Casual comfortable family kitchen is the heart of this home! Organization is the name of the game in this fast paced yet loving family! Between school, sports, and work everyone needs to hustle, but this hard working kitchen makes it all a breeze! Photgraphy: Stephen Karlisch

A contemporary family front room with bespoke table and footstool, chandelier and functional fireplace. Separated from the hallway by a bespoke glass crittal door.

We are in New York City, in a wonderful vintage apartment in the luxury Upper East Side district, overlooking Central Park. New York designer Julie Hillman, in collaboration with Peter Pennoyer Architects, designed a kitchen with professional performance that was perfectly integrated with the home’s eclectic furnishing full of precious vintage details. In this elegant project, Officine Gullo created the kitchen and its furnishings by applying custom solutions that allowed the designers to meet the needs and wishes of the client. In fact, the kitchen was designed to be experienced in everyday life, as Julie Hillman tells us: “We wanted a space that could act as a kitchen but could visually appear as a room. The challenge was to separate the professional kitchen from the family space, but at the same time make it practical and in tune with the rest of the environment.” In the environment thus designed, the cooking area plays a prominent role, and Officine Gullo’s OG Professional stove is the protagonist. It is a professional high-tech cooking unit extremely functional and extremely versatile, offering multiple cooking methods thanks to its large dimensions that allow the preparation of dishes even for several guests. The two ovens available, one static and one ventilated, allow simultaneous cooking, while the hob is equipped with maxi burners and a ribbed frytop. A custom-made hood, with metal frame, glass panels and LED lights, was manufactured by Officine Gullo and installed above the cooking area. Custom wall cabinets and under-top drawers complete the furnishings with matching design. The large window illuminates the sink with marble top, hosting also the dishwasher. The central island is dedicated to washing as well. Made of wood and marble, in addition to the integrated sink, it features drawers, some of which are refrigerated. Julie commented on the choice of materials and finishes, saying: “I love unusual combinations of different materials, so we chose Jet Black (RAL 9005) for the kitchen and the special finish in dark burnished brass for the frames for their industrial look, and a natural polished oak colour, matching the same hue of the parquet, for the wooden sections.” ABOUT JULIE HILLMAN Julie Hillman’s approach to designing residential spaces focuses on a thoughtful curation of collectible items that speak to both the client’s unique interests and her eclectic aesthetic. She cultivates a creative dialogue between the architects, artisans, and craftsmen to ensure that each home tells its own story. She believes there should be harmony in every room in a home, and the best way to achieve this is to create a subtle yet unexpected mix of decorative and functional arts. She feels that every item in a room should be in conversation with one another while maintaining its own significance. Julie’s goal is to help each home possess a distinctive, timeless, and unique style that is not based on any specific criteria, but on the collaborative vision of designer and client.

Salle de bain en longueur, avec étagères maçonnées, meuble technique pour le chauffe-eau et le lave-linge

Set within the former Royal British Legion Club in Bishop’s Stortford, this 18th-century Grade II listed building has been restored to its former glory and transformed into a luxury, modern home, beautifully designed, where heritage charm is blended with contemporary living. Dedicated local experts preserved the character of the original structure while introducing contemporary comfort at every design decision. Peter, the developer, and interior designer Helen Tigue worked together to create the wonderful layout. With Helen’s artistic flair, she finalised the finishing touches for this colourful space. Handcrafted in our Classic In-Frame Shaker style with a refined beaded front frame for sculpted decorative detail, the kitchen is now part of the newly built extension, where high ceilings, Crittall-style windows, and floods of natural light create the perfect backdrop. The cabinetry needs to feel authentically connected to the building’s history, so the Classic In-Frame was the natural choice. The additional beading adds a subtle decorative flourish without overwhelming the cabinetry, becoming a meaningful part of the kitchen’s next chapter. The ceiling was recommended to be opened up to expose the full height of the room. Designed in this spacious layout, the long sink run offers generous storage without wall cabinetry, allowing the timeless craftsmanship to sit proudly in the natural daylight. The central island anchors the room as a multifunction hub, while a dedicated range cooker area and nearby pantry dresser complete the space with both elegance and practicality. The result is a bespoke handmade kitchen that perfectly balances the building’s historic charm with modern design excellence, creating a space that is deeply personal to the family who now calls it home. Colour plays a defining role in this handmade kitchen, bringing plenty of character and individuality to the space. The main cabinetry and dressers are hand-painted in Pink Ground by Farrow & Ball, a soft, dusty blush chosen by the client to reflect their personality. This beautifully warm shade offers a soothing presence, pretty without being sugary, elegant without feeling formal, and perfectly balanced for a modern classic home. Bathed in plenty of natural light, the Pink Ground cabinetry feels calm, inviting, and effortlessly timeless. In striking contrast, the island becomes a bold centrepiece, hand-painted in Farrow & Ball’s Down Pipe. With its dramatic lead-grey base and subtle blue undertones, this rich colour adds depth and sophistication to the room. Down Pipe brings a fanatical zeal, grounding the space with a confident, contemporary edge. This daringly dark hue is ideal for a statement island, allowing the kitchen’s craftsmanship to shine while creating a beautiful visual balance against the softer blush tones. At the heart of this kitchen sits a beautifully unique appliance choice, the Everhot 150+ cooker in dusky pink. This was a personal request from our client, who wanted to introduce a touch of femininity into the space while celebrating their love for cooking. Positioned thoughtfully in its own dedicated section of the room, the Everhot becomes both a visual highlight and a hardworking centrepiece. The kettle is always ready to make a fresh pot of tea, cakes bake evenly in the radiant heat, and the family naturally gathers around to warm their hands while the meal cooks. Living with an Everhot is an experience in itself, designed to be the comforting hub of daily life, offering background warmth and a constant sense of homeliness. Yet behind its charming appearance lies impressive capability, perfectly equipped for hosting friends, preparing generous family meals, or quietly simmering something delicious throughout the day. To complement this iconic cooker, the kitchen features a refined selection of high-performance appliances seamlessly integrated with our handmade cabinetry. These include the Liebherr integrated food centre fridge and freezer, offering ample storage while remaining discreet. A Caple integrated wine cabinet for the perfect pour, a Siemens built-in microwave for convenience, and a Siemens integrated dishwasher for effortless clean-up. Together, these carefully chosen appliances create a kitchen that functions flawlessly for modern family life and looks beautiful at the same time. The sink area in this iconic historic Bishop’s Stortford property is a perfect example of how traditional craftsmanship, modern convenience and personal style can work in harmony. Positioned along the main run beneath the large windows, this zone is bathed in natural light throughout the day, an intentional design choice that allows both the handcrafted cabinetry and the high-quality fixtures to truly shine. At its centre sits the Shaws of Darwen double bowl sink, chosen in a generously wide size to support everything from daily family prep to hosting and entertaining. Its timeless fireclay design brings an unmistakable heritage feel, adding charm and authenticity to the space. To complement this, we paired two taps for ultimate functionality. The Perrin & Rowe Ionian mixer with rinse, finished in luxurious Aged Brass, introduced a warm, characterful tone and a beautifully traditional silhouette. Alongside it, the Quooker PRO3 Classic Nordic Round in Stainless Steel offers instant boiling water, an essential for modern luxury setups. Together, the workstation is made to be efficient and elegant. Filling the kitchen with thoughtful and functional design elements is our handcrafted cabinetry concealing a variety of bespoke storage solutions that make day-to-day life beautifully organised. Inside the drawers, tailored inserts such as spice trays, utensil trays, and cutlery dividers ensure every item has a place. All details are maximised for efficiency to bring a sense of calm and order to the kitchen’s workflow. One of the standout features is amongst the dresser: a cleverly designed pull-out dog bowl drawer at the bottom, seamlessly integrated to maintain a clean aesthetic while catering to the family’s furry friend. Above, bi-fold doors open to reveal a stunning breakfast pantry and coffee bar, making morning routines effortless and luxurious. Complementing our British handcrafted furniture is the Birmingham-made Armac Martin’s Sparkbrook collection in Aged Brass, featuring a combination of t-bars and cabinet pulls. These handles introduce an elegant detail that pairs beautifully with each of the beautiful cabinetry colours. The Carrara Misterio quartz finishes the worktops, a timeless choice known for its subtle, classic veining. This surface brings sophistication and durability to the space while allowing the blush tones and deep island hue to remain the stars of the palette. Adding a unique layer to the design is the green-grey splashback tile, which introduces soft contrast and a gentle hint of character against the pink cabinetry. The overall styling of the home further enhances its charm with selected wall art, sculptural vases, and statement light pendants with pops of colour. This kitchen is full of playful personality, where each of the pieces reflects the client’s vibrant spirit and brings an uplifting, contemporary energy to this restored historic property.