Project Name: Worcestershire Country Residence

Location: UK

Date Completed: January 2020

Interior Designer: Bayswater Interiors

Photography: Chris Snook

The client owned a substantial country house in beautiful grounds and requested Bayswater Interiors to bring the house up to date for their young family. The designers needed to keep any original features for character but make sure that the space worked as a welcoming space for the family to come together and for informal entertaining. Originally, the kitchen was small for the overall size of the house, and it felt dark and cramped without garden access, so Bayswater Interiors were asked to develop a layout that would link this part of the house to the outdoors as provide cooking and dining space.

The kitchen chosen needed to be timeless and suit the character of the property, but other elements needed to bring a more contemporary feel befitting of a young family, and the space needed to ensure the family felt connected to each other, even if someone was cooking and another was watching TV.

The client wanted a luxurious aesthetic yet practical for the client’s family, for example upholstery chosen needed to stand up to the trials of children and dogs. They wanted to incorporate lighting and AV systems so that modern convenience sat alongside the traditional architecture.

Opening up to the garden not only gives great light to this area but it also means that the garden is utilised more easily – breakfast on the terrace is simple now there is quick access to the kitchen. The additional floorspace makes the entire room feel more expansive, and it is easy for the family to enjoy it together with options for dining, space for food preparation, seating areas for coffee with the papers or gathering for family time.

The scheme remains faithful to the age of the property with original features preserved and a timeless painted kitchen installed. Contemporary lighting, artwork and furnishings ensure that it does not feel like a museum and captures the fun and vigour of its inhabitants, and by specifying stain-resistant upholstery fabrics it can also stand up to the demands of family life.