Tillingham | Victorian Vicarage Kitchen Renovation
From the moment the Browns first visited the dilapidated Victorian vicarage they fell in love with its potential. Having been unoccupied for over a decade, the five-bedroom detached property in Essex was inhabitable. However, with its original period features all still intact, the scale and proportions of the building provided the perfect opportunity to create a unique family home.
The original kitchen was in a part of the Vicarage that was only single skinned (wall thickness), therefore, to comply with modern building standards the room needed to be rebuilt. This provided the couple with the opportunity to increase the space available to accommodate a spacious kitchen-diner.
To complement the Victorian heritage of the property the kitchen furniture was designed in Davonport’s classic Tillingham shaker-style cabinetry and hand-painted in Farrow and Ball’s Hague Blue with striking bronze elements. A selection of luxury appliances from Sub-zero Wolf, Miele, and Quooker were chosen by the Browns to suit their lifestyle – they especially missed the ease of a hot water tap whilst living in rented accommodation when they were renovating!
As an avid cook, at the top of Sally’s wish-list was a professional Wolf range oven and Sub-Zero fridge freezer in the same chrome finish. To accommodate these iconic appliances a symmetrical design, reminiscent of Victorian architecture was used to plan the kitchen layout, and the personalised detail in the mantel (hand-carved with ‘old vicarage’) incorporates the history of the building while creating a focal point for the room.
The tall units either side of the Sub-Zero fridge freezer hide smaller appliances and have been designed with pocket doors to help maximise space while allowing easy access for the family of 5 in busy times such as weekday breakfasts and weekends.
Combining contemporary with classic, a stylish upholstered seating area wraps inside the L-shape island for dining; in easy reach of an opulent bar area accessorised with antique-effect mirrored glass and bronze elements.
The new kitchen-diner is the perfect room no matter the occasion. It has created the perfect social space for the Browns to entertain, and by incorporating the very best appliances it’s a space where Sally can explore her love for cooking.
