FARMHOUSE KITCHEN
A keen cook, who loves to travel, is thoroughly enjoying the beautiful new kitchen installed in her stunning country home. Photography: Vanessa Fry
When retired district nurse Lesley Proos visited the beautiful Heart of your Home Kitchens showroom in Waddington, it took her just an hour to select a new 1909 Kitchen for her stunning farmhouse in the Ribble Valley.
With the help of Heart of your Home’s owner and designer Katie Green, Lesley knew exactly what she wanted, as she explains: “I wanted more storage so there was less clutter.
“Katie was brilliant, coming up with ideas, styles and shades – she has everything there at her showroom so she made it very easy.”
Lesley and her late husband Jack moved to their stone-built farmhouse home in the Ribble Valley in 2002 with their two daughters, who kept horses. Outside they created a ménage and stables and they re-styled the interior to create a stunning four-bedroom country home, including installing a new kitchen.
“It was a lovely kitchen but it was beginning to look a bit dated. It was yellow and some of the cabinets were glass fronted so I really wanted something that would allow for everything to be stored behind closed doors to keep the kitchen looking tidy.”
Katie designed a bank of tall larder style cabinets along the entire length of one of the kitchen walls, behind them are pan drawers and storage for a variety of gadgets including a microwave, all hidden out of sight.
In the centre of the kitchen is a large island unit in Charcoal which complements the surrounding Cashmere cabinets with chrome handles.
The island is topped by a super stylish yet totally practical worksurface in Carrara White Marble.
“It seemed such a waste not to re-cycle my old marble work surface,” recalls Lesley, whose daughter is set to re-use it to create a garden table for her new home. “Katie was brilliant when it came to removing it, her fitting team were really careful.”
Lesley contacted Katie in October 2019 after reading about Heart of your Home Kitchens in Live Ribble Valley magazine: “In the past we have always supported local business so Katie seemed the perfect choice. After I visited her at the showroom, she gave me a quotation and a date when work would start – it was as simple as that.”
“I left everything to Katie and she was fantastic!” says Lesley, who managed to fit in a holiday to Tenerife, while the Heart of your Home team worked their magic on her new kitchen.”
“Katie kept in touch every step of the way even when I was on holiday. She kept me updated with progress and when Katie says she is going to do something she does it. She is so reliable and deals with everything – she has so many good contacts,” adds Lesley.
A selection of new appliances were installed, including a Rangemaster cooker with a splashback to match the island worktop, Neff dishwasher and Quooker boiling water tap.
Initially Katie suggested a wine cooler under the island unit but Lesley had her heart set on a combined fridge, freezer, wine-cooler and ice-maker.
“I didn’t want the ice-maker on the outside of the fridge, so I began my research.”
Lesley eventually discovered a Liebherr fridge that incorporated all her requirements including an ice-maker concealed within the fridge: “Right away Katie designed a beautiful surround for the appliance – it wasn’t a problem, she just did it.”
Lesley enjoys cooking for her family, so she is thoroughly enjoying her new Heart of your Home Kitchen.
“I absolutely love entertaining, so I think my new kitchen is fantastic!” enthuses Lesley, who chose a pair of stunning pendant lights, which were installed above the island unit making it the focal point of the room.
“I can’t recommend Katie enough. She is a joy to work with and has everything under control.”
Katie concludes: “It was a pleasure to work with a lovely lady like Lesley and I am absolutely delighted that she is so happy with her new 1909 Heart of your Home Kitchen.”
Heart of your Home Kitchens
Backridge Farm Business Centre
Twitter Lane
Waddington BB7 3LQ
01200 444540
heartofyourhomekitchens.co.uk
