Reorganisation of a Victorian terrace house in Glasgow for a young family to create a bright, communal kitchen and living area primed for hosting family and friends.
The Vision
The Cook’s House exemplifies Loader Monteith’s considered approach to sustainability and the studio’s reputation for clever problem solving. Rather than extend the poorly-arranged existing layout as per the client’s original brief, Loader Monteith encouraged the family to rearrange the rear plan, improving its functionality and allowing the clients’ budget to go further across the project.
The Brief
Alongside the brief to create a practical, welcoming kitchen and dining space, Loader Monteith was tasked with re-connecting the ground floor to the large rear garden, which was visually and physically cut off from the living area. The visual separation between the garden and kitchen created a sense of unease for the clients, who could not keep an eye on their two young children as they played outside.
Loader Monteith’s first design decision was to shift the hallway door to the kitchen over by a width. This minor adjustment unlocked the rear plan entirely, allowing the architects to reposition the kitchen from the dark galley at the back of the house, to natural the centre of the home. This small change also created a view to the garden from the entrance hall, greatly improving the light and sense of arrival.
The new U-shaped kitchen features a muted blue palette with oak joinery, abundant storage and bench space, and a large breakfast bar which acts as an informal social and dining space. The kitchen is brightly lit by floor-to-ceiling glazed doors that open on the rear garden, connecting the young family when indoors and out.
Custom oak banquette seating with overhead and underseat storage characterises the dining space, providing a relaxing vantage point to look out onto the garden through two large windows, bordered by an oak shelving unit for the children’s toys.
At the rear of the new family room is a sitting area which opens onto the garden through large glazed doors. Loader Monteith opened the ceiling, contrasting textural beams overhead against minimal white walls to add height and reflect light throughout the plan.
The results
