Bespoke Handmade Kitchen for a 500-Year-Old Cottage - Chiddingfold

There's something incredibly special about working on a home that's been standing for over 500 years. North Pound Cottage, tucked away in Chiddingfold, is full of original character, and Melissa and Paul wanted a kitchen that was in keeping with the period property while working effortlessly for modern family life.

Rather than relocating the kitchen, the project focused on improving the flow of the house. By enclosing what had previously been an open courtyard, a new link room now connects the kitchen and family room, creating space for a generous utility and boot room while bringing the whole ground floor together.

Hand-painted in Farrow & Ball Drop Cloth, with wall cabinets in Au Lait, the kitchen has a soft, understated palette that sits comfortably within the cottage. Rich black slate worktops add contrast around the perimeter, while natural oak introduces warmth and texture throughout.

At the centre of the room sits a bespoke island topped with a beautiful piece of reclaimed live-edge oak. Rather than forcing the timber into straight lines, we curved the end panel of the island to follow its natural shape, creating a beautiful feature of the oak and one that's completely unique to this kitchen.

Oak runs throughout the project, helping to tie each space together. From the reclaimed live-edge island worktop and the handcrafted mantel above the AGA to the bespoke wine racking in the utility room and the solid oak dovetail drawer boxes, it's a material that brings warmth, character and continuity to the design.

Every piece of cabinetry was handcrafted with longevity in mind. Bespoke in-frame furniture, a new Victorian-inspired moulding developed specifically for this project, delicate beaded detailing to the drawer fronts, fluted glass wall cabinets and solid brass Armac Martin handles all come together to create furniture that feels entirely at home within the cottage.

Practicality and storage was just as important as aesthetics. A generous walk-in pantry keeps everyday essentials tucked away, while a tall glazed display cabinet with reeded glass provides the perfect place for glassware and decorative pieces.

The adjoining utility room has its own identity, with cabinetry painted in Farrow & Ball Treron and a traditional fluted-front Thomas Crapper Belfast sink creating a practical space that's every bit as considered as the kitchen itself. Twin wine coolers sit either side of the fridge, framed by bespoke oak wine racking above, creating one of the most distinctive features in the utility room.

The finished kitchen is a wonderful example of what can be achieved when every detail is designed specifically for the home it belongs in. Thoughtful design, exceptional craftsmanship and carefully chosen materials have created a kitchen that feels completely at home in North Pound Cottage and one that Melissa and Paul's family will enjoy for many years to come.

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Planning a Handmade Kitchen?

Whether you're renovating a listed cottage, extending a country home or creating a bespoke kitchen for a contemporary property, every Charter Walk kitchen is individually designed around the way you live and handcrafted in our Headley workshop.

If you're planning a bespoke kitchen in Chiddingfold, Haslemere, Godalming, Cranleigh, Petworth, Midhurst, Guildford, Farnham, Liphook, Surrey, West Sussex or Hampshire, we'd love to help bring your ideas to life.