The Farmhouse

The brief

The clients - a professional chef and chocolatier - wanted to create a sociable, rustic farmhouse kitchen that served as the heart of the home for the whole family, including their beloved dogs. While the space needed to be warm, welcoming, and versatile for everyday living, it also had to function as a serious workhorse to support their culinary lifestyle.

At the centre of the brief was one key request: to build the design around a cherished and sentimental item - the Truffle Safe - a treasured memento from the chef’s early career and a symbol of a pivotal moment in their culinary journey.

The design

Rooted in warmth and nostalgia, this farmhouse kitchen combines rustic charm with professional-level functionality. The design features our Plain Norfolk style cabinetry, painted in a bold pairing of Farrow & Ball ‘Studio Green’ and ‘Bone’, with Carrara Quartz worktops that bring brightness and elegance.

At the heart of the kitchen is the island - crafted to be the ‘sweet spot’ for the family. It offers everything from sociable seating and prep space to a traditional farmhouse sink fitted with a Quooker boiling water tap. Mixed heights, curved edges, and a variety of materials create visual interest and a natural flow between functional zones. Horizontal tongue and groove cladding and subtle plinth lighting add further depth and warmth to the space.

The Truffle Safe, of course, takes centre stage. This iconic and deeply personal piece is celebrated with a hand-carved sign and a dedicated focal point within the design - fulfilling the original vision and anchoring the kitchen with meaning and history.

A traditional AGA is framed by a bespoke mantle and flanked by glazed wall units for display and practicality. Beside it sits a custom-built dog gate, made from recycled wine box panels, creating a safe space for the dogs to stay close to the action without getting underfoot.

Other standout features include a refurbished butcher’s block on castors, offering a flexible, mobile prep area, and a bespoke Iroko chopping block hand-carved with the name of the home - another personal and meaningful touch that makes this kitchen truly one-of-a-kind.

This space is a perfect marriage of rustic charm, professional function, and personal storytelling—a kitchen designed to be lived in, cooked in, and loved.

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