22nd October 2026 | IN KBB DESIGN | BY SBID Share Tweet Pinterest LinkedIn This beautiful kitchen design began in the Ledbury Studio showroom, when the owner of a central London townhouse was drawn to the studio’s signature Verdigris copper. But she so loved the effect that she asked that the Verdigris be boosted even more. “It took us some time to craft a sample closer to the effect seen in the finished kitchen, but it took many more months of work to develop each sheet of copper so that it perfectly matched her vision,” explains Charlie Smallbone, founder of Ledbury Studio. The copper has a special protective finish to make it suitable for use in the kitchen. Meeting the brief The kitchen is part of a complete two-year renovation of a stunning Georgian townhouse in central London. The client’s brief to her designer was to create a home that was ‘better than any hotel, superlatively comfortable, flexible to their needs and alive’. And, as the kitchen is the star of a dramatic open-plan living space, it needed to live up to and even exceed those expectations. This is where the warm tones of the copper come into their own, adding a sense of theatre to the light-filled interior. On the island, a sheet of low-iron glass means the copper is visible on the top, while the sink run worktop is travertine. Each cupboard door and drawer has a sheet of aged and patinated copper, all of which had to be created by hand. Refining the finish Ledbury Studio has developed a well-earned reputation for creating beautiful effects with aged metals. “However even with all our acquired skill, patinating a sheet of copper is anything but an exact science,” says Charlie. “Over several months, we had to refine the patination, carefully developing each sheet by hand so it both matched out client’s vision and they came together as a whole.” The team also created a bespoke protective finish to ensure the kitchen was durable enough for day-to-day use, while retaining its good looks. Instead of a worktop, the island is topped with a sheet of low-iron glass. This both protects the copper and makes the island appear as a solid piece of sculpted copper. Painted cupboards under the slope of the staircase conceal a breakfast cupboard. Designing the kitchen While this is a fully functioning kitchen, there is a commercial kitchen elsewhere in the house where all the main cooking takes places. So Charlie was free to design it with pared-back elegance, allowing the copper to take centre stage. However the key to that elegance is ensuring it is clutter free, so there is plenty of hidden storage. Behind the solid copper doors there is both a larder with full-width wooden drawers and a crockery cupboard to store all essentials. There are also drawers and cupboards under the sink run, as well as within the island, which feature dividers to keep the contents organised. Finally, under the stairs are discreet painted cabinets, which conceal further storage as well as a handy breakfast cupboard. Each cupboard door and drawer has a sheet of aged and patinated copper, all of which had to be created by hand. A pantry cupboard with full-width drawers. “Placed at the heart of a dramatic space, the finished result is a kitchen of remarkable restraint,” concludes Charlie. “It’s more akin to a finely crafted piece of contemporary furniture than a conventional kitchen, sitting effortlessly among the artwork, sculpture and architecture of this impressive room.” Architecture, artworks and kitchen combine to jaw-dropping effect in this double-height living space. About Ledbury Studio Ltd Ledbury Studio is a new and exciting design studio, showcasing Charlie Smallbone’s latest kitchen designs. Small and personal, Ledbury Studio has been established to explore and develop the interface between kitchens to cook and work in, and kitchens to live in. The company offers something very different in the world of kitchen design, something not found elsewhere. Combining exquisite materials and artisan craftsmanship, the new kitchen collections are striking and innovative and the culmination of Charlie Smallbone’s history at the forefront of cutting edge kitchen design. Visit Profile If you’d like to feature your news or stories on SBID.org, get in touch to find out more. If you’d like to become SBID Accredited, click here for more information.