This custom made kitchen was part of a renovation to put a house back together. The story is so romantic ... the house had been divided and the owners bought one side of the house each. Then set about the restoration to make it whole again.
Complete with an incredible view of the historic market town of Godalming and the heavily wooded valley, the house was once home to the Art Master at Charterhouse School. It is still beautifully dressed with paintings from local artists as well as sculptures from further afield; and plenty of craftsmanship in every corner including a charming Grandfather clock.
From the bright open hallway, our handmade tulip wood double doors, stained dark to complement the existing Edwardian doors in the rest of the house, lead into the new kitchen. When we walked in, our photographer Julia Currie said she felt like the kitchen had always been there, which is such a lovely compliment. Creating a cohesive design, sympathetic to the house, with traditional features, materials, mouldings and colours is so important to us.
Traditional English cupboards
The owners said the main reason they chose us to make their kitchen was because they loved the passion they saw in Andy and Mike. They commissioned us to make traditional cupboards; classic, timeless and elegant, to suit the room perfectly and built to last. With a run of bespoke drawers around the warm Aga, there is space for all the pots, pans and large Aga baking trays. The wall cabinetry stores the oils and herbs, while the countertop cabinetry creates plenty of space for appliances, crockery and glassware, all neatly tucked away leaving the work surfaces clear.
A freestanding larder cupboard has more detailed mouldings to suit the period and match the skirting in the room. A bookcase for recipe books and favourite pieces as well as frequently used things like dog bowls, notepads and pens. The dishwasher, bins and sink with a view of the English countryside are all together. A Quooker tap was on the wish list to make pot filling quick and keep work surfaces clear of wires. Cleverly all the tanks for the tap were tucked into the more tricky area of the corner cabinet so that the under sink cupboard is clear for cleaning products and the food waste bin.
Seating and dining with a view
A really special area - the bespoke corner benches and table - a place for sharing food and happy times with friends and family. In the interests of maintaining the positioning of the original panelling, stable door and sliding sash window; the owners decided to commission us to make a table with matching benches and stools that worked with the existing layout. The design included a stunning piece of Oak, unusual joints and dimensions, with a luxuriously dark quartz top cut to a completely unique shape to fit the space perfectly.
Colour palettes are always important in bringing a room together. The cabinetry is hand-painted in two colours by Farrow & Ball. A soft grey, Ammonite, which is understated for a calming neutral feeling. With Worsted, a rich grey, a 'perfect background' colour they say 'to make clean accent colours pop.' Both work beautifully with the 'Cloudburst Concrete' quartz worktop. To provide contrast the Pewter Aga is almost black and combined with the dark table top made from polished 'Woodlands' Caesarstone quartz. The warm element comes from the pine floorboards which continue through the kitchen from the hall - some are original and some reclaimed, it's been done so well you can't tell which is which.
Replenishing wood for future generations
By working with us your kitchen is designed and made to last, so sustainability is at the core. We're also committed to replanting trees and using off-cuts in our conservation project to make Bug Homes. Read more on our Community Page.
Press feature
This kitchen has been featured in Kitchens, Bedrooms and Bathrooms magazine. To see more click here.