COUNTRY COTTAGE KITCHEN
With its French style country charm, this beautiful Heart of your Home Kitchen was built around a couple’s beloved Aga and a huge antique oak farmhouse dining table
Inspired by Heart of your Home Kitchens’ beautiful showroom at Backridge, Simon and Cheryl Livesley knew instantly that the soft hues of the Partridge Grey 1909 collection would sit perfectly in the impressive new kitchen extension they had added to their stone-built cottage.
The four bedroom property in Dutton, which was constructed in the 1600s and totally rebuilt in the 1970s has been stylishly renovated by the couple since they moved in 10 years ago.
“We originally thought we would knock it down and rebuild but over the course of the years we have revised and shifted our plans,” explains Simon, who manages his own utilities business.
The original kitchen in the property was tiny so the couple decided that a spacious extension that would accommodate their huge antique oak table and an Aga would be a perfect addition to the cottage.
“We have had three houses and every kitchen has been built around the oak table and an Aga,” adds Simon.
When the couple visited Heart of your Home Kitchens studio and met owner and designer Katie Green, they were instantly struck by her professionalism.
“There was no hard sell, which we really liked,” recalls Cheryl. “The showroom kitchen is just so beautiful, it really inspired us.”
The couple talked through their plans with Katie who designed the kitchen around the gleaming white Aga, which now sits perfectly centred beneath the apex of the extension roof.
Bespoke 1909 Shaker style cabinetry was installed around the Aga, with Katie working closely alongside Cheryl and the builders giving them accurate ‘to-the-millimetre’ measurements.
A huge marble topped work bench that the couple already had was another much loved ‘non-negotiable’ piece of furniture that they wanted to retain. Katie’s installation team reconditioned and repainted the work bench, which doubles up as an effective island unit, in Charcoal to complement the softer Partridge Grey of the cabinets. Cheryl was inspired to use this colour combination as she thought it worked so well in Katie’s studio.
Pristine white Everest Corian worktops flow seamlessly into a moulded two bowl sink. This is a kitchen that works on every level, providing practical working solutions within a beautifully appealing aesthetic.
“We had a good idea of what we wanted but Katie came up with various suggestions. She is so personable and patient – nothing was too much trouble!”
“She’s also a great communicator and a dream to work with. We rang her not realising that she was on holiday but she answered our call.”
South facing and overlooking the pretty cottage garden, the couple are thrilled with their new kitchen which is the epitome of French farmhouse charm.
“We think it’s terrific – just perfect!” agree Cheryl and Simon, who have four sons and two young grandchildren.
“Katie has been a joy to work with, she is flexible, has lots of experience and she is a real professional.”
Delighted to be working alongside Simon and Cheryl, Katie adds: “Cheryl fell in love with the colours in the showroom which really influenced her choice. The team and I enjoyed bringing their beautiful workbench back to life and it now sits proudly in the middle of the room, reconditioned and repainted. It was very enjoyable to work alongside Cheryl and Simon on their beautiful project as they are so lovely. My 1909 Shaker kitchen collection really complements the style of their beautiful property.”
Heart of your Home Kitchens
Backridge Farm Business Centre
Twitter Lane, Waddington
Clitheroe BB7 3LQ
01200 444540
www.heartofyourhomekitchens.co.uk
