TILLINGHAM | Grade II listed country house kitchen extension
After living in their grade II listed country house for over 3 years, Greg and Karen felt that the size of their kitchen was disproportionate to the rest of the property. Greg commented, “We liked the existing Aga and mantel set-up, but the room was just too small for the house and needed to be updated.” With that in mind, they got in touch with Davonport to help design their dream country kitchen extension.
Set in four-acre grounds with six bedrooms and five reception rooms, the kitchen in the stunning, heavily-timbered property was very compact and isolated from the rest of the home, with no space for formal dining.
Taking the decision to extend the space by more than half again, the couple created room for a spacious kitchen-diner, overlooking their landscaped gardens.
Retaining the existing Aga range oven and mantel was a top priority. The brief was to create a classic style kitchen incorporating a formal area for dining and entertaining guests, including modern appliances to use when the Aga was inactive.
Davonport Tillingham style cabinets with curved pilasters were chosen because of their timeless style and appeal. They were hand-painted in soft neutrals (Farrow and Ball’s Pointing and Green Smoke), topped with an opulent black granite worktop, and finished with polished nickel handles to complete the classic look.
Split into three main zones for cooking, dining, and entertaining, the new room is spacious and airy, reflecting the generous proportions of the rest of the property. In fact, to look at it, you would think it was part of the original property.
A generous rectangular island with breakfast bar frames the kitchen area, providing ample space for food prep and informal seating for two. The new extension also accommodates a large table for formal dining, which is positioned at the end of the room, benefiting from a range of views of the property’s picturesque gardens.
Beyond the dining table, a bespoke sideboard with built-in wine cooler (made in the same style Tillingham cabinetry), helps to connect the area to the rest of the kitchen. For added luxury, a Davonport signature style pantry and drinks cabinet stands proud in easy reach of the dining and breakfast bar area. Complete with a mirrored glass interior, subtle lighting, and the name of the property engraved on the exterior, it adds a real wow factor in the room when the couple are entertaining.
To make cooking more efficient and economical, high-end integrated Miele appliances comprising an oven, combination microwave, and induction hob have been thoughtfully positioned in the design, retaining the original, iconic Aga range and mantel as the main focal point.
The kitchen furniture and appliances in Greg and Karen’s new kitchen look incredible, complementing the rest of the period property. However, it’s not only the aesthetics that have been transformed; the new room has enabled the couple to live differently; now cooking, eating, and being able to socialise all in the same room.
“We are absolutely thrilled with the finished result and are looking forward to hosting our first dinner party in a couple of weeks,” says Greg.
