Houzz Tours
Kitchen Tours
Kitchen Tour: Old Meets New in a Restored Farmhouse Kitchen
Modern units sit harmoniously with traditional features in this cool country kitchen
When the owners of this Grade II listed farm building set about turning the uninhabitable property into a home, they knew there would be certain challenges ahead. But when it came to designing their new kitchen, the original beams, sloping ceilings and discovery of an old staircase and even a well, resulted in the perfect marriage of old and new. “Our brief was to design a contemporary kitchen space that was functional, stylish, ergonomic and sociable, while highlighting existing period features,” says Sarah Goldsmith, designer at Contour.
The space was originally a series of interlinking rooms, which included the old kitchen. The old kitchen was ripped out, doorways were taken down and so was a large wall, which created an opening that now leads to the new kitchen’s dining space. The opening can be seen in the top right-hand corner of this picture.
“The age of the building and its listed status put considerable constraints on the kitchen design,” says Goldsmith. “Certain features had to be incorporated, including a well that was discovered half way through the renovation, an original set of stairs that had been boxed in behind a wall, ceiling beams and an original farmhouse door.”
A stunning, layered lighting scheme was worked around the original ceiling beams and includes pendants, spots placed around the ceiling beams, and a flexible LED strip above and below the tall units and underneath the peninsula unit, which makes the peninsula look like it’s floating.
“At night the LED strips create an ambient mood, while the pendant lights above the peninsula’s breakfast bar give a focal point and direct lighting source,” says Goldsmith.
Find out how to light your kitchen for maximum impact
“The age of the building and its listed status put considerable constraints on the kitchen design,” says Goldsmith. “Certain features had to be incorporated, including a well that was discovered half way through the renovation, an original set of stairs that had been boxed in behind a wall, ceiling beams and an original farmhouse door.”
A stunning, layered lighting scheme was worked around the original ceiling beams and includes pendants, spots placed around the ceiling beams, and a flexible LED strip above and below the tall units and underneath the peninsula unit, which makes the peninsula look like it’s floating.
“At night the LED strips create an ambient mood, while the pendant lights above the peninsula’s breakfast bar give a focal point and direct lighting source,” says Goldsmith.
Find out how to light your kitchen for maximum impact
A simple breakfast bar incorporated into the peninsula unit is a key feature of the new kitchen. It is topped with a textured ash wood to contrast with the suede-finish quartz surfaces used elsewhere in the room. The hob is on the peninsula unit, so the owners can cook and chat. “The hob has an extractor built in to it, which removes the need to have wall-hung or ceiling extraction,” says Goldsmith.
With a serious sloping ceiling and the fact that the original ceiling beams had to be left intact, the amount of wall units that could be included was extremely constricted. “Most of the storage had to be housed either below counter level or in the bank of tall units that we designed,” says Goldsmith.
The tall bank of units is packed with appliances and neat storage solutions, such as a Le Mans corner unit and a pull-out larder.
Ovens, Neff. Hob, Bora. Dreis quartz worktops in a suede finish, Silestone. Wood breakfast bar in Heart Ash river washed finish, Spekva.
With a serious sloping ceiling and the fact that the original ceiling beams had to be left intact, the amount of wall units that could be included was extremely constricted. “Most of the storage had to be housed either below counter level or in the bank of tall units that we designed,” says Goldsmith.
The tall bank of units is packed with appliances and neat storage solutions, such as a Le Mans corner unit and a pull-out larder.
Ovens, Neff. Hob, Bora. Dreis quartz worktops in a suede finish, Silestone. Wood breakfast bar in Heart Ash river washed finish, Spekva.
This water well, which is located behind the breakfast bar, was discovered half way through the renovation. The owners decided to make a feature of it, so lights were installed and it was covered with a glass top that you are able to walk over.
This period staircase was discovered during the renovation, too. It was originally boxed in behind a wall, which came down during the project. “The staircase couldn’t be removed, meaning the width of the kitchen couldn’t be increased and there wasn’t an option for a completely open-plan layout,” says Goldsmith. “But it’s now a fabulous decorative bookcase and really gives an insight into how the building looked originally.”
The floor tiles create a striking contrast to the stairs and the dark units.
Wessex Cream porcelain tiles, Mandarin Stone.
Discover how to design a kitchen that will increase the value of your home
The floor tiles create a striking contrast to the stairs and the dark units.
Wessex Cream porcelain tiles, Mandarin Stone.
Discover how to design a kitchen that will increase the value of your home
What the kitchen looked like before the renovation project.
Stripped back to its former glory, an original farm door leads to the kitchen’s new laundry room.
So, were the owners pleased with the end result? “The final design offered the owners superb functionality and a 21st-century kitchen harmoniously housed within an 18th-century building,” says Goldsmith. And that’s just what the family wanted.
What do you think of this modern kitchen housed within an 18th-century traditional farmhouse? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
So, were the owners pleased with the end result? “The final design offered the owners superb functionality and a 21st-century kitchen harmoniously housed within an 18th-century building,” says Goldsmith. And that’s just what the family wanted.
What do you think of this modern kitchen housed within an 18th-century traditional farmhouse? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Who lives here A family of four
Location Cheltenham
Property A renovated 18th-century farmhouse building
Size 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms
Kitchen dimensions 6.5m x 2.8m
Designer Sarah Goldsmith of Contour
The owners of this once-dilapidated farmhouse were clear from the outset as to what style they wanted for their new kitchen: a modern design that would contrast effectively with the property’s original features.
“They asked for a muted palette of dark greys and other natural colours, and were keen to use texture within the design,” says Goldsmith. “So we set out to design a space that would juxtapose a subtle, understated contemporary look within a traditional country farmhouse.”
The owners opted for matt laminate grey kitchen doors with an aluminium grip rail instead of handles to enhance the streamlined look.
Leicht kitchen in Sand Grey and Lava, Contour.