Wednesday, 25 May 2011

* YOU BEEN SNAP * YAWALETEENI KITCHEN'S NEWS "

Through the keyhole: A glimpse into the modern home of David and Samantha 'two kitchens' Cameron

*MKILETEWA HAPA NA FLORA LYIMO DESIGNER*
With its immaculate cabinets, gleaming accessories and shiny pans in neat lines, it looks every inch the modern show home. But this is no artificial stage. This is the first glimpse of the much-talked about kitchen David and Samantha Cameron had fitted in their flat at No 11 Downing Street.
As Michelle Obama and Samantha Cameron chat on the mustard sofa - cementing the 'special relationship' the PM talked of earlier that day, we are offered a tantalising peek inside the Cameron's recently updated private residence.
It's a stylish, contemporary space - and it's almost impossibly neat.

Kitchen confidential: Samantha Cameron chats with First Lady Michelle Obama in the new kitchen the Camerons had installed in their apartment at No 11 Downing St

On the shelves the saucepans and woks are perfectly aligned, their handles pointing at identical angles; the sparkling glasses are arranged in descending height order.
A brand new white £130 Dualit two-slice toaster sits next to a top quality knife block; a coffee machine and blender sit to the left of a smart range cooker, as highly polished as the stainless steel splashback behind.

On the bookcase, the DVD and books - neatly arranged by height - can just be made out. Among the collection we see coffee table books on design and French interiors - perhaps Samantha looked to them for inspiration for her kitchen? - as well as books on art, The Family Cookbook, plenty of children's reads - and the highbrow essential, William Shakespeare's complete works.

A large DVD collection offers insight into the possibilities of a Cameron night in front of the television: Among the DVDs box sets of 24, Brideshead Revisted and Desperate Housewives can be spotted, along with a special edition digitally enhanced box set of Star Wars, indicating that one of the Camerons is a big fan.
There are two live stand-up comedy DVDs from popular comedian Michael McIntyre - perhaps David Cameron's way of lightening his mood after a difficult PM's question time - and drama is provided by films including The Departed and Goodfellas.
One assumes the SpongeBob Square Pants DVD is for the Camerons' children - seven-year-old Nancy, Arthur, five, and nine-month-old Florence.

The Camerons have two Apple iPads sitting on their sideboard

Gadgets: Two Apple iPads - from £329 - and a £130 Dualit two-slice toaster can be spotted in the kitchen"

On the sideboard is a shiny new flatscreen television and two - yes TWO - iPads (purchased, of course, with no help from Parliamentary expenses), while underneath sits a Sky+ box for those quiet nights in.
When the Camerons moved into their new apartment (which they use because it’s bigger than the family accommodation at No 10), Samantha Cameron is said to have despaired at the dark, poky kitchen.
Cherie Blair had previously admitted that when she saw the kitchen at No 11, her heart sank; it was so awful and outdated.

Lived-in: David Cameron in the kitchen at his former residence in Notting Hill

Lived-in: David Cameron in the modern kitchen at his former residence in Notting Hill - note the same pans and knife block have resurfaced in the new kitchen at No 11

But at the time the Blairs moved in, they couldn’t afford to splash out.
Thanks to the the PM and his wife's financial security, however, the Camerons could - and wouldn't Cherie have loved this modern, airy space, with its top-of-the-range accessories and gleaming pans?
Instead of replacing the shabby 1970s kitchen already there, this large, bright, contemporary kitchen was built in addition.
While it's much more modern than the Cameron's white and beige wood kitchen at their former residence in Notting Hill, some of the contemporary touches are the same - the modern fixtures and fittings are familiar, but the sophisticated grey tone is all new.

Gone, or perhaps out of sight, are the £99 pendant light and the £130 Flap City clock from Habitat, the £175 Waring blender, the £100 Brabantia bin and the £360 Tom Dixon for Heals Mirror Ball light.
For all their fortune though, the Camerons show that they're not unnecessarily lavish: the stainless steel pans and knife block are back in use at No 11.