Our clients set about transforming a barn into their forever home a few years back. Both driven by an ambitious vision, they sought to reimagine their love for tradition through the exterior and interior of their barn conversion, located in a pretty village in the Central Bedfordshire district, Tempsford.
Tall ceilings and exposed wooden beams call for a very much favoured country home.
The warmth from the rustic wood and oak ties all the natural finishes together.
The Style – Interior & Exterior
Working closely with our talented designer Ruth, our In-Frame shaker stood out for the homeowners the most. They loved how they could add a cockbead design around each of the cupboards and drawers to put their traditional stamp on it. The multi-functional space was a primary requirement for the couple and their family – a place where cooking, dining, relaxation and entertaining harmoniously coexisted with a light and open atmosphere.
The hub of the home was built in one of the existing parts of the barn where tall, vaulted ceilings were found and beautiful exposed wooden beams. The layout is of a simple design where the main cabinetry works in an L-shape and a square island sits in the middle. Connected to the island is a solid oak round pedestal breakfast bar – the perfect perching place for a quick bite to eat or a coffee morning with friends.
When examining the interior design of each cupboard and drawer in this bespoke kitchen, you’ll find every component is meticulously crafted from solid oak, handcrafted with the finest quality materials ensuring long-lasting durability. Additionally, they are thoughtfully finished with a soft-close feature for added convenience and functionality.
Glass-fronted cabinets are brought into the design to break up the solid look and we just love those open shelves, the ideal place for cookbooks and decorative accessories.
The Colours
Cabinetry needed to be stylish, and well-balanced, all accommodating the necessary functions for everyday modern living. Adding to this kitchen space’s traditional look, our client chose three hues from Farrow & Ball’s colour palette.
- French Gray by F&B was hand-painted onto the main kitchen cabinets. This is really much more green than grey but characteristically flits between the two depending on the light and time of day. It looks gorgeous sitting seamlessly amongst pots of greenery.
- Brinjal by F&B was hand-painted onto the island to create a focal point and accentuate the feature further adding depth. This beautifully deep and sophisticated aubergine colour creates a warm and highly sophisticated finish and is the star of the show.
- Setting Plaster was hand-painted onto the back wall and bespoke mantle. The dusty pink has been introduced as a juxtaposition against the traditional green cabinets and white granite. The pink has a certain softness to it due to the inclusion of yellow pigment creating a wonderful backdrop to the traditional In-frame furniture.
The Appliances
This is the ultimate chef’s kitchen with Neff appliances and suits our client’s hobbies. Built into the base cabinets are the Neff Single Oven, Microwave and Warming Drawer. Above sits the Induction Hob and Westin Extractor, which is built into a beautiful bespoke mantle.
Other appliances include a Caple wine cooler which sits on the side of the island near the oak solid pedestal table.
The Finishing Touches
Our handsome in-frame shaker design was carefully selected with aged brass Jim Lawrence handles and knobs, which our client sourced. They are the perfect country finish adding personality and a bespoke ‘lived-in’ feel that is so popular in current kitchen designs.
A bi-fold breakfast pantry was on our client’s dream kitchen wishlist, providing ample storage under the exposed wooden beam. Due to our client’s busy lifestyle, they needed something that would make those rushed mornings a little easier. Complete with plenty of shelving and a place for the smaller appliances. This beautiful piece of furniture can be opened up to be part of the kitchen and shut away when not in use blending seamlessly with the whole of the kitchen aesthetic.
Along with the bi-fold breakfast dresser, the main run of cabinetry holds abundant storage opportunities, all hidden behind our in-frame shaker doors, ensuring a sleek and clutter-free appearance. A spice drawer above an engraved drawer for bread and a tall pull-out larder located by the fridge/freezer.
A kitchen isn’t complete without the sink area especially the modern kitchen of today where the Quooker tap is very much a desired feature. The sink is a Lansdowne Ceramic Butler Sink which perfectly suits the style. Below the sink is adequate storage for cleaning products and an open space for trays sits to the side.
All of the colours involved intertwine with the White Colonial Granite worktop and grey stone flooring, creating the most enchanting atmosphere.
We hope this kitchen design has inspired you to create your dream country kitchen. If you are looking for this type of design or inspiration from any of our other project designs contact us today. Our experienced team are ready to answer any questions you may have and build you the dream space you have always dreamed about.
