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Inspiration

A Victorian Family House

Nestled deep within the Essex countryside is this exquisitely renovated Victorian home dating back to 1855. The homeowners bought the property knowing it required a complete renovation; however, due in part to the pandemic, they managed to live in the home for five years before eventually undertaking the large project.

Part of the reason for the renovation was due to the dysfunctional layout of the kitchen; for the family, the kitchen is arguably the most important room in their home. Whilst maintaining the history of the Victorian property was also a top priority, it became clear that sympathetically modernising the layout to create a practical kitchen space was necessary.

The original plan had been to knock down the wall between the existing kitchen and snug to create their dream kitchen space, however this wasn’t possible due to structural restrictions. They also considered moving the kitchen into the original dining room, but it would have been a shame to sacrifice such a wonderful space. They eventually settled upon extending the original kitchen to create a more versatile open plan area, creating a combination of kitchen, dining area, a new snug and a spacious utility room. As the new kitchen area extends off the back of the property, it offers a perfect view of the beautifully landscaped garden.

The homeowners had a strong vision for the design scheme, and worked closely alongside the interior design team at Francie Readman Interiors to create a cohesive aesthetic for the entire house.

The vision was to create a calming, restful space by utilising a palette of neutral colours.

They were also heavily inspired by the simple functionality of Swedish design, and love the subtle pale blue hues and focus on natural light often found in homes across Scandinavia.

The kitchen features traditional Shaker cabinetry by Churchill Brothers, with authentic dove-tail detailing, and painted in an elegant combination of Porcelain V by Paint & Paper Library, and White Tie from Farrow & Ball. This pale but playful colour palette creates a cool, calming ambiance that bounces light around the room as it floods in through French doors.

The large soft-blue central island with its Caesarstone Organic White worktop provides sociable seating, framed by chamfered pillars at each corner, whilst elegantly curved corbels add a subtle decorative detail. The imposing Everhot range cooker that sits proudly beneath the impressive chimney structure, with its grand mantle shelf and decorative corbels, is a focal point of the room.

The homeowner wanted a Shaws Shaker Double 800 sink to complement the simple bespoke Shaker cabinetry of the kitchen.

The traditional apron-fronted sink is undoubtedly an English design icon. The homeowners selected the double bowl sink to allow them to stack dishes in one bowl, whilst keeping the other bowl free for rinsing.

The sink was mounted with Perrin & Rowe brassware from the Ionian collection.

The  Ionian Bridge Mixer with lever handles and a matching Mini Instant Hot Tap have both been chosen in a living, unlacquered Aged Brass finish, which complements Armac Martin handles on the cabinetry. The sink was intentionally positioned beneath a large window to take advantage of the breathtaking view whilst washing up, and the abundance of natural light.

The design team took time to carefully consider the paths of travel and explore the location of key work zones whilst designing the kitchen. For example, the sink is positioned close to the cooking area, with the two zones balanced proportionally along one run of cabinets. This allows convenient and quick access to the sink without obstruction. It is this level of functional detail that is the difference between a beautiful kitchen and a beautifully designed kitchen.

The completed kitchen has a timeless feel that is not only very on-trend, but also on-brief for both everyday living and entertaining. And although it was an undoubtedly exhausting year-long experience, this grand home has been completely restored whilst maintaining the history of the property. 

Since completing the transformation, the couple have been enjoying the wonderfully renovated home with their two young children, beloved dog, Nora, and two cats, Casper and Tilly, for almost two years.

 

With thanks to Churchill Brothers and Cristina Granena Photography