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Real Kitchen Focus – A Timeless Kitchen in Co. Sligo
Creating a kitchen that feels completely at home within its surroundings calls for a careful balance of considered design, craftsmanship, and functionality.
For this beautiful project, L.A. Kitchens & Interiors created a bright and spacious open-plan setting designed around modern family life. At the heart of the scheme is the Winslow painted kitchen from STORI, combining timeless detailing with a warm, understated palette and an impressive level of bespoke craftsmanship.
We caught up with Leslie Acheson of L.A. Kitchens & Interiors to discover more about the thinking behind the project.
Tell us a little about this project.
This project involved extending and completely transforming an existing bungalow in Co. Sligo to create a new kitchen and conservatory extension. The aim was to open the home and create a spacious kitchen and living area that would work equally well for everyday family life and entertaining.
The clients wanted an open-plan entertaining kitchen with a generous island at its heart, plenty of worktop space and a dedicated breakfast pantry. Above all, they wanted the finished kitchen to feel unique to them and genuinely bespoke to their home.
How would you describe the overall style of the kitchen?
Traditional, timeless and understated.
We wanted to combine traditional craftsmanship with cleaner, more contemporary detailing so that the kitchen would feel elegant without becoming overly formal. Warm colours and natural textures add character and make the space comfortable for everyday family living.
The large central island forms the natural hub of the kitchen and creates a strong connection between the cooking, dining and adjoining living spaces.
It incorporates the main preparation area along with the sink, dishwasher, bin storage and wine fridge. The cooking zone sits directly opposite, creating an efficient workflow, while the breakfast pantry is positioned close at hand.
What storage solutions were incorporated?
Storage was central to the design. We included a bi-fold breakfast pantry, deep drawers, tall cabinetry and a range of bespoke internal storage solutions to ensure everything has its place and the main worktops can remain as uncluttered as possible.
We also reintroduced a hidden key and letter storage cabinet. It’s a small detail, but a very useful one, providing somewhere for those everyday household items without compromising the streamlined appearance of the kitchen.
Which STORI range was chosen?
We selected the Winslow painted door from STORI.
Its inframe effect styling was ideal for achieving the traditional character we wanted, while still feeling refined and relevant to a contemporary open-plan home. The subtle detailing around the door creates the look of a classic inframe kitchen, while the beaded detailing within the centre panel adds another layer of craftsmanship and character.
Combined with the painted skirting and bespoke mouldings, these considered details give the kitchen a beautifully crafted, timeless finish.
For the main cabinetry, we used the Colour Match Service to create a bespoke shade inspired by Farrow & Ball’s Slipper Satin. It provides a soft, warm neutral backdrop that works beautifully with the natural light in the extension.
For the island, we selected Willow from the STORI colour palette, introducing a gentle contrast and making the island a natural focal point within the room.
Stained timber details add another layer of warmth and texture, balancing the softer painted finishes.
What are your favourite details?
The island is a particular favourite. The combination of Winslow cabinetry in Willow, the quartz worktop and stained timber detailing works really well and gives it a strong presence within the room.
The curved cabinetry and bespoke mantle canopy are also important details. They introduce character and craftsmanship while helping the kitchen feel completely individual to the home.
The integrated appliances, bespoke internal storage and carefully layered lighting all contribute enormously to how the kitchen works, without demanding attention visually. Those quieter details make a real difference to everyday life.
What advice would you give someone starting their own kitchen project?
Start by thinking about how you want to use the space and what your daily routines look like.
Get the layout, storage and proportions right first. Once those fundamentals are working, you can focus on colours, materials and finishing details.
A beautiful kitchen is important, but ultimately it also has to make everyday life easier.
What differentiates L.A. Kitchens & Interiors’ approach?
Every kitchen we create is designed around the individual client, their lifestyle and their home.
With over 40 years of design experience, I’ve always believed in combining traditional craftsmanship with practical modern design. It’s about listening carefully to what the client needs and then creating something genuinely bespoke, a kitchen that not only looks beautiful but works exceptionally well for the people who live there.
Thinking about creating your own dream kitchen? Visit your local STORI retailer to explore the full kitchen collection, discover our extensive colour options and start bringing your own vision to life.
