The kitchen was always going to be a key area for the renovation of lifestyle video blogger Lily Pebbles’ first house; Lily and her husband Rich settled on Caesarstone 5031 Statuario Maximus quartz worktops to complete their beautiful new home.
While the house was perfect in many respects, including a host of delightful original features, the couple knew that several significant improvements would be required, along with their desire to put their own design stamp on the property.
From the start of the project, the kitchen had been seen as a major development area. While the existing cabinetry provided reasonable amounts of storage, surface area was lacking. The usability of the storage along with the general layout was also a concern.
“There is a lot of storage space, but everything is really awkward to get to,” explained Lily of the “bizarre” pull-out draws and cupboards, when she outlined her plans for the kitchen at the start of the project.
The plan included a reconfigured ground floor designed to accommodate a downstairs cloakroom, and a larger lounge. This would require an extension, pushing the rear wall out into the garden to create the room required.
Credit: Emma Croman
The couple were keen to include a large island in the new kitchen layout, an addition that would deliver the increased surface area required. The extension would also allow for a new reception area that would sit between the lounge and kitchen, providing additional space downstairs for the family to grow in to.
The kitchen and kitchen island had long been an area of focus for Lily, even before the project had begun and the right choice of materials would be crucial in achieving in the desired look.
Lily wanted a resilient surface, as well as one that would compliment her new kitchen, and as part of her decision-making process, visited the Caesarstone London Studio alongside her husband.
“Meeting the Caesarstone team was a dream, they helped me look at a few different samples to find a look that best suits our kitchen,” explained Lily of the visit. “I was able to take them home, try them out in situ and spend some time thinking about our decision.”
Amongst the samples Lily received from Caesarstone prior to her visit to the studio was 5031 Statuario Maximus; a quartz worktop design that features strong flowing veining reminiscent of classic marbles. Lily’s visit to the Caesarstone head-office allowed her to see a full island, which the couple loved.
“In end we chose 5031 Statuario Maximus, as it has a stronger veining that works perfectly on a large kitchen island."
Credit: Emma Croman
The visit to the London Studio and viewing the larger island helped cement Lily’s choice of the final design, especially as they too sought a larger feature island.
For the kitchen cabinets, Lily and Rich worked with kitchen designers, Herringbone Kitchens. Amongst the new cabinetry was a bespoke larder, featuring extensive spice rack-storage and drawers, all to Lily’s specifications, and an island and breakfast bar with a shallow paneled cutlery drawer in addition to deeper drawers and cupboards on the reverse. Stools from Rockett St George were chosen for the seating at the island.
The dark teal paint finish chosen by Lily for the cabinetry was from Mylands, and colour-matched to the couple’s redecorated lounge, chosen for its sophisticated tone.
The contrast between the finish of the cabinets and the marble-inspired 5031 Statuario Maximus quartz worktops was a highlight for Lily: “I love the smart finish it gives the kitchen and the contrast with our dark cabinets.”
The 5031 Statuario Maximus quartz worktops, being non-porous and heat-resistant, as well resistant to scratches, chips and cracks also met Lily’s requirements for a hard-wearing surface.
“It’s so hard wearing we don’t have to worry too much about stains, which is something I was really looking for in a worktop.”
High specification appliances for the new kitchen included an integrated fridge and freezer finished with design continuity in mind, and brass taps, including a boiled water tap from Zip Water.
Glass pendent lighting over the new kitchen island and wall lamps from Heal’s complete the luxury appeal of Lily’s new kitchen.
Lily’s joy at the new worktops saw the use of the 5031 Statuario Maximus quartz surface extended throughout the new home. The surface was also used on the interiors of the new larder, as well as serving as the surfaces for the vanities in her redecorated bathroom designed by Ripples, where the marble design compliments the couple’s new Laufen polished white basins.
Lily and Rich were delighted with the completed kitchen, with Lily commenting: “When people come over they are completely wowed by the quartz. I’m so happy that I finally have my dream kitchen and my absolute dream kitchen worktops!”
