A kitchen imprinted with Emma Ainscough’s fresh, vintage charm
The lightest of pinks and the subtlest of curves, along with carefully curated 20th-century pieces, bring modernity and interest to this considered space.
As part of a whole-house renovation and remodelling project, Emma Ainscough designed a bright, dreamy kitchen space for a classic Edwardian West London property.
Bespoke traditional French door sets, sash windows and carefully positioned roof lights provided a perfectly lit canvas on which to work her magic.
In 2020, after six years with one of London’s leading interior design studios, Emma set out on her own. Known for effortlessly beautiful interiors (which we all know could only be achieved through the most dedicated of behind-the-scenes design processes!), Emma’s West London renovation project was the result of carefully considered curation… not a single element left to chance.
Zoning the large open-plan room into cooking, lounging, and dining areas, the functional kitchen space is structurally defined by a gently curved island, which, flat on one side, forms a galley-style working space. A glazed standalone pantry sits at the far end, providing an elegant focal point, whilst facilitating the flow and practicality of the space. Having been introduced by fellow House & Garden acclaimed designer Samantha Todhunter, Emma reached out to the Barr Kitchens team, and the rest is history!
“Kitchen islands can feel very heavy. The outward-facing curved ends were born out of ‘fear of the normal’! The gloss footrail anchors the style.”
The uniqueness of the finished space comes from a wealth of understated, bespoke detailing. The coving was moulded to Emma’s own unique design, created to align the room with the rest of the Edwardian property, whilst bringing differentiation and a touch of modernity to the space. Each cabinetry section is perfectly balanced, emulating a freestanding piece of furniture. The narrow depth of the bull-nosed worktops nods to fine-line cabinetry frames of door and drawer fronts.
To see the finished kitchen, as set and styled by Emma, visit emmaainscough.com. Flanking the made-to-measure cabinetry are carefully chosen items which lift and elevate the space; checked, vintage, deadstock textiles, a 1960s sideboard by Henning Kjaernulf, classic Italian wall lights by Bettina Ceramica and a glazed vintage display cabinet sourced from Adam Lloyd Interiors.
“The kitchen, as the hero room, was largely newly built, and, as such, was architecturally distinct from the rest of the house.”
The colour pallet is pared back, fresh and refined. Walls and ceilings are painted in Paint & Paper Library ‘Slate II’, with the island in Bauwerk ‘Bone’ against a gloss Farrow & Ball ‘Railings’ footrail. Internal doors in Taupe offer depth and contrast and hand-painted cabinetry in Little Greene ‘Chemise’ brings a fresh, light touch.
It was an absolute privilege to bring Emma’s designs to life. At Barr Kitchens, we are all about the bespoke detailing, and this wonderful project was steeped in it. We thank Emma and her clients, for sharing their kitchen journey. For cabinetry, fixtures and fittings details click to our project page.