchen

What’s your favourite thing to do in your new kitchen?
‘Nathan says my favourite thing to do is clean. That’s partly true, but only because I love it so much! In all seriousness, I love Nathan making breakfast in it. He’s the breakfast king. ±õ³Ù’s all he can do though, if I’m honest. We also just love standing together and looking at our kitchen too â€� I’m not even joking!â€�

What’s your favourite part?
‘The hot Quooker tap. ±õ³Ù’s seriously a wow factor for our guests â€� ¾±³Ù’s become part of our act. Everyone finds it amazing.â€�

What could you now not live without?
‘The wine fridge. Let’s just say it gets very good use. That, and everything really. ±õ³Ù’s all used and appreciated. Having the double sink is a huge help too. I literally can’t pick one thing, ¾±³Ù’s too hard.â€�

What’s next?
‘Next is designing a wet room for downstairs. ±õ³Ù’s just a Jack and Jill bathroom at the moment and because a dog’s on our wishlist, I want somewhere we can sort him or her out after a muddy walk. A utility room’s in the pipeline too. We already have our Neptune plans drawn up for that. And we want Nathan to have a studio built in one of the barn’s outbuildings. So you know, just one or two small projects up my sleeve…â€�

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