The Borders House Kitchen
BERWICK-UPON-TWEED
With its garden and grounds rolling down to the banks of the River Tweed, The Borders House overlooks one of the best salmon rivers in Scotland. The setting is magical, and the views stunning. It felt befitting therefore to design a kitchen that reflected the beauty of the building, surrounded by rolling parkland with its large sash windows and impressive ceiling height.
Commissioning us to replace an existing kitchen our clients had inherited when they took over the house; the task was to create a room that functioned for their family. The brief included retaining several existing features; the original AGA, a large dresser and a staircase leading to the cellar.
Cooking Zone
Retaining the existing AGA meant that the cooking area had already been defined, but through careful consideration of the ancillary appliances, this zone was enhanced beyond recognition.
It now includes a Miele induction hob to the left of the AGA, while a small Villeroy & Boch prep sink sits to the right, ideal for draining off large pans or prepping vegetables.
The whole space is framed by a large bespoke arched mantle with recessed hand painted wall cabinets either side, and base units that include a vertical pan cupboard and storage drawers for baking equipment.
These subtle bespoke cabinetry details take inspiration from traditional estate joinery found throughout the property.
A breakfast cabinet away from the main working part of the kitchen was on the wish list so the children could be encouraged to make their own breakfast away from the central cooking space.
Nostalgic Features
Having grown up in a home where the traditional kitchen included a drying rack above the sink, we designed a nostalgic washing-up area that accommodated a traditional plate rack allowing plates and pans to drip dry into the Shaws of Darwen sink below.
A professional Miele dishwasher has been included for a super quick wash cycle of 19 minutes; perfect when entertaining large groups.
Integrated waste and recycling bins complete this run of base cabinets.
Integrated waste and recycling bins make light work of keeping the room tidy
The washing up area is close to the prep and cooking zones.
The tall ceilings afforded enough space to create an impressive housekeeper’s cupboard, creating additional storage and room for the fridge freezer
Cook’s Table
A beautifully French polished oak Cook’s Table, with worktop fashioned from honed Carrara marble and butted planks of sycamore contrasts with the green hand painted cabinets.
Tiny peg details enhance the design while the legs are hand turned to create a truly unique piece of furniture.
Traditional peg details and Georgian style Armac Martin aged brass drop handles enhance the oak base, while hidden features throughout the drawers include a charging drawer to hide mobile devices; linen and cutlery double drawer and a deep drawer for kitchen equipment.
