After a fire devastated their home, these homeowner created the kitchen of their dreams
The couple reframed their misfortune as an opportunity
Home notes
WHO LIVES HERE? Alice Huntingford, her husband, Charlie, and their two children.
THE PROJECT Complete rebuild on the footprint of a substantial 17th-century farmhouse, with an open-plan kitchen-diner.
TOTAL COST £55,000 (excluding Aga)
Two weeks before Alice and Charlie Huntingford were to be married at their country home, the farmhouse where Alice grew up, a fire caused by an electrical fault devastated the property. Luckily, the family were safe, but they lost almost everything.
‘We’d always planned to remodel the old-fashioned interior of the house, especially the kitchen,’ explains Alice. Now, they were able to start from scratch.
Bespoke kitchen in Jewel Beetle by Little Greene, from £12,000; New Calacatta quartz worktops, from £400sqm, both Hush Kitchens.
While they wanted the outside of the house to remain traditional, inside, they dreamed of timeless yet characterful kitchen ideas.
‘We worked with Hush Kitchens, and founder Chris Spink was willing to try new ideas,’ says Alice. The kitchen consists of an L-shaped run of units and a large kitchen island with quartz worktops and cabinetry painted a striking green.
‘At first we panicked because it felt brighter than expected,’ says Charlie. ‘But we soon realised that it’s an uplifting kitchen colour.’
Island sink in moulded Aged Copper, £2,000 including worktop, Hush Kitchens. Perrin & Rowe Mayan taps in Satin Brass, £388, Sinks.co.uk
The pristine white Aga fits in with the traditional look of the kitchen, but with a smart, fresh feel.
As a foil to the solid wood cabinetry, a copper worktop and sink on the island create richness and warmth. And, precious items salvaged from the fire, such as pottery belonging to Alice’s mother and grandmother and original butler’s bell buttons, add a personal touch.
Metallic finishes, from the island surface to the taps, add warmth to the crisp white and green scheme.
‘We couldn’t be happier with how it’s all turned out,’ says Alice.
Get the look
Copper is a gorgeous material to pair with green. Sneak it into an existing kitchen with wall lights.
A classic utensil pot is a great way to add style into a kitchen in a practical way.
Wooden chopping boards are not only useful for chopping and doubling up as serving platters, but will help warm up white kitchen walls.
