White Cabinets and Oak Shelves Refresh an English Country Kitchen
Custom storage and a simplified palette bring an airy update to a traditional kitchen, breakfast room and laundry room
A low ceiling, dark cabinets and poor connections to other rooms detracted from this striking kitchen in a Cotswold-stone house in southwest England. The original layout, which the owners inherited, was dated and too busy for the space.
Designer Mandy Oestreich of Marloe Interiors was tasked with creating a kitchen that was beautiful, practical and timeless. She kept the best of the original features and brightened the design with fresh white cabinetry, a charcoal-gray island and concealed appliances.
Designer Mandy Oestreich of Marloe Interiors was tasked with creating a kitchen that was beautiful, practical and timeless. She kept the best of the original features and brightened the design with fresh white cabinetry, a charcoal-gray island and concealed appliances.
Oestreich kept the original beams over the doors and windows, and the stonework around the cooker range, and had them gently cleaned. However, the ceiling is low — 7⅜ feet (2.2 meters) — and the beams were dark brown, so she softened the finish and visually raised the ceiling by painting the whole surface white.
The traditional oil-fired Aga range was already there, and the owners wanted to keep it. “We had it cleaned and serviced,” Oestreich says. Ranges like this, no longer made by Aga, have an oil burner in the center that heats the cast-iron body, which in turn radiates heat to the hot plates and ovens.
Functionality was a focus of the project, with a goal of making family life and entertaining easy. “They love to have guests over, and there’s always a lot going on,” Oestreich says. She chose cabinets from a kitchen company, but specified several custom-designed elements to maximize the space. “The company provided versions of some of their standard cabinetry in slightly different dimensions or with different internal layouts, because it was quite a challenge to fit in standard cabinetry with little wall space and the low ceiling,” she says. Oestreich designed the breakfast bar on the right side of the standard island, pictured, for instance.
The cabinet to the right of the range is a false front hiding the Aga controls. Its counterpart to the left is half depth to accommodate the stone wall but is useful for herbs and spices. The corner cabinet contains a wooden carousel that provides easy access, “so you don’t have to bend down and rummage in the dark corner,” Oestreich says.
She layered the lighting with the original ceiling spots (removed in these photos), pendant lights, wall sconces and lights behind the Aga mantel. “We wanted to create layers of light so the owners could change the atmosphere depending on the occasion,” she says. Clear glass shades mean they don’t dominate visually.
The traditional oil-fired Aga range was already there, and the owners wanted to keep it. “We had it cleaned and serviced,” Oestreich says. Ranges like this, no longer made by Aga, have an oil burner in the center that heats the cast-iron body, which in turn radiates heat to the hot plates and ovens.
Functionality was a focus of the project, with a goal of making family life and entertaining easy. “They love to have guests over, and there’s always a lot going on,” Oestreich says. She chose cabinets from a kitchen company, but specified several custom-designed elements to maximize the space. “The company provided versions of some of their standard cabinetry in slightly different dimensions or with different internal layouts, because it was quite a challenge to fit in standard cabinetry with little wall space and the low ceiling,” she says. Oestreich designed the breakfast bar on the right side of the standard island, pictured, for instance.
The cabinet to the right of the range is a false front hiding the Aga controls. Its counterpart to the left is half depth to accommodate the stone wall but is useful for herbs and spices. The corner cabinet contains a wooden carousel that provides easy access, “so you don’t have to bend down and rummage in the dark corner,” Oestreich says.
She layered the lighting with the original ceiling spots (removed in these photos), pendant lights, wall sconces and lights behind the Aga mantel. “We wanted to create layers of light so the owners could change the atmosphere depending on the occasion,” she says. Clear glass shades mean they don’t dominate visually.
The tall cabinets seen here are another example of standard cabinets modified to fit the space. “The ceiling height meant we had to design shorter versions,” Oestreich says. The left side contains a pantry cupboard, and the right side conceals the refrigerator.
Except for the tall cabinets, Oestreich has left the upper walls clear apart from some open shelves. “Before, all the walls were busy. We wanted to create a bit more space so it wasn’t so top-heavy,” she says. In contrast, she’s made the most of every inch of the lower cabinets. There’s a slim pull-out between the corner cupboard and pantry, for example, and open slots flanking the drawers in the island for cutting boards and baking sheets.
The low ceiling and small window meant reduced natural light, so Oestreich chose a largely pale palette of white cabinets with a dark gray island, white quartz countertops and pale oatmeal walls.
Kitchen cabinets: Henley, Neptune; paint: Silver Birch (walls), Snow (cabinets), Charcoal (island), all Neptune
Except for the tall cabinets, Oestreich has left the upper walls clear apart from some open shelves. “Before, all the walls were busy. We wanted to create a bit more space so it wasn’t so top-heavy,” she says. In contrast, she’s made the most of every inch of the lower cabinets. There’s a slim pull-out between the corner cupboard and pantry, for example, and open slots flanking the drawers in the island for cutting boards and baking sheets.
The low ceiling and small window meant reduced natural light, so Oestreich chose a largely pale palette of white cabinets with a dark gray island, white quartz countertops and pale oatmeal walls.
Kitchen cabinets: Henley, Neptune; paint: Silver Birch (walls), Snow (cabinets), Charcoal (island), all Neptune
The kitchen also has an electric oven and slim induction cooktop, foreground, for times when the Aga isn’t running. “It’s for when the owners want to cook something quick just for the two of them and don’t want to make a big production of it,” Oestreich says.
The two cabinets beyond are a dishwasher and a pull-out trash can.
The farmhouse sink with a Quooker boiling water faucet, or instant hot water dispenser, is a nice illustration of traditional style combined with modern functionality. A custom corner cabinet with bifold door contains a water softener and the instant hot water equipment.
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The two cabinets beyond are a dishwasher and a pull-out trash can.
The farmhouse sink with a Quooker boiling water faucet, or instant hot water dispenser, is a nice illustration of traditional style combined with modern functionality. A custom corner cabinet with bifold door contains a water softener and the instant hot water equipment.
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Rather than the more traditional brass cup pulls, Oestreich chose ones in the same charcoal color as the island. “We kept the color palette restrained and neutral, using tonal variations and texture to give depth, because we wanted the architectural elements of the house to remain prominent,” she says. “The kitchen had to fit in with the space rather than be imposed upon it.”
The two drawers on this side of the island have drawers within them. The oak shelves in the sink area float on sturdy hardware. “We wanted to keep the area streamlined with no brackets so it doesn’t look busy,” Oestreich says. She chose a pale finish so they don’t fight with the original beams.
The short backsplash keeps the look simple, especially around the deep windowsill, and fits under the original wall outlets, which were refreshed with new covers.
The window features a cream linen Roman shade. “The owners don’t need to close it as the window opens onto the yard. It’s just to add nice texture that doesn’t shout,” Oestreich says.
The two drawers on this side of the island have drawers within them. The oak shelves in the sink area float on sturdy hardware. “We wanted to keep the area streamlined with no brackets so it doesn’t look busy,” Oestreich says. She chose a pale finish so they don’t fight with the original beams.
The short backsplash keeps the look simple, especially around the deep windowsill, and fits under the original wall outlets, which were refreshed with new covers.
The window features a cream linen Roman shade. “The owners don’t need to close it as the window opens onto the yard. It’s just to add nice texture that doesn’t shout,” Oestreich says.
The custom cabinet with an open base on the sink side of the island echoes the breakfast bar on the other end. “We wanted to create an open storage element so the island doesn’t look too heavy,” Oestreich says. The slot behind it contains a retractable towel rail and has room to store a cutting board.
The original oak flooring is full of character, and Oestreich worked to keep it. “It was worn and had dark patches in places, so we cleaned and gently refurbished it with a natural semi-matte finish,” she says.
The original oak flooring is full of character, and Oestreich worked to keep it. “It was worn and had dark patches in places, so we cleaned and gently refurbished it with a natural semi-matte finish,” she says.
The kitchen floor plan shows the cabinet layout and how the space connects to neighboring rooms.
Oestreich created the breakfast hutch from standard lower cabinets with a shorter custom cabinet on top. The bifold doors allow easy access to breakfast essentials, including the coffee machine.
She chose a dark quartz countertop to give it a separate identity. “We wanted it to feel part of the kitchen, but a furniture piece,” she says.
She chose a dark quartz countertop to give it a separate identity. “We wanted it to feel part of the kitchen, but a furniture piece,” she says.
Oestreich also chose the dark countertop used on the hutch for the existing cabinet in the breakfast room. The cabinets create a connection that helps the spaces flow together better.
The breakfast room cabinet was a mid-gray, so Oestreich painted it white to match the kitchen. “We just freshened it up with paint and new handles,” she says.
Patio doors open onto the yard. The window visible on the right of the cabinet is part of the original 18th-century farmhouse. As the house was expanded over the years, this became an interior window that now brings light into the sitting room beyond.
To the right of this window is the entrance to the laundry room.
To the right of this window is the entrance to the laundry room.
The style of the laundry room was similar to the kitchen’s, so Oestreich again installed white cabinets with a white quartz countertop.
The terra-cotta flooring is original. “We cleaned and resealed it,” she says. “We left the original beams as they hadn’t been blackened and were this lovely natural oak color.”
The dogs have their beds in here. A washing machine and dryer are integrated into the cabinets, and a pull-out rack helps with drying clothes.
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The terra-cotta flooring is original. “We cleaned and resealed it,” she says. “We left the original beams as they hadn’t been blackened and were this lovely natural oak color.”
The dogs have their beds in here. A washing machine and dryer are integrated into the cabinets, and a pull-out rack helps with drying clothes.
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Browse millions of photos for ideas
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Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with three adult children, who visit often, and two dogs
Location: The Cotswolds, Wiltshire, England
Size: Kitchen: About 295 square feet (about 27 square meters); breakfast room: 280 square feet (26 square meters)
Designer: Mandy Oestreich of Marloe Interiors
The kitchen had lots of architectural character, including oak beams and flooring, and exposed honey-colored Cotswold stone, but it was visually busy. “There were several elements competing for attention — mid-gray cabinetry, black [countertops], open shelving, glass display cabinets, a freestanding [refrigerator] — so there was a lot going on,” Oestreich says.
The owners wanted the new design to complement the character of the house but in a calmer, better-functioning way. “They didn’t want it to be highly contemporary, so the aim was to create something that felt sophisticated but lived-in, as if it had always been there, even though we brought it gently back to modern life,” Oestreich says.
They also wanted the adjoining breakfast room — a relaxed eating space separate from the more formal dining room, not pictured — to feel better connected to the kitchen, and for the laundry room to be refreshed.
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