Promotional feature: Geoff and Beatrice Norman invite us into their bespoke family kitchen created by Bower Willis Designs of Shipston on Stour.
For Geoff and Beatrice Norman, a new kitchen was part of a far larger renovation project undertaken in their quest to achieve the perfect family home. Driven by a desire for high quality cabinetry combined with exceptional functionality, the pair had a very clear vision of how their dream kitchen would work.
Fortunately for them, design team Angela and Jeremy Bower shared their passion for achieving the ultimate in functional, yet beautiful design.
The Normans said: “We loved that fact that Angela and Jeremy took the time to really understand our needs. They made great suggestions and gave sound advice, but didn’t try to impose their preferences. The chemistry just clicked and we felt really confident that the Bower Willis Designs team would be able to deliver what we wanted.”
The couple love to entertain and Beatrice’s French heritage means she is a highly proficient cook. Whether they are eating a casual family lunch or supper, or catering for a party of 50, the kitchen is always in use.
The couple said: “It was so helpful that Angela and Jeremy are passionate about cooking too. They truly understand the importance of functionality and weren’t trying to pigeon hole us into a standard design. The beauty of this room is that the design lends itself equally to intimate gatherings as it does to large-scale celebrations.”
For Beatrice, the priority was to have a kitchen that wasn’t just the hub for preparing and cooking food, but also for eating, living and working.
The Normans’ kitchen features an island that includes a wine fridge and plenty of space to prepare food, but also has handy shelves where the couple store books and can tuck away the laptop and handbags out of sight. With a television and wireless sound system at hand, the room is also a relaxing place to read a book, watch the news or catch up on emails.
One of the most striking elements of the finished kitchen is the paint shade used, a Farrow & Ball colour and a first for furniture manufacturers Callerton.
The couple said of the colour: “We wanted the kitchen colour scheme to blend harmoniously with the décor of the rest of the house. Callerton had never offered a Farrow & Ball paint finish, so Jeremy personally undertook the task of managing the process to ensure this new combination was a success. The service really went above and beyond our expectations.”
Innovative storage solutions mean that everything is readily to hand with no need for bending down to stretch into inaccessible units.
So what do the Norman’s enjoy most about their new kitchen?
“We love the modern ovens, the instant boiling water tap and the Silestone work surfaces. The quality is fantastic and we loved the vast range of colours available. We also really appreciate having such extensive storage space, as everything is now in a logical place.”
The finished kitchen is a true working kitchen that blends practicality with beauty.
Beatrice said of the completed kitchen: “We’ve ended up with a kitchen that is so versatile and easy to live with whether we are working, relaxing or dining. We couldn’t ask for more.”
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Husband and wife, Jeremy and Angela Bower head a team of kitchen and interior designers dedicated to creating innovative and practical kitchens and living spaces. With backgrounds in construction and food, the couple bring together the essential elements for design and installation. Based in Shipston-on-Stour, Warwickshire, their showroom demonstrates state of the art equipment together with innovative designs for living.
