KBB l HOMES “I COULD WITH I
go to town colour
and really make it my own”
love being able to start with a complete blanks canvas,” says interiors blogger Mandy Buckby. Aſter renovating an impressive six homes to sell, she and her husband Mark, an electrical engineer, felt it was seventh time lucky with their latest project which they had decided
would be just for them. The property, an 18th-century farmhouse in Northamptonshire, had stayed relatively untouched for 30 years, so when the couple, along with their teenage son Max, moved in, it needed replastering, replumbing, rewiring, new woodwork – “the whole lot,” Mandy laughs. However, going against what you hear most renovators doing, Mandy decided to keep the internal layout as it was. “We wanted to preserve all the lovely little rooms and didn’t really want to turn the downstairs into a big, modern open-plan space.” Here, she explains how she and Mark worked with the original structure to create a cosy family home with a welcoming atmpshere and plenty of character...
Where did you start when designing the kitchen? The existing scheme was plain wood and dominated by a massive corner fridge, which we were keen to change. I wanted the style of the kitchen to remain in keeping with the period of the house and also retain a homely farmhouse feel, so I looked for companies who specialised in classic Shaker units – but ones that were available in a host of colours as I knew I wanted something fun. Through all of our projects, I’ve preferred working with local businesses, because I like that personal touch, so I went with Bell in Northampton. It has a really good reputation and the customer service is amazing. On my wishlist were the classic units, an Aga range cooker, and a larder cupboard where I could instantly see everything inside. Plus, I also asked for an island with plenty of preparation and serving space that included a breakfast bar the whole family could sit at – I knew the dining room wouldn’t get used much. The unit also needed to be large enough to contain the sink with a dishwasher alongside it.
Why did you go for this layout? The way the kitchen was arranged actually worked very well. Although the original design was dated and needed replacing, you could tell the previous owners really thought about what went where. Admittedly, it’s not an easy space because there are
98 KITCHENS BEDROOMS & BATHROOMS l SUMMER 20
windows on two walls, and it has three door openings. Mark and I decided to retain the existing layout, which meant placing units along the back wall. This leſt plenty of room for a large island in the middle. I decided on the sink on there as I didn’t want anything to detract from the Aga and a feature chimney on the run behind, complete with a matching mantle which works really well with the overall style of the house.
Why the colour? Previously, I’ve gone neutral with my kitchens – but I’ve always loved the combination of pink and grey and think it works particularly well in period homes. I finally got to put in my dream design in my favourite colours here – I love it.
And the mix of work surfaces? I wanted the kitchen to look unique and the combination of granite worktops with a straight edge on the back run and the same material with a bevelled edge on the island adds that extra detail. I went for a mix of wood and granite on the island for practicality as well as aesthetics – it helps to break up and warm up the space, plus both surfaces are really hard-wearing. The granite works well with the classic limestone floor, too.
What was your thinking with the appliances? For that farmhouse feel, I wanted a range cooker that could be framed with a chimney hood and I was really pleased to find that I could get an Aga combining a gas hob with an electric oven – it offers flexible cooking options with a traditional feel. And I wanted the fridge and freezer to be integrated behind the door fronts, while the microwave is hidden in an end wall unit.
Can you tell us more about the orangery? It’s our main space. It’s where we spend most of our time together or with friends. The area leads off from the kitchen and opens out onto the garden, so it has a casual and relaxed feel. We did actually remove a partition wall in here as it used to be two rooms. It’s much brighter now and is a great place to entertain in the summer. In terms of the décor, I chose pink in here too – it wasn’t intentional, as I do all my rooms individually, but it works well with the shade of the kitchen. I don’t regret not opting for a big open-plan room. It’s much cosier and we all have our own space when we need it.
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