From the outset, this kitchen was imagined as a space that would shape the way a London Victorian townhouse could be lived in. Designed as a proposal for a professional couple with young children, the kitchen was never conceived as a purely functional room, but as the social and emotional heart of the home.
Collection Malone
Paint Colour Green Meadow
Worktop Compac Unique Calacatta Green
As part of a wider reconfiguration, this design explores how opening up the house might allow light and space to become guiding principles. The kitchen is envisioned as the centre of family life, with an understated, architectural approach rather than a declarative one. Proportion, materiality and movement take precedence over statement features, allowing the space to flex effortlessly from the bustle of early mornings to the calm of quieter evenings.
The brief centres on a London-based couple balancing demanding professional lives with the rhythms of a young family. The proposed kitchen is designed to support both connection and calm: a place where cooking, relaxing, working and playing can coexist comfortably within one shared space.
Entertaining is treated as integral to the way the household lives, alongside everyday rituals that unfold naturally around food. Warmth, welcome and instinctive functionality underpin every design decision.
The setting for the kitchen is a period London Victorian townhouse, reimagined with a contemporary glass extension to better suit modern family life. The proposal seeks to enhance wellbeing through improved natural light, generous proportions and a subtle dialogue between old and new. Original architectural character is retained, while the interior opens into light-filled, contemporary spaces designed for relaxing, playing and socialising.
This design showcases our Malone collection, Tom Howley’s first contemporary kitchen range and a bold new chapter for the brand. Malone was conceived around a simple but carefully considered question: how do you evolve a classic?
Rooted in British craftsmanship yet unmistakably modern, the collection distils decades of expertise into a refined, architectural language that feels both timeless and current. In this design, the clean-lined, unframed doors with ultra-fine cock-bead detailing demonstrate that minimalism is anything but simple.
Bespoke engraved edge-pull handles in burnished brass, milled from solid metal, introduce tactile warmth and subtle luxury. Precision shadow gaps, junctions and carefully balanced proportions reinforce a commitment to exacting craft, even at the conceptual stage.
Architecturally, the space is conceived to feel quietly impressive rather than overtly dramatic. A series of rooflights brings generous natural daylight into the kitchen, dining and living areas, drawing the eye through the length of the extension and enhancing the sense of openness throughout.
Exposed brickwork is introduced as a textural counterpoint to the refined cabinetry, grounding the space while quietly referencing the townhouse’s Victorian origins. At the far end, large glazed doors are imagined to blur the boundary between inside and out, extending sightlines into the garden and supporting an easy, sociable indoor–outdoor lifestyle.
Traditional interior cornicing is retained within the concept to frame the ceiling, creating a deliberate contrast with the contemporary cabinetry, lighting and clean-lined furniture.
At the centre of the extended kitchen, a generous waterfall island takes pride of place, its Compac Calacatta Green worktop striking against a reeded Natural Oak base that softens its sculptural form. Rather than being purely functional, the island is designed as the place where morning coffees, homework sessions and informal suppers naturally unfold. Natural Oak bar stools with upholstered seats invite people to linger, reinforcing the island as the heart of family life.
Opposite the island, deep pull-out drawers are positioned beneath the BORA hob, with the sink zone placed directly across to support an intuitive cooking workflow. Double BORA ovens are integrated seamlessly into the cabinetry, maintaining clean sightlines while allowing for high-performance cooking.
Full-height Malone cabinetry in Green Meadow wraps the space, creating a calm, cocooning backdrop. With flush detailing and integrated appliances, the space feels cohesive and quietly architectural. Along the sink run, reeded cabinetry paired with a stone shelf offers an opportunity for display, introducing ceramics, greenery and personal touches.
A particularly charming feature is the Natural Oak window seat, seamlessly integrated into the cabinetry run. Framed in the same Green Meadow joinery as the kitchen, it feels deliberately architectural rather than decorative. Deep drawers beneath provide discreet storage, while the Oak seat offers a place to pause with a book or coffee, overlooking the garden. The surrounding wrap-around cabinetry reinforces continuity and balance, ensuring the kitchen reads as a single, tailored design rather than a collection of elements.
Set behind slim, black-framed Crittall-style doors, the walk-in pantry is both practical and quietly luxurious. Inside, open shelving keeps everyday ingredients within easy reach, while deeper cupboards and drawers store bulk items and hosting essentials. A dedicated work surface allows for light prep and accommodates heavier appliances, keeping the main kitchen serene and clutter-free.
An integrated breakfast station further supports daily rituals, bringing together closed cabinetry, pull-out drawers, and a quartz work surface tailored for coffee making and morning meals. Everyday essentials—mugs, coffee beans, cereals, and small appliances are discreetly stored while remaining easy to access.
There’s a subtle nod to mid-century modern in the clean lines of this Malone kitchen, honest materials and pared-back detailing, balanced by a current palette and luxurious finishes. The result is quietly sophisticated rather than showy, a kitchen designed to support wellbeing as much as aesthetics. This approach reflects the growing shift toward wellness-driven, biophilic interiors, where natural light, thoughtful zoning and tactile materials create spaces that feel restorative and human-centred.
The palette is soft and nature-inspired: Green Meadow cabinetry, warm neutrals and pale quartz surfaces, lifted by burnished brass accents. Large-format porcelain floor tiles are proposed to enhance light and space, while Natural Oak introduces warmth and tactility. Together, these elements create a calm, organic environment that feels deeply connected to its surroundings.
Visit a Tom Howley showroom to see the Malone door up close and book a design consultation – either in the showroom or in your home to explore how this contemporary kitchen could be tailored to you.
Explore our collection of narratives from satisfied clients, each sharing their unique Tom Howley experience. From the initial design process to the joy of living with a Tom Howley kitchen, these stories encapsulate the profound impact our kitchens have had on their lives. Dive in, and discover the transformative potential that awaits in your own home.
From the outset, this kitchen was imagined as a space that would shape the way a London Victorian townhouse could be lived in. Designed as a proposal for a professional couple with young children, the kitchen was never conceived as a purely functional room, but as the social and emotional heart of the home.
From the outset, this kitchen was imagined as a space that would shape the way a London Victorian townhouse could be lived in.
Featured on Channel 4’s George Clarke’s Beautiful Builds, architect George Clarke and garden designer Luke Millard visited this beautiful Bristol family home as part of their research, examining how to craft dream designs while balancing the homeowners’ budgets between the kitchen and garden.
Featured on Channel 4’s George Clarke’s Beautiful Builds.
When Lara and her family moved into their idyllic countryside cottage in Somerset, they knew they’d found somewhere special. Nestled in a peaceful village, the former game keeper’s cottage came with just over an acre of garden, charming original features, and a history that gave the house real soul, a place they could imagine putting down roots for good.
When Lara and her family moved into their idyllic countryside cottage in Somerset, they knew they’d found somewhere special.
This remarkable kitchen renovation in the charming Manchester suburb of Didsbury showcases the impact of meticulous planning and impeccable execution, culminating in a space perfectly tailored to meet the needs of modern family living.
This Didsbury kitchen renovation showcases meticulous planning and flawless execution, designed for modern family living
Situated in a historic neighbourhood, this Esher home features striking architectural details, expansive open rooms, and inspiring garden views. Before a complete renovation, the kitchen was spacious and functional but lacked the character, luxury, and personality the client desired.
This traditional Esher home has been reimagined with a family kitchen, cosy reading nook, and bespoke bar at its heart.
Nestled in picturesque West Yorkshire, this Edwardian property became a cherished project for Louise and her family. Aiming to create a joyful space where they could thrive and grow, they transformed their dated kitchen into a open-plan oasis that now serves as the heart of their home.
Located in West Yorkshire, this Edwardian property became a cherished project for Louise and her family.
Nestled in the Kent countryside, this Grade II-listed property has been lovingly restored, renovated, and extended, making room for a light-filled Tom Howley kitchen.
Nestled in the Kent countryside, this Grade II-listed property was restored and extended, adding a light-filled Tom Howley kitchen.
Embarking on a period renovation project is an endeavour that demands determination, vision, and an unwavering commitment to preserving the past. Where tradition meets modernity. Set within a magnificent Grade I-listed Tudor house this kitchen is nothing short of remarkable.
Where tradition meets modernity. Set within a magnificent Grade I-listed Tudor house this kitchen is nothing short of remarkable.
We’re constantly inspired by the opportunity to help clients translate their dreams into reality. This Surrey family project was no different. Their vision was a refined, timeless kitchen that effortlessly combined modern conveniences with a warm, vibrant atmosphere, creating the true heart of their home.
Our client envisioned a refined, timeless kitchen blending modern conveniences with a warm, vibrant atmosphere.