Georgian Kitchens: Get The Look: Symmetry

Happy New Year!! I hope your Christmas was wonderful and happily full of love, laughter, as well as true and lasting joy. Welcome back to the very last in the series of Georgian Kitchens: Get The Look, where we've been learning about:

simplicity, 

proportion, 

materials. 

Today we'll be delving into getting the look of a Georgian Style Kitchen through the use of symmetry.

{So far, we've taken an in-depth look at simplicity, proportion and materials, simply click on the links to catch up!}

It's hard to underplay the incredible effect that symmetry brings. Yes, it's extraordinarily pleasing to the eye but symmetry also brings a sense of order, space and strong design to any kitchen.

Georgian design draws heavily on symmetry, which is why, from the smallest cottage to the largest Country pile, Georgian kitchens ooze charm and grace from every nook and cranny of their beautiful bones.

Easy ways to achieve this symmetry are to include a large over-mantel above a range cooker, with matching cupboards either side. However, if possible, make sure to include another larger feature, such as a larder, to create symmetry within the whole room too, as demonstrated beautifully in the Martin Moore kitchen below.

Ideally, on every side of the kitchen, there should be a feature, which has obvious symmetry, whether that's floor to ceiling cupboards either side of an American fridge freezer, or a double Butler's sink, or even a beautiful window. This will undoubtedly bring visual peace and calm...

...and who would ever turn that down?!!

Take Care Until Next Time,

Sarahx

Images via Burlanes, Humphrey Manson, unknown, Martin Moore, Martin Moore, Pepperbox Interiors, 

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Georgian Kitchens: Get The Look: Materials

Welcome back to the new series on Georgian Kitchens: Get The Look. We're diving right into the four key themes of Georgian Style kitchens: 

simplicity, 

proportion, 

symmetry 

and materials. 

{So far, we've taken an in-depth look at simplicity and proportion.
..you can catch up here and here}



Today, we're focusing on materials. Georgian kitchens have a very distinctive look. Woodwork is almost always painted with walls and cabinets in a similar or toning finish, possibly with one or two stand out statement pieces.



Georgian colours that typify this look happily tally perfectly with Modern Country Style: muted greens and soft sea-blues, dirty earthy tones and gentle neutrals reign victorious.



Now, for picking the perfect worktop, I have my soapbox ready. Purrrrlease don't choose laminates. They will never, ever, ever look the part. They will stand out like a sore thumb...



Instead, choose natural worktop materials such as wood, granite or marble. Modern imported slates are, in almost all circumstances, too soft. My all-time favourite finish is honed granite...but more on that later!!



Georgian Style kitchens need all extras to whisper quality and timelessness without in any way screaming lavish sumptuousness. Think carefully about your handles, taps, knobs and door styles} This is understated quality all the way.



Again, please, step away from any plastic finishes, and quickly walk, with a sense of smug reassurance that your kitchen will still look AWESOME in twenty years, towards the over-sized wooden knobs, nickel cup handles, small antique brass hinges, dulled matt black forged iron small handles. Not all at once obviously....!



When all these tie together, not only will you have a kitchen that will make you grin like a Cheshire cat today but one that will last and lat and last, bringing years of pleasure.

Take Care Until Next Time,
Sarahxx

Images via country homes and interiors, mileu mag, elona home, unknown, deVol, my design chic, Neptune

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Get The Look: Proportion In Georgian Style Kitchens

Welcome back to the new series on Georgian Kitchens: Get The Look. We're going deeper into four key themes of Georgian-Style kitchens: simplicity, proportion, symmetry and materials.

{Last time, we took an in-depth look at simplicity...you can catch up here}

Let's focus today on the way Georgian Kitchens have the most beautiful, classic and elegant proportions. Georgians were the absolute masters of graceful golden proportions in their kitchens. 

Take a look at some of the kitchens featured today and you'll see that, whether big or small, grand or cosy-country, each one is extraordinarily visually pleasing. 

Placing an oversized over-mantel above a range cooker is a fantastic way of bringing in both the height and formality that so typifies Georgian kitchens. You'll always need some kind of structure to hide your extractor fan above the cooker so it makes sense to turn functionality into opportunity and include a statement piece here; overmantels create a natural focal point around the heart of the kitchen: the range. 

Another way to bring a good sense of proportion is to NOT go down the route of having the bog-standard array of base and wall units that are in 99% of kitchens. Think outside the box and ENJOY doing so. Why not choose some full-height units to create a larder feel or, if possible, bring in a freestanding housekeepers cupboard?

Georgian kitchens are characterised by non-standard cupboards in a variety of shapes and sizes; nothing like our built-for-function units was available then.

This may be a case of trial and error in smaller kitchens where space is at a premium because the first priority absolutely must be usability (though it pains me to say it!!) but, where possible, make your kitchen unique, as every Georgian kitchen was without a doubt.

Take Care Until Next Time,

Sarahx

Images via Plain English, DeVol, unknown, The Kitchen Think, Artichoke, unknown, Humphrey Munson

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Get The Look: Simplicity In Georgian Kitchens

Welcome back to this mini-series, where we are learning how to get the feel of a Georgian kitchen in our own homes. We'll be taking a closer look at four key elements in gorgeous Georgian kitchens: simplicity, proportion, symmetry and materials.

Now, when it comes to Georgian-style kitchens, perhaps the word simplicity is misleading, because I don't mean to imply any lack of quality. Indeed, the reason why the Georgians have left us such a rich heritage is exactly because of their fantastic building standards.

By simplicity, here, I mean a disdain of overly fussy, showy frippery and, instead, a careful eye for precisely chosen details: look for high quality hinges, dovetail joints and in-frame doors.

So, for example, take a look at any of these kitchen cupboards. There is no sign of ostentation, no flashy swirls or curlicues but yet the quality shines out, doesn't it? That's the feel you should be looking for if you want a Georgian-style kitchen.

And the same is true for any accessories in you kitchen. Don't be tempted to compromise on quality or clutter. Remember this: buy once and buy well.

Happily, this needn't mean spending vast amounts of money on each piece. Some carefully chosen vintage pots, a station clock and as little as possible on your work surfaces will carry a Georgian kitchen a long way.

This is a classic case of less is more; choose your 'less' with thought and you'll be well on your way to your own Georgian kitchen!

Take Care Until Next Time,

Sarah x

Images via Elle Decoration, Charlie Kingham, Etons of Bath, unknown, Ribble Reclamation, Artichoke

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Georgian Kitchens: Get The Look

We all know that if we actually lived in the olden days, in glorious Georgian England, it most certainly would not have been constant fragrant roses in our hair and genteel country walks but, in the name of creating beautiful Modern Country Style interiors, let's agree to conveniently overlook all the rest: agreed?!!

Now, actual Georgian kitchens would usually have been in cramped basements with very little natural light and not be the gorgeous, airy spaces we demand today. However, we can draw on plenty of other Georgian influences to help us pull together a wonderful Georgian-style kitchen that amalgamates the best of both worlds.

Four areas that I'd like us to particularly focus on are simplicity, proportions, symmetry and materials.

Let's take each of these elements and break them down one by one....

....so that you know exactly how to make this look in your own home.

Take Care Until Next Time,

Sarahx

Images via Plain English, Kate's Creative Space, Plain English, Christopher Peters

 

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