Country kitchens
Popular in both period homes and contemporary lodgings, here’s our pick of properties on the market with the most charming country-style kitchens
Arguably the most hard-working room of the home, the kitchen is the place we cook, eat, socialise – even entertain. It’s a truth universally acknowledged that, no matter what you do, the party invariably ends up in the kitchen.
Country-style kitchens are everywhere, and for good reason. Depending on your taste, you can easily create a warm, homey feel with simple cabinets and a few carefully chosen pieces, or go the whole hog with an AGA, Shaker cabinets and an antler chandelier. Here’s our selection of the best…
A 100-acre golf course, parkland and a lake are all at your disposal as a resident of this private estate. The seven-bed property’s high-spec features include underfloor heating, Keff ceiling speakers, designer wallpapers, iLight system, CCTV and electric entry gates.
CUPBOARD LOVE Light and bright, this bespoke Underwood kitchen is equipped with Miele appliances and granite work surfaces. A touch of country-inspired glamour is added with the help of dark wood, florals and pendant lighting.
With five spacious reception rooms, a wine cellar, garden, roof terrace and views over the Royal Hospital Gardens, this seven-bedroom family home has all the ingredients needed for entertaining on a grand scale.
CUPBOARD LOVE Dominated by an impressive stone chimney breast, this is a kitchen made for socialising. There’s plenty of room for guests to sit and enjoy a glass of wine while you put the finishing touches to the meal. And, if you’re lucky, they might even lend a hand.
River cottage meets elegant farmhouse in this detached Thames-side home, which boasts four bedrooms, a conservatory and walled garden, plus a separate annexe complete with bedroom, bathroom, and two reception rooms.
CUPBOARD LOVE Neutral colours keep this galley kitchen bright and fresh, simple cabinets create space, and copper jelly moulds, decorative tiles and ornate ironwork bring rustic charm.
If townhouse Top Trumps were a game, this might just be your winning card: four floors, seven bedrooms, four bathrooms, drawing room, reception room, kitchen/dining room, attic, roof terrace, balcony, conservatory and garden… and breathe!
CUPBOARD LOVE More French country chic than rustic English farmhouse, this dramatic kitchen/diner would romance any Francophile with its warm terracotta tiles, trailing leaf chandeliers and intricate plasterwork. So sultry is this room that it’s not hard to imagine pushing through the lush greenery outside to find the shore of the Mediterranean Sea.
Sandwiched between the Toast Rack and Wandsworth Common is this six-bedroom period home with three reception rooms, three bathrooms, Marston & Langinger conservatory and 52ft garden designed by a Chelsea Gold medal winner.
CUPBOARD LOVE Contemporary and traditional appliances work side by side in this calming, tea-green kitchen with scrubbed oak floors. A three-oven AGA takes pride of place, but there’s also an island-housed hob, integrated fridge and freezer, and workspace for modern gadgets.
Fourteen acres of Gertrude Jekyll-designed gardens surround this eight-bedroom, Grade II-listed manor house. Despite its rural setting, it’s just 25 minutes to Gatwick, and 45 to Heathrow.
CUPBOARD LOVE There’s nothing ostentatious about this functional yet inviting kitchen, despite the ‘manor’ to which it was born. The racing-green AGA and dark oak beams provide character, while the clean lines of the granite worktops, simple cupboard doors and leather and chrome bar stools give it a modern twist.
Take a step back in time with this Grade II-listed farmhouse. As well as a fascinating past, it offers six bedrooms, a two-bed detached cottage and coach house, meadowland and formal gardens, and breathtaking views.
CUPBOARD LOVE Subtle details introduce the coveted country vibe to this otherwise minimalist kitchen: a display of antique utensils hints at the property’s former life as a brew house, birds decorate the wallpaper and blinds, a light blue AGA adds a burst of colour, and a farmhouse-style table takes centre stage.
Soak up the atmosphere of London’s famously bohemian neighbourhood in a three-bedroom house with balcony, private patio garden, communal garden and off-street parking.
CUPBOARD LOVE Blending cottage, vintage, industrial and rustic styles, this cooking and dining space is a feast for the eyes, and it’s hard to believe you’ll find it in a Notting Hill townhouse. Located on the lower ground floor, there’s access to the private garden, so you can enjoy fuss-free al fresco dining.
BATTERSEA HOUSE, BATTERSEA PARK SW11 – £10,500,00
www.russellsimpson.co.uk
A walled garden just moments from the Thames envelops this elegant country-style home. Step inside to find six bedrooms, six bathrooms, three reception rooms, a sweeping staircase and stacks of character.
CUPBOARD LOVE Croissants, macarons and millefeuille are sure to be on the menu of this French-inspired kitchen. Soft furnishings and a natural colour palette create a relaxing space for cooking, dining and entertaining.