North Farm, the house in Teesdale, Co Durham, that the interior designer Rita Konig has recently brought to life, offers convincing evidence that, contrary to conventional wisdom, a desirable kitchen doesn’t have to be the size of Wembley Stadium. Nor does it have to look very much like a kitchen; as her design demonstrates very eloquently, a kitchen of more modest proportions can look lovely, function perfectly and doesn’t require floor-to-ceiling (and wall-to-wall) cabinetry and appliances.
The driving factor behind the designer’s approach was not to save space, but to create a room that is an elegant hybrid of both kitchen and dining room. ‘I was keen that guests weren’t subjected to a view of dirty pots and pans, so I made room for a small, highly space-efficient scullery for washing up.’
The latter also offered plenty of storage that took pressure off the main space. ‘It was made by Plain English and I took inspiration from the amazing kitchen that Christopher Howe created in the basement of his London shop, where there’s only one run of cabinets.’
The result is a room where it’s possible to strike an even balance between the cooking and dining. Miss Konig even found room for a large, comfortable wing chair (that essential depository for guests with whom you want to converse, but not share the cooking). As a space for entertaining, it is everything it should be — pretty and intimate, but not remotely poky.
Another more extreme example of this new approach is at the Oxfordshire home of Emma Burns of Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler, where, amid a delicious mix of dining chairs and Robert Kime curtains, a discreetly placed Aga is one of the few pieces of evidence that her kitchen ever sees much cooking. Here, the secret has been to decorate the space in exactly the same way that you would any other room in the house.
This approach couldn’t be further removed from the sleek, contemporary kitchens so popular at the turn of the 21st century, which offered all the charm of being entertained in a laboratory. It’s a welcome shift and, should anyone need proof of its efficacy, North Farm is available to rent (or will be once we’re out of lockdown) through Yorkshire Holiday Cottages.
My favourite painting: Robert Kime
Robert Kime shares his fondness for New Year Snow by Ravilious
Credit: www.100handpicked.co.uk
Beyond Pinterest: The best ways to ensure your lovely objects aren't exactly the same as everyone else's
Giles Kime asks whether the the ‘digital pop up’ the answer to the homogeneous home.
The special magic of rattan, the furniture which almost forces you to recline languorously and have fun
A new book extols the virtues of rattan — and Giles Kime is absolutely sold.
-
You can now rent King William IV’s former home in London’s Mayfair — for a princely sumThe London property — with royal lineage — is on the market with the estate agency Wetherell for £25,000 a week.
-
Guy Ritchie: 'My mother married an impoverished aristocrat with a knackered country pile. I've been chasing that dream ever since'The film maker opens up about his love for the countryside, and his friendship with Sir David Beckham.
-
Farmhouse kitchens done right at these five beautiful country houses across BritainA country house with a farmhouse kitchen is the archetype of the bucolic dream in Britain. Arabella Youens picks out five on the market right now that have wonderful examples.
-
The designer's room: This kitchen in a Queen Anne-style home is proof that pretty and practical can go hand in handHiding the conveniences of modern-day living lends a timeless feel to the kitchen of this 18th-century house.
-
Curious Questions: Where did the viral Instagram Shaker kitchen come from — and how is it linked to Quakerism?The traditional and incredibly versatile Shaker kitchen is looked up to the world over, but where did it actually come from?
-
How to create a serene, yet hard-working kitchenPlain English worked with antique dealer Robert Young to make this traditional kitchen with an effortlessly relaxing colour scheme that marries perfectly with the views over beautiful gardens.
-
Why kitchens are going green — literallyGreen is the perfect colour for a kitchen, says Amelia Thorpe.
-
A modern kitchen perfectly framed by the exquisite ancient beamsArtichoke designed a discreet and timeless kitchen to complement a converted granary. Amelia Thorpe takes a look.
-
Yes, you can put a new kitchen in a Grade I-listed house — and this beautiful example shows howTraditional cabinetry was a key ingredient in the sympathetic restoration of a Grade I-listed Tudor house in Shropshire.
-
A London townhouse kitchen transformed to be sociable, practical and charmingThe new owners of this London townhouse have reconfigured it to create a sociable space for cooking and entertaining.
