Set in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales, this kitchen renovation combines traditional country character with a clean, contemporary finish. The approximately 7m x 6.5m kitchen and living space was designed around a generous central island, with CRL Quartz Statuario Oro providing the finishing touch and LM Stone Creative responsible for the specialist fabrication and installation.
The homeowners wanted to create a modern country kitchen with a high-quality finish, combining solid wood cabinetry with a restored stone fireplace and log burner. Choosing the right work surface was an important part of achieving that balance. “We wanted a solid wood door with a modern country kitchen. We loved the veins going through the worktop and the clean feel,” comments the homeowner.
Viewing the quartz in full-size slabs helped the couple appreciate how it would work across such a substantial island. “Being able to go into CRL to look at all the quartz in full size was really useful, as it is a big island. CRL were brilliant as we spent quite a long time going between different quartz.”
The heart of the kitchen
The island was central to the brief, designed to provide plenty of practical preparation space while also creating a sociable place for entertaining.
“I wanted a large island to allow a good working space and a good community feel when friends are round; somewhere I can still cook and talk to people,” says the homeowner.
Its scale makes Statuario Oro a focal point, with the veining adding visual interest while complementing the more traditional elements of the room.
An installation challenge
Installing such a large surface presented a significant challenge because of the property’s upside-down layout. The quartz needed to be taken upstairs and manoeuvred around a corner.
A join was initially considered to simplify installation, but the homeowners wanted an uninterrupted surface. Chris at fabricator LM Stone Creative found a way to make it work.
“At first Chris wanted a join to make it easier, but we did not want that, so he made it work and it looks fantastic,” says the homeowner. “Chris was brilliant and made everything very easy. I cannot speak more highly of him.”
A show-stopping result
Entering the finished space, the island immediately takes centre stage, while the stone fireplace provides a characterful backdrop. “You walk in and there is a beautiful view over fields, and you turn into the kitchen and the island is a showstopper. The stone fireplace catches your eye nicely in the background,” comments the homeowner.
For the couple, quartz has proved the right choice both aesthetically and practically. “It’s a great working space, easy to clean and makes a traditional house feel modern. I find the contrast perfect,” they add. Although a timber island had been considered, they have no doubts about the final decision: “We were tempted with a wood island, but we definitely made the right call going with quartz, Chris at LM Stone Creative and using CRL Quartz.”