Dark Green Shaker Kitchen in Long Buckby

A cottage kitchen with practical constraints. 

The clients wanted a kitchen that gave them more storage, more working space and a layout that felt easier to live in. The property had plenty of character, which came with the usual complications of an older cottage. 

Low ceilings, existing beams, thick walls and low windows all had to be considered from the start. The design needed to work with the building, so the kitchen would feel as if it had been planned for the house. 

Working with the age of the building. 

Old properties rarely give you a clean, simple room. Here, the design had to respect the low windows and beams while still creating enough useful storage and surface space. 

The curved peninsula was a key part of that. It gives the kitchen a softer shape and makes the room more sociable, with edges that harmonise with the cottage. The window seat turns a difficult low-window area into something useful and characterful. 

The farmhouse-style mantel gives the cooking area a natural focal point. It has been designed to feel settled in the room, as though it had always been there. 

Dark green cabinetry and warm cottage detail. 

The cabinetry is Burbidge Kew in Baltic Green, a dark green that works well with the cottage setting. It has enough depth for the room and is warm against the stone, timber and older features. 

Fugen Quartz 30mm Amber was chosen for the worksurfaces, giving the kitchen a practical surface with a warmer tone. NEFF appliances and a Quooker tap complete the specification, giving the clients the performance they wanted while keeping the room in character. 

Glazed display cabinetry and an open oak shelving niche add lighter moments in the design. They break up the fitted furniture and make space for display. This works well in a cottage kitchen where character is part of the brief. 

The curved peninsula 

The curved peninsula gives the kitchen a more natural flow. In an older cottage, soft edges help the furniture feel at home in the room. 

The window seat 

The low window could have limited the layout. The window seat makes use of the area and provides somewhere to pause and enjoy the room. 

The farmhouse-style mantel 

The mantel frames the cooking area and gives the kitchen a clear focal point. It looks as if it belongs in the cottage, which is what this kind of project needs. 

Working around low ceilings and beams 

The ceiling heights and beams shaped the design. The kitchen works with them, keeping the room practical while holding on to its age and character. 

Glazed display and open shelving 

The display cabinetry and open shelving keep the kitchen from feeling too solid. They give the clients space for personal pieces and lighten the fitted furniture.