- Duration: 5 weeks (completed ahead of schedule)
- Completion: November 2025
- Project scope: Design, bespoke cabinetry, worktops, plumbing alterations, appliances, lighting, flooring, and a built-in banquette dining area
- What we love: The Regiment Green shaker cabinetry against Carrara Bianco quartz, and the banquette bench that turns an awkward corner into useful storage
Project Overview
Mr and Mrs May came to our Towcester showroom looking for help with a kitchen that had reached the end of its life. The old layout was tired, awkward to use, and it didn’t work well in their Grade II Listed Brackley apartment.
Their brief was clear – they wanted a practical kitchen with better storage and an open-plan feel that would work for everyday life and entertaining, linking the kitchen and dining area more naturally with the lounge. They also wanted a look that felt right for a period home, with a modern edge rather than something overly traditional.
The challenge: a listed building with tricky quirks
Listed buildings come with added complications. This apartment had high ceilings, unlevel floors, and uneven walls. The room shape was awkward, and the plumbing was not in a helpful position for the layout Mr and Mrs May wanted.
Access also needed careful planning. Being on the first floor with a narrow staircase and limited parking, everything from delivery to moving appliances had to be coordinated so the communal areas were protected and neighbours were respected.
Designing within the rules, and in keeping with the building
The biggest win in a listed property is getting a kitchen that fits perfectly without trying to force the building to behave like a new build. We designed made-to-measure cabinetry that worked with the room’s natural lines and constraints, rather than fighting them. This is where bespoke really matters – our cabinetry is made to suit the room precisely.
Fireplaces and hearths: preserving period character, refined for the new kitchen
Original features were treated as part of the design from the outset. The original cast iron fireplaces were retained and enhanced in both the lounge and the kitchen, preserving the character and charm of the apartment.
To help them sit beautifully within the new scheme, we redesigned and installed new hearths and surrounding details for each fireplace, framing them with quartz so they were in keeping with the kitchen. We also colour-matched the finishes on the mantles to tie everything together.
Solving the layout and services
To improve flow and reduce wasted space, we made several practical changes behind the scenes. The vent pipe sat awkwardly in the middle of the kitchen, limiting what could be done with the run of cabinetry. We rerouted it so the layout could function properly.
We also adjusted the plumbing and pushed the sink run further into the room which reduced dead space, improved the working area around the sink, and helped the kitchen feel more spacious without changing the structure of the building.,
Banquette seating: turning an awkward corner into a feature
One of the trickiest parts of the room was the dining area, where the shape and proportions left an awkward corner that never really worked. Rather than forcing in a standard table and chairs and losing valuable space, we designed a built-in banquette bench to make the footprint work properly. It creates a natural zone for dining and entertaining, helping the kitchen and dining area feel more connected, while keeping the layout open and easy to move through.
The banquette also solved a practical problem. By building storage into the bench, we created a discreet place for the things you want close by but not on show, from table linen to board games and everyday bits that otherwise clutter worktops. Finished to match the surrounding cabinetry, the seating feels intentional and cohesive, tying the whole scheme together and turning a previously unused space into one of the most inviting parts of the kitchen.
To complete the dining area, a custom-built table was designed to sit perfectly with the banquette, made by Harper Bespoke Furniture. It was the ideal finishing touch, bringing balance to the layout and ensuring the seating feels purpose-made for the space, rather than added as an afterthought.
Modern comfort with period-appropriate detailing
Because the apartment is a listed period property, a modern slab door would have felt too sharp against the original features. Instead, we specified a narrow framed shaker style from Second Nature, finished in a smooth, non-grained sprayed look to give the best of both worlds. It reads as timeless and architectural, but still feels fresh, especially paired with the brass detailing and Carrara Bianco quartz. Mr and Mrs May were drawn to green from the start, so we guided them through a few options and landed on a confident, timeless tone of Regiment
Carefully managed, from start to finish
The installation programme was planned around the realities of a first-floor listed apartment. Communal areas and the staircase were protected with dust sheets and floor protection, and materials were moved in carefully to keep disruption down, and the project was completed in five weeks and signed off ahead of schedule.
The Mays have shared a testimonial with us, describing their experience of working with Parker Kitchens from the initial design through to the final installation:
“About a year ago, we were looking for an independent kitchen designer and installer. History has taught me that if you want attention to detail and quality, you do not go to the big high street names, so we chose Parker Kitchens for that very reason, and they proved me right.
– Mr May, Brackley
The designer pushed me out of my comfort zone, but we ended up with an amazing kitchen that is sympathetic to our Grade II listed building. Our kitchen was originally a bedroom, so it is unusually shaped, with an awkward fireplace. Parker Kitchens redesigned the hearth and created something that flowed from the kitchen cabinets through to the dining area. They also designed a bench for the unusually shaped dining space using materials from the kitchen cabinets, which we were very pleased with.
They even redesigned the matching fireplace in the living room, which you can see from the kitchen, and the result is fantastic. The project was one of the most well-managed I have witnessed: efficient, punctual, professional, good-natured, and finished to a very high standard. It was delivered on time, in fact a week early. We are absolutely delighted and would not hesitate to recommend Parker Kitchens.”
Appliances: performance-led choices from Neff, plus a dedicated wine zone
For cooking and cooling, the Mays chose Neff appliances including the oven, fridge, hob and dishwasher, keeping the look streamlined while delivering reliable performance for everyday use and entertaining. A Caple wine chiller was added to create a dedicated drinks area within the space, so everything needed for hosting sits neatly within the kitchen rather than spilling into the dining or lounge zones.
Quooker tap: everyday luxury, built in
To make the sink area feel both practical and special, we paired a brass Quooker tap with an Abode sink. The Quooker gives instant boiling water, with chilled and sparkling functionality for ease and effortless hosting, while the crisp white ceramic Abode sink adds a classic, period-friendly note that suits the apartment beautifully. Together, they create a clean, cohesive sink run that looks good, without drawing attention away from the cabinetry and original features.
Flooring: a durable Brampton Chase LVT finish
To create a clean transition between kitchen, dining and lounge, the floor was finished in Brampton Chase LVT. It brings warmth and texture underfoot while offering the practicality you want in a hardworking kitchen space, especially in a property where the original floors were not perfectly level.
Internals: storage that works harder behind the doors
We used clever internal solutions to make sure every awkward corner and tight run worked as hard as possible. Corner storage and pull-out mechanisms from Kesseböhmer make previously wasted space accessible, so cookware, small appliances and everyday essentials are easy to see and simple to grab, even in the trickiest parts of the layout.
We also built in integrated waste and recycling bins, keeping everything neatly hidden behind the cabinetry while staying quick to access during cooking. It is a small detail that makes a big difference in day-to-day use, helping the kitchen stay calm and clutter-free while still being practical for busy family life.
Lighting, electrics and heating
To create a kitchen that feels warm, comfortable and properly resolved, we paid close attention to the finishing details. Under-cabinet lighting from Häfele Loox provides crisp task lighting exactly where it is needed, without adding visual clutter, while ceiling lights from The Lighting Studio in Banbury help the space feel layered and welcoming.
TLC Electrical supplied the switches and sockets, keeping the look consistent across the kitchen and dining area. For heating, we specified Milano Windsor radiators from Best Heating, a period-friendly style that suits the character of the apartment far better than a standard modern panel radiator, helping everything feel cohesive and in keeping with the property.
The finished space
The finished kitchen is brighter, calmer, and far more practical day to day, with a layout that finally makes sense for how the Mays live and entertain.
If you’re planning a new kitchen, we would love to help you make the most of it. Visit our showroom, or get in touch to book a free design appointment. We will guide you through layouts, materials and finishes, then create a made-to-measure kitchen that fits your building beautifully and works effortlessly for modern life.