Taste of England

Re-creating the character of an old English kitchen can be problematic, when you also need to incorporate the latest appliance technology.

For the owner-designer of this home, the solution was to hide the technology, so the focus would remain on the handcrafted furniture-style cabinets.

Richard Greene and interior designer Holly Greene say the kitchen is part of a large, open-plan living space and is just a few steps from the entry vestibule. This means it is on display to everyone entering the house.

"We wanted to disguise the fact that this is a fully operational kitchen," says Richard Greene. "Consequently, all the appliances, except the range, are integrated into the cabinets. And the range is set within a recess framed by a traditional Tudor-style arch, which is replicated by an arch around a fire surround on the same axis in the living room."

To remain true to the old English style, the ventilation unit is concealed behind a custom copper hood, which was built in situ.

With its dark-stained doors, marble countertop and hand-carved detailing, a 10ft-long island is the centerpiece of the kitchen. As well as providing plenty of space for food preparation and serving, the island can be used for casual dining.

To enhance the furniture look, the cherry wood cabinetry on the rear wall has a distressed paint finish and doors with decorative cutouts and wire inserts.

"The cabinets were stained, then dry brushed, painted and glazed to achieve the right look," says Richard Greene.

Similar attention to detail can be seen throughout the great room. The kitchen ceiling, for example, features large dark-stained beams, while the living area has a timber-framed ceiling typical of English manor homes in the Middle Ages.

The flooring and walls also re-create the era. Tumbled stone floor tiles are laid in a random pattern, and the plaster walls were handpainted to create an antique look.

The authenticity of the design does not compromise functionality, however. Solid wood doors lead to a separate walk-in pantry and a storage closet. And vertical pull-outs in the cabinets conceal a variety of different storage systems, so everything is in easy reach.

Story by: Colleen Hawkes

Photography by: John Umberger