When Charlie Smallbone founded Ledbury Studio, his aim was to take exquisite materials and apply them in unique and surprising ways to create his kitchen designs. Aged and patinated sheet metals were an early signature, and to this Charlie has added a whole host of luxury materials and techniques to stunning effect. Liquid pewter with a shagreen finish, carved natural timber, exquisite veneers with metal inlays, antiqued glass – the list goes on. And as Charlie’s curiosity shows no sign of waning, it’s clear that many more techniques and crafts will be harnessed in future Ledbury Studio kitchens.
Here, we highlight just a few of the materials and finishes to be found in Charlie’s designs to date.
To create Ledbury Studio’s instantly recognisable copper kitchens, sheet copper is individually aged and patinated to create the beautiful Verdigris effect. Used in this way, it combines the traditional warmth of copper with an on-trend aesthetic. Brass, zinc and pewter have all also been aged with hammers and heat to create unique textures. Many Ledbury Studio kitchens also feature specially designed brass and stainless-steel handles.
The Poole Harbour kitchen showcases both Verdigris copper panels surrounded by oak frames on the island, and tall cupboard fronts made from a liquid metal with a specialist pewter shagreen finish. In another of Ledbury Studio’s projects, copper is featured on the island and around the ovens.
The distinctive Choppy Water design is hand-carved into solid timber (usually oak) to create a feature of doors or the end panel of an island. The wood is stained dark and then protected with a sheen lacquer to ensure it is equal to the demands of a working kitchen, and stays looking beautiful.
Choppy Water can be seen enhanced with gold-leaf appliqué on the appliance housing of the Petworth kitchen. It also graces the end panel of the island in the newly re-designed Notting Hill showroom.
Another take on the natural beauty of timber, Ledbury Studio’s Marquetry Collection is a modern version of a technique that has been used on finely crafted furniture since the 15th century. Crosslaid veneers are applied by hand in an intricate marquetry design and accented with liquid metal inlays.
In the Marquetry Collection kitchen, the Anigre (an African hardwood) veneers are inlaid with aged bronze, with custom-designed aged bronze bar handles. The solid brass panel on the front of the island, which has been distressed by hand, adds even more drama to this design.
Fluted glass has been a favourite in kitchen designs for the last few years – and makes an appearance in a number of Ledbury Studio kitchens. However, Charlie has taken this to the next level by using the effect with other materials. In several designs, fluted wood has been used to add interest to the sides of kitchen islands.
The New Forest kitchen features fluted walnut on the island, and as a detail on the Housekeeper’s Cupboard, which also has fluted glass doors. Meanwhile, in the Camden kitchen, there is fluted oak decorating either end of the island, and the Ambra quartz splashback has been fluted to match.
Many kitchens use mirrored glass splashbacks to help bounce light around the room. By using antiqued glass, Charlie has added a decorative element to several of the Ledbury Studio kitchens, making a real feature of the splashback.
A Ledbury Studio signature is a Verre Eglomise splashback, whereby gold or silver leaf is applied to the reverse of toughed glass and antiqued. It can be seen on the Chelsea kitchen and also in the Muswell Hill kitchen, where the floral motif was designed by the client.
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