INTERIORS...INTERIORS...INTERIORS...INTERIORS...INTERIORS...
'We like cooking up trouble in our £60k kitchen'
INTERIOR DESIGNERS COLIN AND JUSTIN SERVE UP A RICH DISH WITH THEIR STUNNING KITCHEN
Colin McAllister and Justin Ryan’s amazing five-storey Georgian town house started life as a shipping company HQ – and since buying it four years ago, they’ve been planning a top-to-bottom facelift.
But the couple – who married in secret earlier this year – have been so busy filming Colin & Justin’s Home Heist, the kitchen is the only room they’ve managed to complete.
And what a kitchen it is.
As well as an indoor BBQ, there’s a wok station, double oven, steam oven and a built-in coffee maker.
“This room shouts: ‘Boys can cook too!’” says Colin, 38.
But it’s his partner of 22 years who is the resident chef at their Glasgow home.
“I love to cook for people,” says Justin, 39. “I keep it simple with good-quality meat, huge salads and home-baked bread.
"But any more than 20 guests and we get caterers in.”
Despite the £60,000 price tag, the kitchen is a mix of designer and high street.
An Ikea light fitting hangs in the bay window over an Ikea circular table and four chairs by furniture designer Vernor Panton.
“We like to include what we call GLAMs – Gorgeous Lifestyle Accessory Must-haves,” says Colin.
“We couldn’t resist adding a built-in coffee maker or these designer chairs.”
Justin adds: “We wanted a kitchen that was easy to use, had amazing storage and looked great – these units by luxury German company Alno fitted the bill perfectly.”
Movie memorabilia and mementos from their travels ensure the room has as much personality as the presenters.
“We love collecting treasures,” says Justin. “I can look around this room and know exactly where and when we bought everything.
"But we purge ruthlessly – if it isn’t adding something, we get rid of it. And we’re not precious about anything – if something gets damaged, so what? No one’s died. The only thing guests are absolutely banned from doing is smoking.”
The couple plan to refurbish the rest of their 21-room home within the year.
“The inspiration will be ’40s Hollywood with a palette of smoky grey, ebony and jet, and a whisper of Cary Grant,” says Justin.
Colin & Justin’s Home Heist is on weeknights, 8pm, UKTV Style.
1. THIS ISLAND “We have a wet island for preparation, and a dry one for cooking,” says Colin. “Justin chases me round them until I collapse on the sofa next door!”
2. COLOURED VASES “We create flashes of light with coloured glass,” says Justin. “You can get good bargains on the high street. These are £4 each from Tesco (Tesco.co.uk).”
3. LIGHT BOXES “A section of the splashback is made of light boxes,” says Colin. “Not only do they illuminate the worktop, they also create atmosphere.”
4. COCKTAIL SHELF “At the touch of a button, the height of this shelf can be adjusted so any guest can lean comfortably on it and sip a cocktail while we make dinner,” says Justin.
5. DALEK “We love Doctor Who,” says Colin. “People ask how we got a dalek to match our kitchen, and we tell them we didn’t – we got a kitchen to match our dalek!”
COLIN AND JUSTIN'S STYLE TIPS
* Always have fresh flowers on display. To keep costs down, use single blooms and lots of greenery in minimalist arrangements. Pop an aspirin in the water and snip stalks daily to keep them fresh.
* To fail to plan is to plan to fail. Plot room layouts by cutting out exact furniture dimensions in newspaper. Lay them on the floor and move them around to see how they work.
* Don’t be limited by plugs or a TV socket. If necessary, move them. It’s not a huge job.
Words: Catherine Simpson; Compiled by Sally Gillam; Photography: Alistair Devine
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ANNA RYDER RICHARDSON (FEBRUARY 03)
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