This grand old house, nestled in Stoke Fleming, is a celebration of two of the most iconic English architectural periods; Georgian and Victorian. The original building – named after its initial occupant, the Reverend A. Farewell – was constructed in Georgian style in 1834, before a Victorian extension was added in the 19th Century. This sympathetic blending of period styles led to the property acquiring a Grade II listing.
Situated just a few miles away from Dartmouth, the property was divided into two separate dwellings and remained this way throughout the 20th Century and until the current residents took ownership. Still fortunate enough to retain all of the character originally injected, the new homeowners embraced the task of returning the plot into a single dwelling. It was important to them to embrace and reinstate all of the character that the original Farwell House had to offer. At the same time, they were keen to respectfully inject elements of their own personality into what would be their new home, whilst simultaneously rescuing a somewhat derelict property from the worst of fates.
When undertaking the remodelling of the kitchen, the owners brought in the team at Treyone Kitchens to work closely with their interior designer.
The homeowners wanted the space to have a ‘lived-in’ charm, but also to be harmonious with the character of the original property. For the team at Treyone, understanding how the client would use the space was fundamental to providing a solution that worked ergonomically.
You have to be sympathetic to the architecture of the building, whilst delivering a space that works for modern life. The plan was to reinstate the original heritage elements of the home and combine them with patinated copper finishes that take inspiration from similar external features on the property.
The kitchen cabinetry is essentially Shaker in style, painted in a ‘moody blue’ palette of ‘Railings’ and ‘Inchyra Blue’, both by Farrow & Ball. These are dressed with hand-forged handles sourced from Giara.
The generously sized Shaker Double 900 sink works perfectly in such a spacious kitchen, and contrasts beautifully with the moody blue colour palette.
The owners also managed to successfully salvage a large vintage Shaws Belfast sink for the utility room, which also worked really well to achieve the timeless style and functionality that they were trying to create.
The kitchen island is wrapped in burnished copper, which not only provides a focal point in the room, but also adds a warmth of colour to offset the cooler blue tones used elsewhere. The hard-earned patina of the copper also contributes to the ‘lived-in’ feel the owners requested.
The large black range cooker that instantly draws the eye could only be installed in one location, due to the position of the existing chimney. The scheme is made even more eclectic by the use of blood red crackle glazed tiles deployed as a splashback to protect the white wall when cooking. A freestanding butchers block unit and reclaimed internal French doors with stained glazing complete the eclectic country kitchen feel. The result is a distinctive and impressive kitchen space that, like the building itself, feels like a hybrid of styles that just seems to work regardless.Â
