The Oast House, Kent

Nestled in a quiet Kent hamlet, this 19th century oast house has been thoughtfully converted by a young family, who moved from London in pursuit of space and natural surroundings. Oast houses like this one have long been a distinctive feature of the South East landscape, particularly Kent, having been designed to dry hops for brewing beer. This, and the unique architectural details of the property are what initially attracted the couple. In just over a year, the property was stripped back completely and the footprint reworked, to create a five bedroom, five bathroom family home.

As soon as they exchanged on the property, the homeowners engaged interior design studio, Palliser Dwyer, inviting them to be involved in every detail of the project from concept to completion. The decision to renovate stemmed largely from a desire to create an open plan living and dining space within the thatched barn, which was currently separated from the kitchen. Reworking the layout in this way, however, impacted the rest of the ground floor and ultimately led to a complete overhaul of the space. Working alongside the appointed architect, Palliser Dwyer combined their client’s contemporary style and approach with the traditional rustic features of the oast house, creating a transitional design aesthetic.

Knowing that the family would spend the majority of their time in the barn space, which houses the kitchen, dining and living areas, Palliser Dwyer wanted to strike the perfect balance between modesty, and prominent structural details. With this in mind, they opted for in-frame shaker-style cabinetry in a vibrant sky blue, which contrasts beautifully against the dramatic quartzite Bianco Eclipsa worktop. To introduce further texture to the space, the extractor hood was tiled in an intricately executed pattern.

The homeowners wanted a large, single bowl sink, to be able to keep everything contained in one space and wash up without an excess water splash. The Shaws Shaker Single 800 sink was the perfect solution to this, whilst also achieving the balance of classic and contemporary that they were striving for. Paired with the Perrin & Rowe  Armstrong Bridge Sink Mixer with Pull-Down Rinse and Armstrong Mini Instant Hot Water and Cold Filtration Tap, both in an Aged Brass finish, the couple loved the substantial scale and industrial aesthetic of the brassware against the glossy white fireclay sink. Not only that, but functionally, the pull-down rinse worked beautifully with the large Shaker sink to make entertaining a breeze.

Understanding that the homeowners wanted to be able to socialise and take in the views of the newly landscaped garden whilst doing everyday chores, the sink was placed in the middle of the kitchen island. In this location, the sink area becomes a true focal point of the kitchen design, and one of the standout details on entry into the barn.

Drawing inspiration from the building’s agricultural origins, Palliser Dwyer felt it important to honour the simplicity of the design, whilst bringing it into a fully domesticated setting. The mix of natural and industrial materials that complement the more ambient and softer elements achieves this, creating a welcoming and comfortable family hub. This is truly consolidated by the hand-troweled microcement floor, chosen to encompass the three areas of the barn and bring them together as one seamless space.

Uncharacteristic of renovating a historical building, the project ran smoothly from start to finish – thanks to all the design being planned and approved ahead of the build! The finished space is a great homage to the original oast house, keeping the building’s character alive whilst creating a forever family home.