When I first bought the house, the downstairs was a series of 5 small interconnecting rooms.  We immediately opened it up into one large living space so that we could feel a connection with the outside too.  As you can see by the pics, the space underwent a few transformations before I landed on the design I have today.  

The kitchen was designed in collaboration with Herringbone Kitchens, with the key features being a large kitchen island, an integrated pantry and no wall cupboards.   It's been painted in one of my favourite hues, pickle, and not just the cabinetry, the whole room, so it all feels pretty seamless when you're hanging out or prepping.  I've also used dark silestone worktops as a dramatic contrast as well as a feature wall with another one of our own range paints, Hudson Black. 

I love to cook, I read recipe books as if they were novels, the kitchen is my happy place.  With this bonkers biz, it's my sanctuary, somewhere I can retreat to at the end of a crazy day, which is why I have decorated it as if I would my living space.  Not only does it make this notoriously sterile room feel more integrated with the rest of the house, but I also feel connected to the space as a whole.  It's amazing to hang out in.  I love spending time here and getting the design right was key.  Being open plan there had to a be a synergy between other areas of the room and to be a foil to express myself exactly like I would in the living room.

The more you accessorise your kitchen the more integrated it will feel. One of the biggest tips I can give you is to pile stuff in there that you wouldn't normally think of. Not just rugs, but paintings, a spare chair, an extravagant light, pieces that you would normally put in your living rooms.  I have table lamps on most of my surfaces and of course an abundance of faux botanicals.  Gem has made me a fabulous arrangement that sits on my kitchen island, it's made with some of my favourite stems in hues that contrast well with my decor.