Inspired by Christopher Peacock!

Since my first post on Elements of Christopher Peacock Kitchen and the follow up posts, Lighting in a Peacock Kitchen and Hardware in a Peacock Kitchen; I get weekly emails from homeowners and decorators alike, asking more specific questions on how to achieve the look. My hat's off to Peacock and his wonderful classic design which resonates so strongly with people worldwide. Unfortunately, his kitchens are out the price range of many homeowners, so trying to create this look on a budget is more often the topic of the emails.

Last summer I received several emails from Interior Designer, Celeste Randolph of Los Altos, California. She was adding 1500 square feet to her 1950's ranch house and wanted the Peacock look with "chunky counters and flooded with natural light" We exchanged emails about sources, paint colors, hardware, marble, etc. She loved the Peacock look, but wanted to recreate it and stay with in her budget. Celeste recently sent on her finished renovation photos. As you can see, she is very talented and her kitchen renovation was a huge success.

Her attention to detail was outstanding. She left no stone unturned. Notice the moulding details, apron front sink, wood free standing island and gorgeous marble counters and backsplash. Celeste found some wonderful hardware. Also notice her interesting lighting over the windows flanking the stove. Neither are exact copies of Peacock, but they give her kitchen a more personal, chic style. Her kitchen, just like many of Peacock's, is classic and timeless, but also more personal, fresh and updated.

Of course Celeste's talent is not limited to kitchens. She also wanted a gorgeous Master bath too! Here Celeste's use of marble and light is breathtaking! I adore the herringbone marble floors, tub and wall tiles. And, isn't the chandelier fun?

Her choices of mirrors over the sinks and sconces are wonderful. And the window and the natural light really take my breath away. I also like how Celeste added the rather contemporary leaning mirror in the bath. It adds an interesting designer touch.

She also updated her living room with a warm, neutral palette.

Celeste did a fabulous job of recreating the classic Christopher Peacock style in both her kitchen and her master bath. To reach Celeste contact her at Ambiance Interiors in Palo Alto. Thanks Celeste, for sharing your fabulous renovation with us - we will be anxious to see more of your work in the future!

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(all photos property of Celeste Randolph)

Christopher Peacock Returns!

NY Social Diary

Look at this interesting article just released today:

The Renowned Designer Hires Nearly 100 Employees Across the Nation

Greenwich, CT (www.peacockhome.com) – Christopher Peacock is best known for his cabinetry. For more than 15 years his work has included many private estates and residences throughout the United States, France, Australia, the United Kingdom, Russia, Bermuda, Ireland and Puerto Rico.

Riding on this success, Mr. Peacock successfully sold his company in September 2008 to Smallbone PLC – a publicly traded UK holding company who already owned a collection of high-end luxury brands. These included Smallbone of Devizes, Mark Wilkinson Furniture, Paris Ceramics and Hopton Works. Sadly, the PLC Group, which was primarily based in the United Kingdom, hit hard times due to the global economic collapse

This turn of events provided Mr. Peacock the opportunity to return to his roots and now re-start the brand that bears his name.

“I couldn't be more thrilled to be a part of and lead this dynamic group of designers and craftsman who are all dedicated to excellence once again. We still have so much to offer. In my heart I’m an entrepreneur, and the significant demand for our products and our way of doing business could not be ignored. I felt I had no choice but to continue onward with the brand and the reputation for being the best. By launching a home products collection I will continue to offer well-designed and well built products to designers, architects, builders and consumers alike” said Peacock.

The new company plans to introduce many new products for the home, beginning in the kitchen. His MOTRA™ Collection will be the first. This new Collection of high quality, well-designed and affordable cabinetry will be debuted this fall. Under the MOTRA™ label will be a modern line and a traditional line where a typical kitchen from this new Collection will begin at $45,000. “Obviously, the world has changed. To continue to lead our industry we must evolve. Frankly, many lesser brands and mill shops haven’t made it. I believe we are responding to a need in the marketplace and listening to our potential clientele. We are going to be aggressive and fight hard for market share in this multi-billion dollar industry.” said Peacock.


Interesting! Read the full article here.

Hardware in the Christopher Peacock Kitchen

The Christopher Peacock Kitchen continues to be ever popular. For the elite few who can afford these kitchens they embody a classic, old world style. Popular among the rich and famous, Christopher Peacock has clients world wide and many in NYC and the Hampton's.

For the rest of America copying these kitchens seems to be a popular topic among many kitchen designers, clients and blogs. I have posted twice on Christopher Peacock. The first Elements of Christopher Peacock Kitchen remains my most viewed post. The second, Lighting in a Christopher Peacock Kitchen, is also very often frequented.

Recently I received a request to find this lighting fixture above in the most recently designed CP Kitchen. The result proved the power of the Internet when Velvet and Linen and Kitchen and Residential Design were able to work together via Willow Decor to locate it!

I get emails weekly from my readers for help copying Christopher Peacock hardware. After months and months of research, and the help of my readers who also have undergone relentless searches, here are my best suggestions for recreating this look in your kitchen.

The Peacock Cabinet Latches: There are are two types of latches,

the "ice-box cupboard latch" and what I call "solid cupboard latch".

The ice box cupboard latches above, that are almost an exact duplicate, are from Cliffside Industries. They are very high quality and well made. I have these in my own kitchen and I love them.

The CP solid cupboard latch is more common and available from many retailers including Restoration Hardware and several on line dealers.

Resotration Hardware

My readers have commented and I have read lengthy discussions on the range of quality of this design. Some are difficult to twist and, as such, become cumbersome for active kitchen use. Two manufacturers who consistently have rave reviews are Rejuvenation Hardware and Cliffside Industries. These products are very high quality, and are easy to manipulate. Other readers have mentioned that they order several extra latches from Restoration Hardware and return the ones that are hard to open.

Cliffside Industries

The Ice box latches on the Christopher Peacock Refrigerator panels and wall units proved harder to recreate.

Eventually we found the Roseland Ice Box Company. They make a series called the McCray which are reproductions of the 1900's Ice boxe latches. The quality and look were exactly what were needed.

Roseland Iceboxes

The range of pulls available are staggering. Many have the feel of the Peacock kitchens and can be found in several sizes from smaller cabinet to larger door pulls.

We have found that Van Dyke's, Merit Metal,  Rejuvenation and Restoration Hardware had the best selections to emulate this look. I love the RH Aubrey and Bistro Pulls. I personally put the RH Bistro Pulls in my pantry. Other readers have had luck with Kennedy and Natz. This is an area where you can add a bit of your own personal taste to your project.

Rejuvenation

Van Dyke's

Locating the CP-like Bin Pulls were much easier, though personally time consuming.

In my own kitchen quest I bought 8 different bin pull look alikes. I mounted them on a board and had my family try each one to get an idea of how they would feel in day to day use. Hands down for quality and ease of use, as well as great design, I recommend the Bin pull from Restoration Hardware.

Last September Christopher Peacock Cabinetry was purchased for over 12 million dollars by Smallbone, a British company who has their own high end cabinetry line as well an umbrella company for several other lines, including Paris Ceramics. Smallbone recently filed for bankruptcy and its rumored that Christopher Peacock, himself, is trying to buy it back. It has even been rumored that he has tried to re hire his craftsman to avoid having them lose their jobs.

Sotheby's

We can only hope that Peacock is able to help keep the cabinetry business alive. Otherwise, we will need to find someone new to turn to for inspiration. All the links highlighted bring you to the exact product mentioned under each heading. I hope this helps my many readers who continue to use Christoper Peacock as a source of inspiration for creating their own beautiful interiors. If anyone else has a good source do let me know so I can share it.

All photos Christopher Peacock Designs unless otherwise noted

Lighting in the Christopher Peacock Kitchen

Many of you have emailed me asking where to find some of the non cabinet elements of a Christopher Peacock Kitchen. Let's look at some of the lights that are so popular in the these kitchens:

House Beautiful photo

House Beautiful photo

MLS photo

You often see hanging shade pendant lights as in the photos above from House Beautiful and MLS. These lights are from Vaughan Lighting.

Vaughan Lighting

Vaughan Lighting

The top light is called the Menton Hanging Shade the bottom and the Nickel Hanging Shade from Vaughan lighting. Both are only available to the trade.

Shades of Light

The Kensington Pendant is a wonderful copy available from Shades of Light. A bargain at only $279.

MLS Photo

Studio Pedrazzi Architects and Design

MLS Photo

Here are more industrial lights. The top lights are most likely from Circa Lighting, the bottom ones may be vintage.

Circa Lighting

Circa Lighting

These two lights, top, Country Industrial and bottom, Yoke Pendant, are both from Circa Lighting.

Restoration Hardware

The Benson and Harmon Pendants are more affordable options available from Restoration Hardware.

Here are some School House Pendants. These are very easy to find from both the higher end lighting manufacturers or the more affordable manufacturers.

Restoration Hardware

Shades of Light

The first is from Restoration Hardware, the second from Shades of Light , both very affordable and classic in styling.

Making a subtle change in your own kitchen by adding classically styled pendant lights is just one way you can get a step to closer to one of America's most copied kitchens.

Elements of a Christopher Peacock Kitchen

A sincere "Thank You!" to the Washington Post for including this post in your Blog Watch, July 24th, 2008!

In my quest to revamp my kitchen and pantry, I have studied countless Christopher Peacock Kitchens for inspiration. Because Christopher Peacock limits images which can be copied I was able to locate some of his work via Real Estate listings in Hampton, NY and Greenwich, CT. All the pictures below are from real estate listings which noted that the kitchen was designed by Christopher Peacock.

The signature Peacock White Scullery Kitchen. Counters are carrera marble with a white subway backsplash. Notice the pot filler behind the stove and high arc faucets. The pendant lights are usually hung in twos or threes. These lights are from Circa.


Another signature Peacock white kitchen. Cabinetry is inset and counters are soapstone. This kitchen also has High arc faucets and pot filler. Note that the stove hood design is similar. Also notice the notched corners on the island, both are signature Peacock styles. One interesting feature of this particular kitchen is the sink in the center island. I read an article where Peacock mentioned he does not generally prefer to have a sink in this location. He said he liked the center island sleek and unobstructed.




Another carrera marble kitchen. I love the darker wood floors with these cabinets, versus the lighter floors above. Notice the faucets are also high arc and brushed stainless. These particular faucets are KWC Systema style, very pricey. Also notice the ice box style hinges and latches on the doors. This kitchen has inset stainless steel drawers. I am not a fan of these, as a mother of two, I just could not keep them fingerprint free.


Here is a lovely Peacock kitchen in the Hampton's. These floors are not wood, but a lovely slate - very pretty. I love the butcher block and marble island. Notice the glass front subzero refrigerator. I love the color of this kitchen and the multiple surfaces; marble, soapstone, slate and wood.


These two pictures are from a Peacock kitchen that is in a new spec home in Greenwich. The floors are amazing! Notice the marble and soapstone counters; and classic bin pulls and latches on the cabinets. I like how you can see the microwave in the bottom right photo, but when you enter the kitchen it is hidden on the side by the refrigerator. Inset cabinetry, pot filler, subway tile - seeing some trends?



Here is a different style Peacock kitchen. This is from an older home. I think probably a kitchen done by Peacock before his White Scullery Kitchen got so popular. Notice the heavier mouldings on the door and corbels. Notice the apron front sink, classic white school house pendant lights and large wood cabinet knobs. I am not a huge fan of the green hood though.



Here is another one from the Hampton's. I love the warmth of this kitchen. Although a white kitchen, it does not have the starkness of some the others. The backsplash behind the stove is lovely. It is small marble bricks with an inset arch; nice touch. The ceiling and the fixtures lend a more rustic feel.



This kitchen is obviously more formal. I love the X cabinetry. Pendant lights, ice box latches, bin pulls, marble and soapstone complete the look. Another notched corner island with a rectangular sink.

All above photos MLS

Here is the final kitchen from the real estate listings, notice the backsplash behind the stove. Here they use a solid piece of marble - you really get to see the veining in the stone. Also note the center island with sink and wood top. Perhaps clients do not always agree that a center island should be unobstructed.

These two final kitchens are the only images from actual Christopher Peacock ads. The first kitchen is called the Refectory Kitchen. I love the pendant lights, similar to the lights in one of the kitchens above. In the second kitchen I love the backsplash behind the stove. The use of subway tile and then marble surround is beautiful and elegant. I love the way they flip the backsplash design on the side counter and use the marble surrounded by subway tiles. Notched center island again, marble counters, square style hood, bin pulls and latches. Classic and beautiful. No wonder its one of the most copied kitchens in America today.

My next post will highlight where to find some of these elements if you are interested in creating this look yourself in your home.