Country Cottage
Ashdown Forest

About This Project

Brief

After moving from a large family home to a cottage in the Ashdown Forest, our clients wanted their new country cottage kitchen to feel completely at home in the property while giving them the storage and practicality they were used to.

The existing kitchen and adjoining orangery felt like two separate spaces. A brick-built pantry also interrupted the room and restricted the flow between the two areas. The brief was to bring everything together into one cohesive kitchen, creating a traditional country feel while making much better use of the available space.

Although they were moving to a smaller home, the clients had a substantial collection of crockery and dinnerware, so storage was a key part of the brief.

Our bespoke kitchen design

To help unite the two parts of the room, we extended the kitchen furniture through into the former orangery area, allowing the cabinetry to create a visual connection between the spaces. The brick-built pantry was removed as part of the project, opening up the room and giving us much more flexibility with the new layout.

This shaker kitchen is painted in Farrow & Ball White Tie. Its pale, creamy tone creates a light backdrop that suits the cottage setting, paired with Calacatta Oro quartz worktops from KönigZero. We introduced natural oak on the sideboard and integrated wine rack to add warmth and variation to the painted cabinetry.

High ceilings provided an opportunity to maximise storage. Above the pantry cupboards and oven housing, additional cabinetry takes the furniture upwards and makes use of the additional space . On the sink run, high-level windows meant wall cupboards weren’t an option, so shelving provides useful display space while keeping this part of the room feeling open.

The clients wanted a traditional double butler sink, but practicality was equally important. With the butler sink on the Orangery side, it would have been impractical to walk round to the sink whilst cooking, so we incorporated a separate preparation sink beside the hob, creating a second useful water point for cooking without compromising the character of the main sink area.

Cooking appliances include a NEFF oven, combination oven and induction hob, while the clients retained their existing fridge and dishwasher.

This was much more than a straightforward kitchen installation. We coordinated the plumbing and electrical work as part of the project, removed the existing pantry and made good the flooring where it had previously stood, allowing the different elements of the renovation to come together as one finished space.

All in the detail

One of the challenges only became apparent once work was underway. The original plan had been to fit an extractor into the existing chimney, but once the structure was opened up, the available space and position of the lintel meant this wasn’t possible.

Good extraction is important, so rather than compromise, we redesigned this element during the project and specified a Falmec downdraft extractor. It provides powerful extraction when required but retracts out of sight when it isn’t being used, allowing the traditional character of the kitchen to remain uninterrupted.

The finishing details reinforce the classic country feel. Antique brass handles and knobs bring warmth to the painted cabinetry, while traditional Perrin & Rowe taps complement The 1810 Company sinks. Handmade wall tiles, chosen by the clients and installed as part of the project, add further character and individuality.

The finished kitchen feels considered and cohesive, with the former kitchen and orangery now functioning seamlessly as one room, whilst delivering the traditional country style the clients wanted.

Feeling inspired?

If you’re planning a kitchen for a country or period home and want to combine traditional character with practical modern living, we’d love to help. Email us at info@kitchensbespoke.co.uk to book your design consultation, or browse our Projects page for more inspiration.