Interior designer and stylist, Nicki Bamford-Bowes of & then they went wild tells us what inspired her and her clients to choose terrazzo, and how their choice of a statement design worked in the overall concept for the kitchen.
Nicki’s bold and eclectic schemes incorporate bespoke pieces, original art and fearless colour schemes to create unique, practical, family-friendly homes for her modern, urban clients. Based in South East London, she’s not so far from our premises in Bermondsey.
This project for clients Sylwia and Pete was a whole house refurbishment and our contribution was a beautiful, striking terrazzo for the new kitchen suitable for a creative family home.
- What was it that inspired you to look at terrazzo?
My client Sylwia sells vintage Polish posters so when we were planning the kitchen design we were really keen that the vibe reflected her love of bold colours and strong shapes. Although we investigated several worksurface finishes we felt that the terrazzo really embodied the colour and pattern we were looking for. When we received the sample of the terrazzo TE114 we both knew it was the one. It is bold and strong and has serious wow factor.
- Did you visit Diespeker to look at the terrazzo choices, or did you choose online? How did you find the experience?
We were working on the design during lockdown so everything had to be done virtually, even though my client and Diespeker are local to me. We picked a selection of samples via the website and were really impressed by the service. Even in lockdown, we received the samples the next day.
- This is one of the more recent terrazzo designs to be added to Diespeker’s range – how many designs did you consider and what was it about TE114 that grabbed your attention?
We considered several different samples of terrazzo, all with different sized stones and colours. Initially we unsure if my client’s husband Pete would be as convinced on the coloured terrazzo look we discussed. With that in mind, we also sourced more neutral samples with smaller stones.
However, when we received the samples, we immediately whittled it down to those that were NOT neutral. The TE114 stole Sylwia’s heart. The oversized stones were a real statement. Even her husband Pete husband was on board once he saw them. You really have to see them in real life to appreciate the colour and beauty.
- How did TE114 work within the overall kitchen design?
Sylwia and Pete had very much had their heart set on the kitchen range by Husk in the Verde Comodoro, which is a lovely green-grey matt laminate on birch ply. We were looking for a surface and stones that would pick up and complement the colour of the cupboards. The TE114 has wonderful big green stones in it which worked perfectly with the cupboards plus some lovely amber tones which worked well with the wood panelling in the rest of the kitchen design.
- You’re known for your fondness for panelling – the kitchen island panelling looks great! Can you tell us how this was created?
I do love a bit of panelling. Not only does it look good and add character and interest to the walls – but it is also a great design trick in hiding things.
In this kitchen, the dining area had some awkward chimney breasts. We designed cupboards to flush the space and add valuable storage. We then panelled the whole wall and disguised the storage so that it looked just like a wonderful sleek ribbed wall with secret doors.
We wanted to pull that ribbed look across to the other side of the kitchen so we incorporated the panelling onto the underside of the kitchen island itself. Carpenter Wayne Perrey was commissioned to create the bespoke storage. He used wood veneer panels from The Wood Veneer Hub.
- What features were added to the countertop?
The Grohe Minta kitchen mixer tap single lever and full swivel spout with Pull-out spray features classic design, versatility and durability. The finish is super steel: https://bit.ly/2NHklgd
Vellamo Edge 1.5 bowl undermount stainless steel kitchen sink & waste kit: https://bit.ly/2ZsQbjg
- What did you think of the final look?
We were thrilled with the overall look. We are happy that our clients embraced their bold side. It is a kitchen with wow factor and the work surface is a great talking point at dinner parties. We have been blown away by the love it has received on social media too.
- Would you consider using terrazzo again, and is there another design that you’d love to use?
There is a lot of love for terrazzo right now. I have been inundated with messages from people about the design since it went live, so I am sure a terrazzo of sorts will be a popular choice again with another client in the very near future.
Sylwia and Pete say:
“We were originally thinking about a more traditional stone worktop, but it took very little persuading from Nicki to make us choose a terrazzo worktop instead. We figured that if we were revamping the whole kitchen area, it would be a missed opportunity not to have a ‘wow factor’ and have something that set our kitchen apart from all the rest. The great thing about the terrazzo is that there are so many colours and styles to choose from that you can tie in the worktop top the colour scheme in the kitchen, and it makes the whole kitchen feel much more put together and holistically designed. It was installed really quickly and easily and we were very impressed with the installation process which was performed by the Diespeker guys.”
Contacts and credits
Nicki Bamford-Bowes website: www.andthentheywentwild.co.uk Instagram: @andthentheywentwild
Sylwia’s Instagram: @projekt_26
Wayne Perrey: @thetvcarpenter
Photographer: Lol Johnson Photography @still_loljohnsonphotography
