NATURAL FLOW
Creating a sociable, open-plan kitchen was a daunting task for Jane Milan but her hard work and determination paid off
When Jane Milan and her late husband Chris were creating a new kitchen in their Georgian farmhouse, deciding on the layout proved to be the hardest part of the project. ‘I couldn’t visualise it or how it would flow, but that’s where the kitchen designers came in,’ she says.
THE BRIEF
Jane and Chris were keen to transform a complex puzzle of little rooms between the main house and an old, oak-framed barn. The couple wanted a kitchen with an abundance of natural light and an open-plan sociable space that had easy access to the garden. ‘Plenty of worktop space was a must-have but I was adamant that any islands or peninsulas should enhance the sense of flow, not impede it,’ says Jane.
DESIGN SOLUTIONS
Creating the space involved removing many walls, levelling floors and adding plenty of glazing to let the light flood in. Tragically, just after the initial kitchen plans were finalised, Chris passed away, following a hard-fought illness. With the help of Martin Moore’s designer William Rudgard, Jane carried on and project-managed the new kitchen. At the heart of the scheme was a large island plus a peninsula at right angles to this, which served to delineate the kitchen from the adjacent living area. ‘I also knew I wanted a walk-in pantry – it’s such a practical space,’ says Jane.
MATERIALS USED
For cabinetry with elegance, Jane chose Martin Moore’s English and New Classic collections (martinmoore.com). Natural materials are in abundance and reclaimed limestone floor runs throughout the new space, uniting the different areas with the same honey-coloured stone. Complementing the classic look of the cabinetry, the worktops are a combination of granite and marble. Richly coloured metro tiles create an eye-catching splashback that ties in with the colour of the range cooker. ‘When I saw the Aubergine Aga, I fell in love with the warmth of the colour,’ says Jane.
FINISHING TOUCHES
Unsurprisingly, the colour of the Aga played a part in the wider palette. ‘I used the colour to choose tiles, fabrics and paint finishes, all in similarly inviting tones,’ says Jane. To soften the look throughout, the windows feature either curtains or blinds in coordinating hues.
LESSONS LEARNT
For Jane, the project has been an emotional journey she could never have foreseen, but the final kitchen is everything she imagined. ‘Chris and I worked hard on the plans for an inviting space with a really practical layout,’ she says. ‘Every aspect has been a learning curve but I know it was worth all the effort as our children and grandchildren visit more than ever and the house has never been busier with guests.’
The kitchen was designed with practicality in mind and offers generous working space. ‘Having the peninsula frees up the main island from breakfast bar use, leaving more prep space,’ says Jane. A walk-in pantry was also included in the design.
Main worktops, Polished River Valley White Granite, from £400sq m including installation; pantry worktops in Polished Carrara Marble, from £350sq m including installation, all Martin Moore. Flooring, Aged Bourgogne Clair Limestone, £195sq m, Martin Moore Stone. Blinds in Cerise Isla fabric cerise, F705-01, £46.18m, Design Forum. St James grey padded bar stools, £220 each, One World. ICBBI48SID/S/TH Classic side-by-side fridge-freezer,
£17,700, Sub-zero. CS658GRS6B built-in combination steam oven, £1,679; KU15RA51GB built-under fridge, £499; SN658D00MG fully integrated dishwasher, £829, Siemens. UWT1682 wine climate cabinet, £2,099, Liebherr. SPC700 Cache extraction unit, £750, Westin. 5931-4U-0 double undermount sink, £902; 6584-7 bar sink, £506; 6587-58 prep sink, £665, all Kohler. Two 4485CP Metis mixer taps in polished chrome, £414 each, Perrin & Rowe. Flex Pro 3 boiling tap in polished chrome, £1,150, Quooker