Room with A VIEW

A COSY WINDOW SEAT AND PRETTY TRADITIONAL GLAZING ENSURES THE JARDINES’ NEW KITCHEN CONNECTS WITH THEIR GARDEN ALL YEAR ROUND

The search for somewhere ‘quieter, greener and more family friendly’ led Milda and Ross Jardine out of London to a quiet, leafy close in Godalming, Surrey. ‘We have beautiful countryside right on our doorstep and often spend weekends exploring nearby National Trust properties – Winkworth Arboretum is our favourite,’ says Milda.

The Jardines’ home was less idyllic on the inside when they bought it in 2013, but they fell for the property’s traditional red pan tile facade and period windows. ‘The interiors hadn’t been touched since the 1950s and the kitchen was in a dark room at the front of the house,’ Milda recalls. The couple spent six months remodelling the house, including moving the kitchen into a new extension at the rear. ‘We wanted to enjoy the views of our south-west facing garden from the kitchen,’ explains Milda. ‘It’s now flooded with light, even on a dull day, thanks to the large roof lantern.’

After weeks spent searching for the right kitchen company, the chance discovery of Higham Furniture’s workshops near the Hampshire village where Ross grew up felt like fate. ‘We didn’t think twice – we could see the quality, craftsmanship and attention to detail. The connection to the village, which is also where we got married, sealed the deal,’ says Milda. ‘The Shaker style appealed to us for its timeless elegance. We wanted a contrast between the main cabinets and island, so chose soft shades that would work well with the warmth of our wooden floors.’

The couple’s main aim for the layout was to create a striking focal point that would really anchor the kitchen as the heart of the home. ‘We wanted that classic range cooker and chimney breast feature, and the window seat was also important. With the kitchen much closer to the garden, we wanted to enjoy the views in comfort,’ says Milda. Thanks to a walk-in pantry in the corner, there is plenty of storage, which meant Milda could afford to tread lightly when it came to wall units. She uses the open shelves to create colourful displays that add interest to her kitchen’s neutral scheme. ‘Our kitchen is now by far the most complimented area of the house and we truly love it,’ she enthuses.

❝ WE LOVE MIXING OLD AND NEW, CONTEMPORARY AND VINTAGE – THE EXTENSION IS NEW BUT THE SHAKER CABINETRY AND TRADITIONAL WOODFRAMED GLAZING CREATE A TIMELESS LOOK❞

The new kitchen is now open to the dining room and living room behind, creating easy flow between living spaces

The island hosts three bar stools with curved backs for extra comfort

The new windows and French doors were matched to the property’s existing wooden frame glazing to continue the traditional elegance

The easy-to-clean glass splashback is hand-gilded on the reverse with real silver leaf to create an elegant antiqued pattern