KITCHEN PROJECT

WITH A PURPLE AGA AS A STARTING POINT, JANE MILAN GOT SAVVY COMBINING COLOUR, STYLE AND DESIGN IN HER SOCIABLE KITCHEN

With a purple Aga as the starting point, lilac and lavender quickly became the colour scheme for this new kitchen design >

Before the kitchen was even designed, the colour scheme had been decided. ‘We were nowhere near settled on the layout, but I’ve always loved Agas,’ says Jane Milan. ‘And when I saw the Aubergine finish, I just fell in love with its warmth – there was no way we wouldn’t get it.’

Jane and her late husband Chris bought their

Surrey farm 30 years ago and it’s where the couple raised their family. ‘We bought the farm because it was in a beautiful, peaceful setting with 30 acres of land, but the outbuildings were all derelict,’ she says. ‘We had renovated a little when the children were small, but it was no longer working for us.’

The site of the new kitchen was previously a complex puzzle of little rooms between the main Georgian farmhouse and an old, oak-framed barn. Creating the new space involved removing many walls, levelling floors and adding plenty of glazing to let the light in. ‘The previous kitchen was completely cut off from the rest of the house. My main priority for the renovations was to create more sociable spaces and use more of the house,’ says Jane. Tragically, Chris passed away following a hard-fought illness, soon after the initial kitchen plans were finalised. But, with the help of William Rudgard of Martin Moore, Jane continued with the new kitchen to ensure their long-held dream of an open and welcoming space was realised. ‘Our children and grandchildren are frequent visitors, and the house has never been busier with overnight guests,’ she says.

Early layouts featured two islands, but Jane was worried the kitchen would feel too galley-like, and the islands would become an obstruction rather than an asset. She decided to flip one island 90 degrees to make a peninsula that would help separate the kitchen from the soft seating area. Once the floorplan was settled, the rest of the design flowed smoothly and the final kitchen is everything Jane imagined. ‘Chris and I worked hard on the plans and I’m so happy to have seen out our dream. It wasn’t easy, but I managed the project on my own and that, in itself, is very rewarding.’

❝IT’S SUCH A NICE, HAPPY SPACE AND REALLY COMES INTO ITS OWN WHEN FAMILY AND FRIENDS GATHER❞

The electric Aga has an extra module for instantaneous cooking during the summer months

The generous American fridge freezer is tucked into the corner – close to hand but out of the way

Jane’s carefully planned kitchen works as well for one, as it is does for entertaining

An appliance cupboard keeps the worktop free from clutter

The worktops are made from durable River Valley White granite