A London homeowner with two young children has turned their Edwardian home into a family-friendly space that handles daily messes without losing its appeal.
The five-bedroom house, built between 1900 and 1910, now includes a double-storey extension that matches the original architecture. At its core is a terracotta kitchen designed as the home’s central hub, where cooking, dining, and living merge in one open-plan area.
The kitchen built for real life
Harry Taylor needed a space that could shift from weekday chaos to weekend gatherings. “We wanted something that could survive a nightly spaghetti incident as easily as a dinner party,” Taylor said.
He collaborated with Herringbone House, a small joinery firm, to craft a custom kitchen. Designer William Durrant and interior designer Martyna focused on practicality while keeping the design stylish.
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“The aesthetic was exactly our taste,” Taylor said. A visit to Herringbone’s Canterbury workshop convinced him. “The joinery sold us on the spot, the kind you find yourself running a hand along. A proper workshop, not a showroom reselling someone else’s cabinets.”
Materials were selected for their toughness. Dekton worktops and a Lazenby polished concrete floor resist wear, while a Bora hob with downdraft extraction removed the need for an overhead fan. The back wall holds Miele ovens, a Shaws of Darwen sink, and a Fisher & Paykel fridge in a balanced arrangement.
Daily items like spices and spreads are tucked into a breakfast cupboard, keeping counters clear. The utility room flows seamlessly from the kitchen.
A daring color that worked
The kitchen’s standout feature is its deep terracotta shade, a choice Taylor initially doubted. “We’re cautious by nature, and the terracotta Herringbone suggested, Farrow & Ball’s Red Earth, frankly terrified us,” he said. “We did it anyway.”
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The final colour was colour-matched in house by Herringbone Paints. The oak was then stained in a chocolate finish. Fluted detailing on both the island and glass cabinet fronts adds texture to the striking kitchen.
“It’s now the first thing everyone comments on and the thing we’re proudest of. The choices that scare you slightly are usually the right ones,” Taylor said.
The open-plan space opens up to the garden. “The British summer has even granted a few BBQs already, with friends’ kids tearing around the space—so the indoor-outdoor dream has survived contact with reality,” Taylor said. “It’s the heart of the house, full stop. It’s where we spend all our time. The warm terracotta kitchen frames the room, the dining area sits quieter alongside it, and garden light pours in all day. It handles the weekday chaos and the dinner party with equal ease; exactly what we were after.”
This house tour was featured in the August 2026 issue of Kitchens Bedrooms & Bathrooms magazine. Enjoyed this post? Click here for tips on introducing terracotta into your home
