Thermal upgrading and new kitchen

Sensitive works to a north Oxford Victorian house.

Manifest were commissioned to consider the overhaul of an existing kitchen wing in a fine old red brick Victorian house in north Oxford.  Excessively cold in winter, with consequent damp and mould growth to ceilings, and a much out-dated kitchen layout were the chief issues.

We undertook a careful design exercise, conceiving of a hierarchy of warm and cool spaces – the former for the main kitchen, the latter for food storage in the adjoining pantry, where we could take advantage of existing poor insulation but high plant cover externally to produce a naturally cold store room.  All new insulation to the kitchen and loft is in natural, breathable materials (wood fibre board and sheepswool), with careful analysis of condensation risks and ventilation requirements.

Irving Sykes of Bristol were engaged to provide the new kitchen units, produced bespoke in fine oak, supported with excellent craftsmanship in worktops and splashbacks.  The final touch is a new external door, measured to fit the existing brick arch and providing much improved security and draught-proofing.