American Diner Cool

"This cooker was such a great, unique piece and in an unusual colour.”

Discover the Vintage Line

About the owners: A creative young couple who have moved to the coast from London for a better work-life balance.

Project: A kitchen renovation in a run-down 2-bed Victorian house in Poole, Dorset

Style: A contemporary take on a 1950’s American diner

Design scheme: Sky blue, bright yellow, with hand-made solid wood cabinetry plus fun, retro design details

De’Longhi range cooker: Vintage style, double cavity, Mediterranean Olive, dual fuel (gas hob and electric multifunction oven plus grill), 90cm wide.

The challenge:

We moved into our new home and the first major project we undertook was the kitchen as it was falling apart. Given it would be one of our biggest financial outlays, it made sense to start here so we set about designing our own scheme including the units.

We’ve always loved the retro look and wanted to create something with a modern twist. I really loved the idea of a cross between an American style, 1960’s wood panelled kitchen but with a colourful, 1950’s feel.

My husband is a bespoke joiner and together we love to bring individuality to our homes. Given he did most of the practical work himself, we kept our costs low and were able to create a unique, one-off space.

Having the kitchen fully functional has enabled us to enjoy being in the space and we tend to spend most of our time here experimenting with new recipes on our lovely new cooker.