Country Life Trending: Amelia Thorpe makes her choice of the best kitchen. Material magic Since founding kitchen brand Smallbone some 40 years ago, Charlie Smallbone’s passion for striking design has continued apace. Now, he runs bespoke kitchen company Ledbury Studio, offering a personal approach to design and a signature combination of interesting materials. Here, hand-painted cupboards are teamed with verre églomisé splashbacks, fluted glass door panels and a cooker hood wrapped in aged brass. Kitchen prices from £50,000. 020–7566 6794; www.ledburystudio.com On the boil It seems it’s not only Nigella Lawson who appreciates having boiling water on tap for cooking and making tea, given that sales of Quooker’s instant 100˚C water taps are growing by 50% per year. The Flex boiling-water tap is also equipped with a pull-out hose for hot, cold and filtered water, available in polished chrome, stainless steel and black, from £1,150.