Customer name: Wilson
Location: Peterhead
After purchasing their Edwardian doer-upper in Peterhead in 2020, the Wilson’s were set to stick their teeth into their home renovation project. Plans to revamp the home’s traditional 19th century look were stalled due to the pandemic, but while their home renovation was put on pause, a whole back catalogue of design inspiration was building.
The kitchen was high up on the agenda for Alexander & Sheilann and they sought the help of a different kitchen supplier to take on the design, but unfortunately the project fell through. After hearing positive reviews and seeing past Laings projects, they got in touch with Laings in April 2022 to take over the reins and see their project through.
A ‘kitchen dining space with plenty of storage, perfect for family life’ was their brief and Fiona Thompson, Senior Kitchen and Bedroom Designer at Laings was ready to take the project from idea to completion.
The project with the original designer had progressed considerably before it fell through. All the measurements had been taken, design concepts confirmed and materials chosen - all making Fiona’s takeover of the project that little bit problematic. With the Wilsons back at square one, restarting the project all over again wasn’t a favoured thought. They were growing restless with their old kitchen and were keen for the refit to be completed by the end of the year and tick another item off their home renovation to-do list. Time was of the essence and fortunately, having the measurements of the space to hand allowed Fiona to cut out a step in the process and get to work on the design.
Timescale wasn’t the only challenge in the project, the Wilsons had already fallen in love with the design that had been put forward by their initial designer. With the planned look etched in their minds, Fiona’s next challenge was to create a fresh design that reflected the initial design whilst incorporating quality products and materials from Laings.
Looking back at the project, Fiona shared: “It’s not abnormal for clients to come to us with ideas and examples of what they’d like their room redesign to look like, but this project was very different. After falling at the last hurdle with their previous kitchen designer, the Wilsons already had a clear vision of their dream kitchen.
“Seeing their previous designs was helpful as it gave me a steer on what they liked and the direction they were going for. However, they were also open to further suggestions and happy for me to put my own stamp on the design. Straying from their initial plans added a bit of pressure.
“They had been so let down by the former designer and their trust had been broken so it was important for me to make them trust the process again and that we would see the job through. Reworking the design was a bit of a gamble but fortunately it paid off as they loved my take on the layout. I made sure to incorporate the elements they liked but made room for alternative design elements to make the space more functional with bespoke touches.”
Increasing storage capacity in the kitchen was key for Alexander and Sheilann and played a big part in the redesign of the space. The kitchen includes a standing storage system with bi-folding doors to discreetly hide common counter clutter items like toaster, kettle, coffee machine and glassware, whilst maintaining the kitchen’s immaculate look. Fiona also included a new feature - a tall corner pantry cupboard to hold a plethora of mixed dry food and kitchenware. With client trust on side, Fiona started to finally get the Wilson’s the kitchen they’d been dreaming of for months.
It was important that the kitchen blended with the home’s traditional roots whilst also including all modern-day necessities. The kitchen’s overall colour palette is bright and light, with French Grey cupboards, white marble effect quartz countertops and a bold feature island in Prussian Blue, to really “ground the room”, Fiona details.
Fiona comments: “The dark feature colour on the island really grounds the room and balances out the design. Sometimes a bold colour choice can be too intense and stifle the flow of the room, but this room has a lot of natural sunlight and lovely high ceilings which help carry it off.
“The addition of the mirror along the sink wall extends the room that little bit further and adds extra opulence. Plus, it helps keep things social by allowing the host to still see guests even when facing away during dinner prep or tidying up.
“I have to say too that I loved the cupboard storage behind the bi-folding doors - a real lifesaver for those wanting to keep a kitchen clutter free. The cupboards were finished with a warm oak interior which again added that pop of colour to the kitchen and helped bring in a homey and cosy feel.”
Picking up projects from another designer is never an easy task and throw hesitant customers into the mix, the task is far from straightforward. Fiona’s patience and attention to detail delivered a dream kitchen that blended her expertise with the Wilsons ideas harmoniously.
Thanks to a strong collaborative relationship between client and designer, Laings have triumphed in delivering a beautiful functional kitchen that Alexander and Sheilann will enjoy for many years to come.
To find out more about what the expertise of Laings can bring to your home, read more of our case studies below.
