Open house
Friends are always welcome in Jane Witts and Kevin Blake’s new hub.
Home gallery
"We're very laid-back people, and this is a sociable kind of home," says Jane Witts, of the Sussex property that she shares with partner, Kevin Blake. "Our friends just tend to turn up, and they're always welcome." It means that guests often pop in for a glass of wine and stay for dinner, or one of Kevin and Jane's offspring will come for the night or stay for the weekend. "We have five children between us, aged between 18 and 23," explains Jane. "Kevin has three daughters, and I have a son and a daughter, so it's quite a crowd when we all get together."
The size of their family was the starting point in the couple's plans for their new cook zone. "When they're here, we always congregate in the kitchen, but it just wasn't big enough," recalls Jane. Their solution was to construct a sizeable extension at the rear of their 1950s-built house, doubling the size of their cooking and living space. Kevin felt that a large bar area would provide the ideal solution to the way he and Jane like to entertain. "Eight of us can pull up a bar stool and sit comfortably around its three sides, so it's the perfect place for drinks or something to eat," he says. At around 2.5 metres long, the bar is certainly substantial.
While Kevin, a wholesale butcher, quickly settled on a sparkling black quartz surface to add drama to the room, it was reflexologist Jane who was determined to introduce warmth and brightness to the scheme. "I began searching for kitchen units in just the right red," she explains.
"I thought a burgundy tone would be too dark with all the black, and nor did I want a brash hue," she laughs. "In the end, I found this fabulous classic red at William Ball in Hove. It looks great, and I love the way it seems to change colour at different times of the day, according to how the light falls on it."
Steve Giles, Sales Designer at William Ball, remembers being impressed by the bold choice of palette. "Black and red stand out and work well together, especially in such a large room," he says. "It helped to make the island bar appear impressive, becoming the focus of the space." Behind the island, Steve created a practical run of units, complete with integrated ovens and appliances, storage and sink. "The most important thing for this wall was to make it seem balanced, so the arrangement is symmetrical, with tower cabinets at each end and wall-hung units in-between," he further explains.
Both Kevin and Jane enjoy rustling up dinner, and the new design means they can prepare a meal while talking to their friends. "However, it is a bit daunting to be cooking with everyone watching, especially as it took me a while to become au fait with the electric hob. I had been used to gas before," admits Jane. "But I've noticed that, if you keep the wine flowing, nobody notices the mistakes! Luckily, I prefer casual meals, while Kevin does
like to be compared to Jamie Oliver."
With the tiny blue LED lights on in the evening, the room is rather atmospheric. "When the glow hits the quartz and the glossy doors, the place looks all set for a soiree," says Jane. "But, even if it's just a few of us, it's still a lovely place to be."
