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Inspiration

Burbrook House

When homeowner Jason retired as a Commander with the Police Force, he had been yearning to take on a renovation project for years. So, when Burbrook House came on the market, both Jason and his husband Richard knew they had to have it and set about a major renovation plan. They extended the whole property in several directions to create enough space to turn the property into what Jason describes as their ‘dream forever home’.

The interior of the property was stuck in the 1970s and had an aesthetic that was both tired and dated. ‘It was very unloved, but we knew that we could add personality and wow factor back into the old girl!’. They wanted their new home to have a timeless and traditional feel but still have all the conveniences of a contemporary kitchen. The couple knew this would be their forever home, so it was very much about investing in the high-quality fixtures and fittings that are built to withstand the demands of modern living. As they were also determined to use local suppliers and materials they opted for a bespoke handmade kitchen by Langfords Furniture. They chose to use English Oak for the cabinetry because they really like the sense of luxury and warmth that you get from the texture of wood and natural materials. “We knew we wanted a traditional oak kitchen in a light contemporary colour with a dark moody colour on the island. Blue is my favourite colour so I knew the island had to be a dark inky navy. Night Fishing was the perfect colour paired with Ethereal Blue – both by Sanderson Paints – for the other cabinetry,” Jason recalls.

The farmhouse-style cabinetry was crowned with marble countertops throughout. Firstly a gorgeous Borghini marble was selected for the main kitchen and pantry cabinets, with its deep golden veining running through tones of grey, blue and green; adding real warmth and texture. Secondly, a Calacatta Carrera marble was chosen for the cabinetry in the laundry room.

Designing a laundry room.

Sticking to their traditional British theme they installed a Shaws Butler 600 sink in the laundry room because they loved the utilitarian sensibility of the hard-working design classic. This was deliberately positioned in front of a large window and directly under a skylight, which floods the room with natural light, helping the glossy fireclay gleam against Farrow & Ball Off Black on the cabinetry. The walls are painted in Little Greene Slaked Lime, which also helps bounce the light around the space.

The main kitchen is home to a Shaws Entwistle sink with its striking bas-relief front that provides an interesting design detail.

“We wanted a modern, yet traditional farmhouse-style sink to match our British, handmade, bespoke kitchen”, said Jason.

They embellished the main kitchen sink with a Perrin & Rowe 3-in-1 Polaris hot tap accompanied by a matching pot filler – also by Perrin & Rowe. They also selected handmade tiles for the cooker splashback and pantry to add some colour and texture that complements the marble tones and helps to unify the two spaces.

“The pot filler tap was totally unnecessary but it has been surprisingly handy and it’s almost a piece of artwork in itself! Everyone comments on it. It’s a thing of beauty and contrasts perfectly against the soft and undulating pattern of the handmade tiles”, adds Jason. 

“We reinstated the original pantry and introduced new oak cabinetry and shelving. Pantries are having a resurgence in kitchens at the moment and I am so glad we retained it. It is my favourite space with bags of personality while still being functional but very elegant and pretty.” he continues.

The couple chose Burnished Oak Amtico flooring throughout the main kitchen space, family room and dining room. In the laundry room and boot room, they wanted something practical yet natural that would stand the test of time, so they opted for natural black and white marble tiles in a traditional diamond pattern. The renovation also included the addition of a secret space in the form of a powder room and shower, added to the boot room, which is cleverly hidden behind a secret door made to look like one of the lockers. 

In the end, the project wasn’t plain sailing and became a hard-fought battle to achieve their aspirations for Burbrook House. However, the end result is a practical, yet elegant space that is luxurious and timeless. Perfectly aligned with the couple's vision for a forever home.