How Artichoke created a uniquely bespoke Art Deco kitchen

Evoking the glamour of Art Deco

Inspired by Charles Rennie Mackintosh, this stone new-build property in Cheshire is unlike any other Artichoke has previously contributed to. Artichoke was invited to remodel the kitchen and the adjacent living room - both substantial spaces - to create a unique bespoke Art Deco kitchen. To succeed, the kitchen's design needed to match the remarkable stature of the house, with a refined interior design approach that enhances both flow and visual cohesion.

With its corner turret, steeply pitched roofs, large overhanging eaves, and parapet gables the house resembles a castle. It is well built and a lovely design for a modern house. With over 17,000 sq. ft of space, Artichoke's private client has been sensitively designing the house since it was first built nearly 10 years ago.

The orange pocket door brings excitement to the scheme - stylised in a conspicuous way to catch the eye.

Ensuring the space speaks to people and house

Artichoke's brief was to establish the bespoke kitchen and living room as the heart of the home; a space where everyone comes together. Comfort and practicality were priorities. With direct access to the extensive grounds, fresh produce comes in straight from the garden ready for prepping and cooking. The brief therefore invited an element of down-to-earth family living to be considered in the scheme.

Artichoke’s design challenge was to find a bridge between the super stylised interior of this Cheshire house and the client’s desire to express an earthier side to their family, all without compromising the sleek spirit of the building. Our solution was to take inspiration from the exterior. Their team of experts borrowed from the Victorian Arts and Crafts period but introduced more stylised Art Deco principles to make the kitchen more elegant and refined.

Technical and design details for practicality and delight

The original layout and positioning of the doors and windows in the room lacked symmetry and a sense of order. Artichoke corrected this by removing the existing floating plaster ceiling and introducing a coffered ceiling in the kitchen to artfully blend with the top of the cabinets. It is designed to create a feeling of three different zones; washing up, cooking and dining. The new beams running across the coffered ceiling also hide the extraction route.

Numerous polished surfaces including the floor, high gloss sliding door, extractor, glass and oven create rippling areas of reflected light. Their team used Belgian Blue limestone for the floor - the pattern is cut precisely, and the effect is deliberately crisp, not rustic. A careful balance was achieved using natural materials to bring charm and atmosphere, albeit deployed in a way that retains an elegant Art Deco feel. 

Interior design and materials

Artichoke’s interior design team were also fully engaged on this project. Every element of the scheme was specified for both rooms – colours, furniture, fabric, carpets. So, although distinct spaces, the design approach unites them allowing flow from one room to the other.

Whilst retaining the exaggerated scale and drama of the exterior, Artichoke’s aim was to connect with a more hand-crafted look. We made choices which would lend a lived-in feel and chose a colour and material palette both tactile and warm. The team used natural and handmade materials – leather, thrown tiles, brass, and copper.

Artichoke’s team of specialist finishers put character into the timber elements in the Art Deco kitchen to give it depth and personality. Looking neither fresh out of our workshop nor hundreds of years old, they found a balance which lived comfortably in a modern building with the timber finish also practical – that could be used and not just for show.

The Artichoke effect

Artichoke’s ambition was to help their client on their journey to express who they are through their home. While they chose this fabulous Cheshire mansion because it reflected their taste, they have a down-to-earth side which needed further expression.

So, design had to balance this with the immaculate precision of the rest of the house. Artichoke introduced stylised shapes and forms and a warm palette of materials which unite - bringing warmth and charm to make the Art Deco kitchen and living room the heart of the home.

For the full project, please visit Artichoke’s website.