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Inspiration

A masterclass in heritage design at Lynton Cottage

Reimagining a well-weathered galley kitchen

 

There is a distinct, soulful quietude that settles over a home after twenty-five years of life. At Lynton Cottage, a sprawling five-bedroom sanctuary tucked away down a winding rural road in Berkshire, that history is written into every oak beam and garden view. But while the house grew – adding an oak-framed extension and becoming a playground for grandchildren and spirited Scotty dogs – the kitchen remained a frozen chapter of the past.

By May 2025, the transition was complete. What was once a ‘well-weathered’ galley kitchen has been reimagined as a sophisticated culinary studio that feels as though it was always meant to be there.

The redesign was a deeply personal affair. Fiona and Richard, the home’s longtime custodians, enlisted a unique design consultant: their daughter, a New York-based interior designer. Her intimate knowledge of the home’s rhythms – paired with the craftsmanship of Cherrywood Bespoke – bridged the gap between sentimental charm and modern efficiency.

Images credit: Cherrywood Bespoke @cherrywood_bespoke 

Designed around a passion for baking

"The kitchen had not been altered for many years and, while it was full of character and had wonderfully weathered family life, it could be described as somewhat lacking in integration and flow," the designers noted.


The idea was to create a space that supported Fiona’s evolving passion for baking, recently refined through an intensive patisserie course in Paris. The old kitchen table, once the site of countless family meals, was replaced by a commanding peninsula island that provides a tactile, expansive surface for kneading dough while maintaining a convenient spot for the couple to share coffee.

 

The aesthetic is ‘Heritage Shaker’ style, utilising cabinetry with quarter-round doors and cock-beaded frames. The colour palette is country elegance, featuring Farrow & Ball’s Card Room Green. It is a muted, earthy hue with grey undertones that feels substantial without being heavy.

To ensure the space remained light and airy, School House White was applied to the walls and the custom handmade tapered extractor hood, allowing the cabinetry to stand out as fine furniture. This organic palette is punctuated by the warm glow of Armac Martin burnished brass hardware and the soft, matte texture of Honed Riverlet Quartz by Caesarstone. Underfoot, a new oak herringbone floor provides a traditional foundation that ties the kitchen to the home’s rural Berkshire roots.

The Shaws Brindle 800 is a unique double bowl inset kitchen sink

In a kitchen defined by the art of patisserie, the sink is far more than a utility – it is a centerpiece. The choice of a Shaws Brindle 800 sink was a strategic nod to both heritage and high-volume use.

"We encouraged Fiona to choose the Shaws Brindle 800 sink, which features an exceptionally spacious main bowl, perfect for washing up large baking tins and trays, alongside a smaller neighbouring hand wash sink."

A Perrin & Rowe Tap pairs perfectly with the Shaws fireclay sink

Positioned beneath a window framing views of the garden and local farmland. Its undermount design allows the quartz worktops to sweep cleanly over the edges, highlighting the craftsmanship of the cabinetry below. It is paired with a Perrin & Rowe Phoenician tap in Aged Brass, whose white ceramic handles offer a perfect connection to the fireclay sink itself.

Integrated appliances create a seamless design

Historically, Fiona relied on a separate back kitchen to house her vast collection of serving dishes and oversized pots. The new design sought to bring those items into the fold. The result is a magnificent run of floor-to-ceiling cabinetry that acts as the kitchen’s engine room.

This ‘Wall of Efficiency’ includes a signature wide pantry cupboard, complete with pull-out shelving and spice racks integrated into the doors with brass rails. Modern luxuries are woven seamlessly into this traditional frame, including an integrated Fisher & Paykel fridge-freezer and eye-level Miele ovens, ensuring the kitchen can handle a multi-course dinner party as easily as a morning spent making croissants.

As the sun sets over the Berkshire fields, reflecting off the ceramic shades of the Pookey island light, the success of Lynton Cottage is found in the details. The project was a seamless evolution, proving that the most successful designs aren't just about beauty, but about how they elevate the rituals of daily life.

Fiona mentions that she often finds herself admiring the interior of her new cabinetry, appreciating all the meticulous details and the high-quality fittings that make the kitchen such a pleasure to use.

At Lynton Cottage, the heart of the home has finally found its rhythm.

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