Elite Bistros: The Kitchen Studio
Chef Gary Usher and the team at Elite Bistros had a vision for a farmhouse-inspired kitchen studio to hold cooking masterclasses and provide the perfect backdrop for creating content. Their designer, Corinne, helped bring their vision to life!
Gary showed so much enthusiasm for this kitchen, it was great to collaborate with him and create this beautiful kitchen. We chose a lovely symmetrical kitchen with plenty of storage, some lovely little touches, and a modern-meets-traditional feel.
Goals for the space
Gary wanted this space to feel like a home from home. Despite Elite Bistros having a large industrial kitchen downstairs, they were keen for this space to be the polar opposite. A fully working kitchen in its own right, their new test kitchen was to be for filming content, hosting events, and finishing off dishes. That’s why they wanted it to have a familiarity and a homeliness to it.
Soft, traditional finishes
The space for the kitchen was an empty first-floor mezzanine that sat in the eaves of their industrial headquarters. Keen for the kitchen to offer a stark contrast with its surroundings, Gary requested soft, traditional finishes to stand off the industrial backdrop of the room.
The team wanted this kitchen to be a statement with a pop of colour and beautiful textures. It had to be imposing and hardwearing, yet soft and simple.
On-trend colours
An excellent combination of our Vard range in Doll and Tusk, this kitchen combines the on-trend dusky pink with the classic and traditional light grey. Featuring a subtle and modern brass Mix bar handle and matching Kallix gold tap, subtly tied together with the brass shelf supports. The warmth of these touches works beautifully with the warm solid oak worktop and shelves.
Shop the look
The details
A great example of a farmhouse style kitchen, the shape and grain of the Vard doors and the traditional aspects of this kitchen are then furthered with the addition of a Belfast sink, a key driver for the classic feel in this space.
Add to this the excellence of the Butler’s Pantry and the clever use of pull-out bins and you have a kitchen that not only looks stunning but that really works for the Elite Bistros team.
Natural elements
Gary was keen to bring in natural elements that could really contrast the industrial and metallic space around the kitchen. That’s why we added so much wood to this kitchen and why we opted for the solid timber Vard doors.
We also knew how much Gary (and all chefs) love a good butcher’s block chopping board – so we had a special Smile Kitchens one made for him!
Corinne and the Smile Kitchens team have been a joy to work with. From initial design right down to the delivery driver, our experience has been faultless and smooth. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Smile Kitchens to any of my friends and family.
Ashley @ Elite Bistros