Plain English stands out among kitchen design and construction firms for its iconic designs and exquisite craftsmanship, often creating homespun yet restrained spaces that reflect an ethos that spans two decades of business. British Standard provides less costly alternatives.
Plain English's founding couple Tony Niblock and Katie Fontana developed its ethos out of necessity - they required traditional cabinets for their Suffolk farmhouse and turned to self-production; starting their business first in a disused tannery before eventually moving it into an atmospheric Georgian farmhouse with outbuildings. When designing cabinetry they took great care in using slot head screws, classic brass hinges and handles, hand painting their cabinetry as hallmark features of their brand name.
Plain English kitchens - which start at $45,000--can now be found everywhere from Martha's Vineyard to Block Island, as well as Greenwich Village to the Hamptons. Their minimalist yet traditional aesthetic draws from period architecture while often employing colors (such as Boiled Dishcloth, Draughty Passage or Blancmange) that evoke certain English literati like Margaret Drabble or Mary-Kay Wilmers).
In this large galley kitchen, painted cabinet doors with the company's Middleton Pink hue reflect the pale sheen of Carrera marble surfaces. They serve as storage for everyday glassware while accommodating a built-in fridge-freezer unit. A screen separates the work area from the rest of the kitchen while still allowing light into it and maintaining chefs and chefs' privacy.
