COUNTRY KITCHEN FOCUS

Opulent yet airy, patterned yet uncluttered, Sally JONES’ kitchen carries Off a clever balancing act to gorgeous effect

How to balance opulence and airiness, pattern and minimalism

Having built their home entirely from scratch a couple of years ago, just outside the village of Poulton in Gloucestershire, sally Jones and fiancé Matthew harrison had a beautiful blank canvas to work from for their kitchen project. Where once a dilapidated bungalow stood among brambles, an elegant four-bed home now took its place, with plenty of space for the couple and their teenage daughter isabella. in the kitchen, they had created a wellproportioned cooking area, opening out to a comfortable garden room, which overlooks woodland and fields specked with woodpeckers and grazing deer. ‘Grazing our roses more often than not!’ laughs sally. ‘But they’re lovely to watch.’

the couple, who both manage the family business, CIA fire and security, in nearby Cirencester, wanted to bring character and ornate touches to the crisp lines of their newly built home. in Parlour farm, which not only makes bespoke kitchens but also sells antique and vintage furnishings from its showroom, they found a sympathetic designer to help realise their vision.

But agreeing the detail wasn’t always easy. ‘Matthew and i have very different tastes,’ explains sally. ‘i love light, pastel shades and a french-country style, while Matthew is one for richness. finding a happy medium was a challenge – but a fun one.’

the pair found compromise by marrying soft grey farrow & Ball shades on cabinetry, windows and doors, with the more opulent touches of darker wall paints, wallpaper and quirky furnishings. ‘By starting with light, safe colours that capture the natural light, we were able to indulge in bolder items, such as golden handles and Matthew’s goat-hide bench seating,’ says sally. ‘using flowers and mirrors helps to add calm.’

And calm is good for the busiest room in the house. ‘it’s where we’re to be found both first thing in the morning, having taken the dog for a walk, and last thing at night,’ says sally. ‘the joyous weekly juggling act of preparing for dog walks, work, school and sporting activities always plays out here. yet the room remains spacious and welcoming. i think we have got the balance just right.’

Sally loves the clear sight lines through the kitchen to the garden room beyond.

The elegant dresser is full of glassware. ‘As you open the understated doors, you are presented with a wonderful array of wine and champagne glasses, tumblers and highball glasses,’ says Sally. Neatly stationed wooden trays make great use of a narrow space. ‘We had them in our previous kitchen,’ says Sally. ‘With their leather handles, they slide out easily.’