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Set within the beautiful Hampshire countryside, this incredible country house started life as a Tudor farmhouse which was later extended in the Victorian era. The most recent development by our clients created a contemporary extension bridging the Tudor and Victorian elements and incorporated a new kitchen and pantry.

This huge scale renovation took over three years to complete from pre-planning to occupation. Our clients’ brief was specific: to create an open plan kitchen, pantry and dining area with additional / optional space for soft seating. A key objective was to bring the newly landscaped garden inside thereby creating a hugely sociable space that the family could enjoy on the weekends with friends, particularly during the summer months.

As well as creating a kitchen, pantry and dining area, Humphrey Munson was commissioned to design two boot rooms and a utility room in the older Tudor part of the house and ensure that the family’s time at the house is as fuss free and easy as possible.

What’s so lovely about this project is the moment when you walk into the kitchen – whether that’s from the hallway, the garden or the snug – it’s just an absolute ‘wow’ as every element from the interior architecture, the cabinetry, furniture, the colours, finishes, materials and textures all work together in perfect harmony.

Speaking plainly, this is the ultimate light, bright and airy kitchen illuminated by the skylights from the new extension and vast bi-fold glass doors that reveal a view across the lush green garden and beyond. It’s really hard to describe just how dreamy this space is in words!

The main cooking run has a false chimney concealing the Westin extraction unit and provides the housing for the wonderful Lacanche Chalonnais range cooker finished in stainless steel with a polished nickel trim. The configuration chosen for the top of the Lacanche is the classic three burner hob, induction rings and electric plancha for maximum cooking versatility. The antique effect mirror splashback behind conceals splashes and offers a constant reflection of the beautiful outdoors.

Either side of the Lacanche are two countertop cupboards finished in the H|M Duffle paint colour. To the left is a breakfast cupboard with open shelving used to store crockery, tea and coffee whilst the countertop is a great spot for a toaster and bread board. The opposite end of the cooking run is another countertop cupboard used to store glassware in the open shelving and large everyday appliances like the NutriBullet.

Opposite the cooking run is the island which is predominantly used for food prep. The side closest to the cooking run has a double Kohler sink and Perrin & Rowe Athenian tap with rinse and Quooker hot water tap finished in polished nickel. Under the counter either side are two Miele dishwashers and on the far right end, a pull out bin to help make clearing away quicker and easier (especially with multiple guests staying at the house at any one time). A Miele combi-steam oven is positioned at the other end of the island, perfect for quick family meals or steaming veggies for a roast cooked in the Lacanche. The other side of the island has seating for three (the client chose the Vincent Sheppard Joe counter stools) so that children can do homework or guests can sit and chat whilst the host cooks dinner nearby. What’s so wonderful about the island here is that it completely anchors the room and is finished in H|M paint colour Black Thorn; a deep, rich green chosen to tie in with the green outdoor surroundings.

Just off the island is the dining area which has a Portobello oak Lexington dining table taking centre stage in this space and comfortably seats 8-10 people. Within arms reach is the nearby run of Nickleby cabinetry – also finished in H|M Duffle. You may notice this run is integrated into the wall itself so as not to impose on the clean lines of the open space (just as the main cooking run is). At the centre of the run is a Gaggenau French door fridge freezer, flanked either side by two crockery cupboards and open shelving either end. This ideal mix of open and closed storage means bowls, serving plates and other more unsightly items can be hidden from view in the cupboards until needed at the table.

The walk in pantry was an absolute necessity for this open plan kitchen space, and offers the family an abundance of open storage for dried food, jars, pots and pans on the artisan shelves, while baskets, hampers and larger pans can be stored under the countertop helping to keep the kitchen surfaces free of clutter.

Both boot rooms are finished in darker paint colours which gives them a moody look and feel which really suits the age and heritage of this Tudor end of the house. The slightly smaller ‘Victorian’ style boot room is located just off the main kitchen and has a door that leads out onto the garden. Finished in a completely bespoke H|M colour just for this project, a bench seat runs along the right-hand side and opens to reveal space for shoes, boots and is also ideal for things like badminton rackets, footballs etc. An artisan shelf with coat pegs is positioned directly which is ideal for hats, bags and baskets.

The main boot room is located on the opposite side of the house near the entrance and has a plethora of useful storage space. Finished in H|M paint colour Lock & Load, the large bench seat is used to store bags and shoes, and when closed is a great spot to get a bag ready for a day out, or even place a basket of fruit from the garden whilst you take off your coat. The artisan shelf above has coat pegs beneath for everyday coats and jackets, and to the right handy open shelving for baskets. Leading on from the open shelves is tall closed cabinetry that conceals space for coats, wellies and well, anything else you can think of!

The utility room also sits at the front of the house next to the main boot room where the dark blue H|M Burlington paint colour is a beautiful contrast. Illuminated by a window at the centre there are two runs of cabinetry, the first is to the left side of the space with a Villeroy & Boch sink and Perrin & Rowe Ionian tap at the centre. Beneath the worktop either side of the sink is a Miele washing machine and Miele tumble dryer and directly opposite, a tall run of Nickleby cabinetry concealing a drying cabinet and two shelved cabinets providing essential storage for laundry and other useful items like a vacuum cleaner.

Brampton limestone flooring was used throughout the project. The natural soft grey tones and markings of the limestone are perfect for this classic contemporary space whilst being a durable, practical option for areas of high traffic both indoors and outdoors. For more information on Brampton Limestone tumbled, visit the H|M Stone Library here.

Country House Project, Hampshire