An Actual Kitchen
The idea presented itself when media reports repeatedly claimed that the high street is over.
Our response is that the high street, especially in Lewes, is a pretty critical element in life. Yes. I know we are fortunate in Lewes. Our streets are a constant source of inspiration, vitality, interest, value and general delight.
The opportunity arose. The vacated parking office. 29 High Street. A gorgeous Georgian shop that had been allowed to slip into the shadows of neglect.
A lot of work. A number of people questioning why bother. A lot more work. It is now the lushest depth of Summer. Lewes, it’s architecture and it’s chalk core are disappearing under a wilderness of sumptuous and vital greenery.
Summer makes Lewes move a tiny bit slower with an even more languid pace than usual.
And now.
An Actual Kitchen.
The name suggested itself in a conversation about the purpose of the address. Sometimes the very obvious is a perfect fit.
What it is not.
It is not a shop selling kitchenware. It is not a kitchen showroom with a bored receptionist and a salesperson ready to move in. It is not a pop up restaurant. It is, thankfully, no longer a place to pay a parking fine.
It is our opportunity to design and craft a kitchen without compromise. The space within the building is not vast. At 57sq metres it is somewhere close to the average scale of an Inglis Hall project.
We, of course, create exquisite kitchens within significantly reduced dimensions. Similarly, we have worked within much larger spaces for some of our extremely fortunate clients.
This floorplate. It might, possibly, be the perfect size for a kitchen.
For An Actual Kitchen.
Room to move, to socialize, to collaborate and to gather. But also the intimacy and comfort with everything within convenient ergonomic reach. A scale that makes being alone not being lonely.
Oh. And this is an important bit. An Actual Kitchen with some very cool, and lovely, neighbours. They know who they are. You will soon work out who we mean when you visit and have a little explore of our stretch of the hill.
"HAPPINESS IS A SMALL HOUSE WITH A BIG KITCHEN” IS WHAT ALFRED HITCHCOCK EXPRESSED. YES, WE GET IT. CONTENTMENT AND FULFILMENT IS, ARGUABLY, FOUND IN A 57SQ METRE KITCHEN
This is not a kitchen that will be ripped out and replaced with a newer model in the future. That goes against pretty much every one of our ideals.
This kitchen will be in place for the duration of our stay. It may evolve, it will patinate, it will soften and it will, occasionally when needed, get the attention it deserves.
A BEAUTIFUL KITCHEN IS A LONG TIME THING.
Precisely how we will use it is yet to be seen. We will, of course, cook in it. Not to cook in it would seem very wrong. We will let other people cook in it. We will more than likely, let people eat in it. Again. Not quite right not to feed our guests.
There will be events that relate, somehow, to the kitchen. To An Actual Kitchen.
Kitchen Conversations. Talks about design, architecture, food and living.
Another Music A Different Kitchen.
We respectfully borrowed this strange sentence from beloved and sensitive punks The Buzzcocks. Quite what it means is anybody’s guess but we love the unlikely allure of the kitchen being an occasional makeshift performance space.
We are succumbing to the aspiration that a kitchen should be equipped with all that is needed to serve a perfect coffee. Another thing that An Actual Kitchen is not is a coffee shop. But, you know, at the right time, if the mood is where it should be. We will make you a flawless cup of coffee.
An Actual Kitchen is a conversation that contradicts itself occasionally. When we say that it is not a shop we will be inviting makers and designers who we like and feel a kinship with to settle in for a stay. Ceramics, kitchenwear, art, books and artisanal produce. Vintage objects and fine vintage local wine.
Interesting and beautiful things. To buy. Like a shop but not an actual shop.
AN ACTUAL KITCHEN IS A SPACE TO TALK, THINK AND FEEL KITCHENS. WE DEFINITELY WANT PEOPLE WHO SHARE OUR LOVE OF KITCHENS TO DROP BY AND SEE WHAT WE ARE UP TO.
Of course we are happy to talk imminent potential projects. But that misses the point. We really want to welcome people who simply want to spend a bit of time with the mind tuned to kitchens. And food. And wine. And music, art and literature.
One of our very firm creative beliefs is that conversation with people is an absolute necessity. Not over a phone, not through a screen but face to face human conversation is the essential source of ideas and inspiration.
Historically we were hidden away in a workshop in Lewes. Only a few minutes walk from the High Street but a world away from public and footfall. This meant that people, unless they had commissioned us to make a kitchen, had probably never heard of us.
Whilst we are not insecure or needy we would, admittedly, like Inglis Hall to be slightly less of a secret.
This, perhaps, is the real reason why we committed to An Actual Kitchen. It is certainly why we want people from Lewes and beyond to come in. Look around. Ask. Take your time. You, we assure, are not a nuisance in any way.