Kitchen gives actor stage to entertain

Actor and socialite Stifyn Parri has worked as a singer, presenter and performed in the West End and therefore naturally loves nothing more than to entertain. So it was only fitting that his new kitchen gave him the same opportunity to show off his culinary flair and entertain his guests.

The 46-year-old former Brookside actor runs his events, PR and celebrity agency, Mr Producer, from his Cardiff home, where he regularly entertains clients, journalists and celebrity friends.

Having a show-stopping kitchen where he could interact with guests while rustling up his favourite dishes was top on the list of priorities when it came to revamping his terraced home.

“The old kitchen was outdated,” Stifyn begins, “part of it had been chewed by my dogs when they were puppies and I had never got round to replacing it. I felt it was time for a change and I wanted something that really reflected my personality. I wanted something original that I wouldn’t see in other people’s houses and would create a talking point for guests.

“I looked around several showrooms and had a vision of what I wanted but needed help translating my wish list into designs. I came across Sigma 3 via a friend at the gym and was instantly won over by their fabulous kitchens, friendly staff and their brochures really impressed me too, as they reflect the quality and style of the ranges on offer.

“The designers were really creative and understood what I was looking for. I explained my ideas and they quickly put together a unique design tailored to my needs and lifestyle.”

Stifyn chose a mix-and-match kitchen with ivory gloss cupboards contrasting starkly with a stunning wood-effect horizontal grained peninsula unit. The peninsula is fitted with drawers and cupboards for extra storage and topped off with a 100mm depth work surface.

The kitchen has LED plinth lighting running along the bottom of the cupboards opening up the room and creating a warm ambience.

The peninsula is completed with a gas hob and faces the dining room – giving Stifyn the perfect stage from which to entertain his guests while he cooks.

“I love cooking and having friends around, my new kitchen was designed so I was never out of the way. I can now cook and gossip at the same time. I have never understood why you would invite people round for dinner then spend the whole night hidden away in a separate room!”

Stifyn bought his home in a suburb close to Cardiff city centre when he was living in London as an investment 10 years ago. The once six-bedroom, three-storey house has now been converted into a cosy three-bedroomed home complete with an office which is the control centre for his thriving Mr Producer business.

Stifyn continues: “I originally ran the business out of the attic room, but as the business grew so did my staff so we now have a large office downstairs. We all use the kitchen so are delighted with the funky new room.”

As well as hosting some of Wales’ biggest events including organising the opening gala for the £106M Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff Bay in 2004, Mr Producer are PR Managers and have the only Celebrity Agency in Wales and their clients include the winners of BBC One’s Last Choir Standing, Only Men Aloud, Llangollen Intentional Festival, Sian Lloyd and Radio 1's Aled Jones.

Stifyn has enjoyed a colourful and varied career and is best known as a producer and actor. He famously starred in Channel 4’s long-running show Brookside, in which he played the character, Christopher Duncan and shared the first soap opera gay kiss. He also did a stint in West End musicals, where he played Marius in Les Miserables for two years.

Stifyn concluded: “I’m a very busy man and have a hectic social life, which is even busier now because I’m keen to invite more people than ever around for dinner to show off my lovely new kitchen!”

Stifyn’s kitchen: The lowdown
Main cupboards - Sigma 3’s Avant Ivory, gloss finish

One of the Avant Ivory wall units has a bi-fold door which opens in a smooth upward motion with minimal effort.

The peninsula - Sigma 3’s horizontal grain Zebrano Mocha with a 100mm deep work surface for extra contrast with the other side of the kitchen.

Drawers and cupboards are fitted in the peninsula to maximize storage.

LED plinth lights and under wall unit lighting have been fitted to create extra illumination and the option for ambient lighting at night.

For more information, visit sigma3.co.uk