Design Notes | The Butler’s Kitchen

When we were designing the new bathroom and flooring showroom at HMHQ we relegated this little room to a stock room; a sort of basic storage room for things you needed but didn’t necessarily want in the showroom like samples / info cards etc. But it’s quite a big room and around that time Peter Humphrey, the founder and design director at HM, had developed a new oak finish called Montagu and we didn’t have a speck of space left in the main building to show it off. So, we had an idea to create a simple little kitchen, nothing too fancy, just enough cabinetry to show off the Montagu and then also a new colour called ‘Mr. Banks’ – a deep, dark black tone with plenty of ooomph.

Of course, as our clients find with their projects, mission creep sound set in and this is where we ended up but happily, it looks absolutely incredible and shows what a bit of personality can do for a very tired little ordinary room upstairs in an industrial workshop!

So, as mentioned above the Nickleby cabinetry is finished in Mr. Banks, a new colour to HM, and just used in an incredible project in Leicestershire that we can’t wait to share later this summer. The Quilp handles are finished in mid antique brass waxed by Joseph Giles.

We placed a large Shaws butler sink centrally under the window with the Quooker Classic Fusion tap which is finished in patinated brass. This vey clever tap does hot and cold water, boiling 100C water, chilled filtered water and sparkling water. Taps can be a source of frustration for us because it’s so impossible trying to match finishes across different tap manufacturers and the thing missing from this sink is a rinse, but as this will be mostly used for making hot drinks and clearing away a few bits and bobs we felt we could go without the rinse and use this particular tap here.

The worktops are Calacatta Viola marble which again, because this kitchen will be used more for making hot drinks and snacks, it would be less susceptible to damage and also has so much mottling and colouring it in, any damage would be lost in the natural marble markings.

The new Montagu finish is very similar to our Smithfield weathered oak but doesn’t go through the same process of wire brushing by hand so it’s softer and also much less expensive to manufacture. It has a beautiful hue that looks and feels so luxurious.

This is a great shot by Paul Craig of the tall cabinetry showing off the Montagu finish but also these gorgeous fine bone china mugs which are by Jo Deakin; they are all made in Stoke-on-Trent – we love the different designs and the mix and match patterns.

We’ve noted below all the design details of this space for future reference:

Cabinetry: Nickleby

Hardware: Quilp in Mid Antique Brass Waxed

Worktops: Calacatta Viola marble

Walls: Bespoke panelling by HM, all finished in Southwold 

Butler Sink: Shaws butler sink – link here

Tap: Classic Quooker Fusion, patinated brass – link here 

Tea towel: Tori Murphy, Chevy tea towel in Fawn/Linen – link here

Faux plants: Celeste Rose Designs – link here

Toaster & Coffee Machine: Dualit – link here 

Engraved Chopping board: Humphrey Munson – link here 

Dish soap: Norfolk Living – link here

Blind fabric: Tori Murphy – Sleeper Stripe Cotton Fabric Black – link here

Blind made by: The Harper Collection – link here

Wall lights: Vaughan Designs – Richmond Wall Lantern, Brass – link here

If you’d like to make an appointment to come and visit us in Felsted please do get in touch with the client services team on 01371 821300 or email us at info@humphreymunson.co.uk.