Olaf Mason and The Grand Designs Triangle House

More and more people are choosing the DIY kitchen route, rather than buying from your typical ‘one stop shop’ kitchen showroom. What made you go down this route in the Triangle House?

Being a carpenter, I was always inclined to make my own kitchen from scratch. It turned out, if you discount my labour costs, to be a cheaper alternative. Plus, the trickiness of the angles in our house and the fact that it needed to be slightly higher or lower in places meant that by building the kitchen myself, I could really tailor it to our needs.

I’ve found that if you go for off-the-shelf units from somewhere like Wickes or Howdens, then you can be limited with their sizing or there’s often a little spot that doesn’t quite work and ends up being void which I can’t stand. So, this custom bespoke way was really the only way for us.

What were your ‘must haves’ when you were planning your kitchen?

I wanted colour in the space, rather than your standard, blanket one shade kitchen. I also wanted a central kitchen island with a white marble look surface and because I love wooden worktops too, wanted to incorporate both materials, opting for 50% wood and 50% quartz.

How did you settle on Gemini Quartz Venetian White for your worktops?

Due to the situation with Covid, I started looking for worktops early on and Gemini popped up on social media. I looked through their portfolio of colours and Venetian White stood out as being particularly beautiful. It’s a powerful top, but it’s a subtle colour and the veining in it is stunning. I was also keen on choosing quartz because it’s tough and more resilient than marble.

Gemini was one of the more reasonably priced and they were extremely easy to work with. Finally, they were able to get the huge slab cut and ready to be delivered on time at short notice which was impressive.

We always say the kitchen is the heart of the home, how has your new kitchen impacted life in the Triangle House?

Our kitchen is right at the centre of the home, with doors to the outside on either side and a lightwell in the ceiling that goes all the way up through to the second floor. It’s quite a big kitchen and what’s really nailed it for us, is having the island with the hob bang in the centre of the house. It’s a happy place to be.

Finally, what are your three top tips to someone who is just about to embark on their own self build journey?

1. Don’t settle for second best. Go the extra mile, especially if it’s a house you’re going to be in forever.
2. Get everything on recommendation. We had big issues with our windows, and this could have been avoided if I’d gone with someone who was more clued up.
3. Be patient. I’d always said beforehand, that I would stick with the guys I know, however I was hasty in the beginning and went with a brick layer I didn’t know, and it didn’t turn out well. To sum up, do your research, be patient and don’t rush things.

Get the look with Gemini Quartz

You can follow the journey of the Triangle House on Instagram here

Work with Mason Carpentry here

All photography by Douglas Bridge.