Kitchen Tour: Oak and Aubergine Create a Stylish Farmhouse Mood
A pippy oak kitchen with a flash of purple, a bright dining area and a handy scullery provide a family with a new hub
Lara Sargent
20 February 2017
Houzz UK contributor. Freelance interiors journalist with over 20 years' experience writing for national magazines, newspapers and websites.
Houzz UK contributor. Freelance interiors journalist with over 20 years' experience... More
When the owners of this sizeable farmhouse moved in, they knew at some point the original kitchen would need to be a lot larger. The solution was a kitchen-diner extension to balance with the rest of the house and provide a hub for family life and socialising.
“The original kitchen was small in quite a substantial house, so a large kitchen extension was built,” explains Neil Matthew, director at Lewis Alderson & Co. “The owners wanted a kitchen/dining/lounge space, but one that was broken up, rather than being entirely open-plan.”
“The original kitchen was small in quite a substantial house, so a large kitchen extension was built,” explains Neil Matthew, director at Lewis Alderson & Co. “The owners wanted a kitchen/dining/lounge space, but one that was broken up, rather than being entirely open-plan.”
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here A couple and their two children, plus two dogs, ducks, pigs and horses
Location Tonbridge, Kent
Dimensions of kitchen-diner 18m x 6m, plus 4m x 2.7m for the scullery; part of a traditional farmhouse over three floors, with 7 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms
Designer Neil Matthews of Lewis Alderson & Co
The owners of this large farmhouse in Kent always planned to increase the size of their kitchen, so they embarked on a large extension to accommodate their wishes.
“The brief was to design a large kitchen with a central island,” explains Neil Matthews. “The owners wanted the kitchen to be separate from the dining/lounge area, but the design needed to be open enough so it could still be a sociable space.”
The handmade cupboards are individual, bespoke pieces made from pippy oak for a warm, farmhouse feel. To break it up, the island is hand-painted in a rich aubergine shade, which is mirrored in the scullery.
Island painted in Brinjal, Farrow & Ball.
Who lives here A couple and their two children, plus two dogs, ducks, pigs and horses
Location Tonbridge, Kent
Dimensions of kitchen-diner 18m x 6m, plus 4m x 2.7m for the scullery; part of a traditional farmhouse over three floors, with 7 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms
Designer Neil Matthews of Lewis Alderson & Co
The owners of this large farmhouse in Kent always planned to increase the size of their kitchen, so they embarked on a large extension to accommodate their wishes.
“The brief was to design a large kitchen with a central island,” explains Neil Matthews. “The owners wanted the kitchen to be separate from the dining/lounge area, but the design needed to be open enough so it could still be a sociable space.”
The handmade cupboards are individual, bespoke pieces made from pippy oak for a warm, farmhouse feel. To break it up, the island is hand-painted in a rich aubergine shade, which is mirrored in the scullery.
Island painted in Brinjal, Farrow & Ball.
To subtly separate the kitchen and dining zones, the bespoke company created a large glazed shelving unit between the two areas – an idea the owners had seen in France.
“To provide the open/closed kitchen the couple wanted, we designed open glass shelving along the middle of the room, so the kitchen space is retained in a nice square, but there are still views into the lounge/dining area when they’re entertaining,” Matthews explains.
The shelves are also perfect for displaying the owners’ large collection of glassware and china
Discover how to use room dividers to enhance your open-plan space
“To provide the open/closed kitchen the couple wanted, we designed open glass shelving along the middle of the room, so the kitchen space is retained in a nice square, but there are still views into the lounge/dining area when they’re entertaining,” Matthews explains.
The shelves are also perfect for displaying the owners’ large collection of glassware and china
Discover how to use room dividers to enhance your open-plan space
A view from the elegant dining room through to the kitchen.
The large central island unit (2.5m sq) with overhanging breakfast bar was top of the owners’ wish list, as it provides a casual eating spot for times when they don’t want to use the more formal dining table.
“The owners always wanted a dark, strong colour and we also considered a very dark grey,” explains the designer. “But they preferred the pop of colour Brinjal gives. They didn’t need any convincing!”
The island is a multi-functional piece that also houses an extra oven and hob (in addition to the five-oven Aga) plus a sink.
Cooker; induction hob, both Miele.
“The owners always wanted a dark, strong colour and we also considered a very dark grey,” explains the designer. “But they preferred the pop of colour Brinjal gives. They didn’t need any convincing!”
The island is a multi-functional piece that also houses an extra oven and hob (in addition to the five-oven Aga) plus a sink.
Cooker; induction hob, both Miele.
Everything in the kitchen was created as a one-off piece for the owners, including the ceiling-hung batterie de cuisine.
“The hanging rack was designed especially for the space. It works well with the ceiling-mounted, remote-controlled extractor fan, as the open design allows air to circulate freely,” says Matthews.
Extractor fan, Westin.
“The hanging rack was designed especially for the space. It works well with the ceiling-mounted, remote-controlled extractor fan, as the open design allows air to circulate freely,” says Matthews.
Extractor fan, Westin.
To enhance the rich aubergine island unit, the owners chose a standout marble worktop to contrast with the simple black granite for the perimeter units.
A boiling-water tap was another must-have.
Sink, Kohler. Fusion boiling-water tap, Quooker.
A boiling-water tap was another must-have.
Sink, Kohler. Fusion boiling-water tap, Quooker.
The kitchen is a bespoke, handcrafted design made from solid pippy oak in a four-panel Georgian design.
“Every piece is selected for grain and pippy (knot) position,” adds the designer. “It’s a very in-depth process compared to the flat grain of the hardwood we use for our painted furniture.”
Stylish copper handles contrast well with the wood and aubergine tones.
“Every piece is selected for grain and pippy (knot) position,” adds the designer. “It’s a very in-depth process compared to the flat grain of the hardwood we use for our painted furniture.”
Stylish copper handles contrast well with the wood and aubergine tones.
Lewis Alderson’s trademark, handmade chimney breast adds height and interest, and creates a neat frame for the Aga.
“The owners already had the Aga, so we built the chimney breast for it to sit in,” explains Matthews. “The antiqued mirror splashback reflects light into the room.”
Find out how to embrace the trend for antiqued mirror
“The owners already had the Aga, so we built the chimney breast for it to sit in,” explains Matthews. “The antiqued mirror splashback reflects light into the room.”
Find out how to embrace the trend for antiqued mirror
The shape of the new extension left a perfect area within the old kitchen to install a walk-in pantry/scullery.
“The owners wanted this area to be separate but not closed off, so we tied in the cabinetry colour to the island for uniformity,” says the designer.
The sideboard cabinet to the left of the opening is kitted out with hidden charging points for tablets and phones.
The slate floor continues into the scullery.
“The owners wanted this area to be separate but not closed off, so we tied in the cabinetry colour to the island for uniformity,” says the designer.
The sideboard cabinet to the left of the opening is kitted out with hidden charging points for tablets and phones.
The slate floor continues into the scullery.
Floor-to-ceiling bespoke cabinetry maximises every last inch of space, with fronts painted in the same deep aubergine shade as the island unit for visual continuity.
The large, American-style fridge-freezer dispenses ice, as well as chilled and fizzy water.
The large, American-style fridge-freezer dispenses ice, as well as chilled and fizzy water.
Half-height, bifolding doors don’t eat into valuable space in the super-functional scullery. The larder cupboard is kitted out with integrated sockets so smaller appliances can be stored out of sight.
Neat copper knobs shine against the rich paintwork and tie in with the copper cup handles in the main kitchen.
Neat copper knobs shine against the rich paintwork and tie in with the copper cup handles in the main kitchen.
Well-planned storage is a boon in the scullery and includes a narrow, built-in larder unit and slim, pull-out racks.
A deep, practical butler sink is perfect for soaking oven trays and large pots and pans, while an integrated Miele dishwasher is fitted into the next unit.
Bridge tap, Perrin & Rowe.
What do you think of this farmhouse kitchen with a mix of pippy oak and bold paint? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Bridge tap, Perrin & Rowe.
What do you think of this farmhouse kitchen with a mix of pippy oak and bold paint? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
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I'm partial to wood, so my eye was delighted to see all that beautiful oak against a "slate" tiled floor. Wasn't sure if the "formal" dining area is really a round table for 4 with very modern casual look or not. It also doesn't seem to fit the "space" allocated for the dining room.
I do love how that purple fits in so nicely and ties the pantry/scullery in with the kitchen. It's definitely a kitchen for a professional or several people who love to cook. Beautiful work.
To the designers - I also liked your Esher work, particularly the art on the wall as it tied into the fixture.
I like everything about this kitchen, especially the purple.
I had to look again, I still love your kitchen. I will be painting my kitchen deep purple, love it. Thankyou for the tour, awesome job.