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Creating this dream beach house in North Cornwall took a few years of meticulous planning and building but the end result in undeniably worth the wait. Occupying a highly coveted spot just moments from one of North Cornwall’s most picturesque beaches, this incredible home was designed with a large open plan kitchen and dining area in mind right from the beginning.

The owners wanted the space to feel rustic and relaxed but with all the modern conveniences we know and love so there is this brilliant mix of tradition and innovation that ensures the kitchen feels contemporary but in a classic, fresh way that suits this house perfectly. A new interior wood finish for H|M called “Ledbury” was used throughout all the cabinetry interiors and as the accent wood for the integrated trays and breakfast bar at the island.

The soft grey colour “Farthing” and the deep “Brolly Blue” used on the island give a nod to the kitchen’s location on the Cornish coast, with a softer neutral off-white used on the walls with the linen fabric blinds bringing warmth and texture to the room. Polished nickel hardware works so well in this kitchen with the same finish used for the Tetterby handles and Hexham knobs as for the Perrin & Rowe taps, Quooker boiling hot water tap and Zip tap.

This is a house for entertaining on a big scale so the design stage of the project really focused on creating a space that worked for food prep, cooking, dining, and also clearing away easily after the party is over. The AGA gives the kitchen that traditional look and feel and is particularly lovely in the winter after wet and windy walks along the beaches. For the summer months when the AGA is turned off, the Gaggenau 200 series pyrolytic ovens and gas hob on the island are used (and also during dinner parties when precision cooking is required).

The traditional AGA creates a central focal point set within a classic false chimney with the island in front acting as the main food prep area with a prep sink and pull out bin to maximise convenience. As this is a holiday home, the chilled food storage was really key as the family wanted to be able to shop and store larger quantities of perishable items easily so the vast Gaggenau fridge freezers provide that comfortably and also each model has an ice-maker which is great for parties.

Towards the dining area is a large bi-fold breakfast area with masses of storage for tableware, glassware and servingware but also space for the coffee machine, toaster and breakfast things so that guests can help themselves easily in the morning rather than waiting for their hosts to serve them. Lighting within the glazed sections provides a lovely ambient glow in the evenings and connects the dining area to the kitchen despite the vast space it occupies.

A large scullery area under the window provides plenty of space to clear away after meals and actually plates can be stacked just out of sight due to the pantry cupboard towards the end of the run. The island is a sociable hub for serving drinks and canapés before meals with the two Miele under-counter wine storage units positioned side by side for chilling white wine and dessert wine.

Just off the kitchen is a lovely sitting room which library style bookshelves designed, manufactured and installed by H|M along with the kitchen for continuity and flow. The paint colour “Farthing II” is used with accent lighting a nod once again to the location.

Finally, a combined utility / boot room with adjoining shower / wet room is the final piece of clever interior spacial planning at this project. Plenty of space for washing and drying clothes, a mix of open and closed storage, a butler sink for washing down sandy items and also the shower to hose off the dog ensures that living here is easy with everything you need to hand.

North Cornwall Beach House Project