creating a family space suited for cosy living and entertaining

all time
Left gray toned hand-painted woodworking was chosen for its unaltered vogue

look down
Right Neutral rock flooring seamlessly links the various zones within the new house

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Middle left Attention to detail is obvious throughout the new room. Sleek pull-out units provide an area for everything

chic surface
Bottom left Clad in Silestone Quartz granite, the worktop not solely appearance fashionable, however is additionally a dream to stay cleane

We do love a challenge,’ smiles Julia Reeves once recalling the primary time she and her husband Mark viewed their Grade II listed barn in very little Baddow, Essex. ‘The property required an entire renovation, however we have a tendency to may see it had huge potential.

’The couple’s vision was for a classy, unrestricted living/kitchen/dining area, and with 3 kids at the time – Dylan, Klara and Sky – it had been imperative that it worked with busy family life. ‘The room needs to be the guts of the house nevertheless still have that ‘wow’ issue,’ explains Julia. ‘We’re massive fans of amusing and most family occasions are command here – typically we are able to have over twenty five folks, therefore a industrious area was a must!’ it had been not by accident that they discovered bespoken room company, Tom Howley. ‘I’d often walked past the Brentwood panopticon window for a couple of years dreaming that in the future we'd have this terribly room,’ Julia smiles. The couple met with Tamsin Reed, designer at Tom Howley, to begin to formulate a style. Julia was enamoured with the stylish gray toned woodworking of the Hartford Shaker-style, handpainted kitchen– a contemporary look, nevertheless with a classic twist that superbly enhances the barn’s history. The central island would be painted blue to create it stand out for all the proper reasons.

Building work required to be done 1st – the previous floor downstairs was ripped up and designing permission was requested to knock through a six-foot gap into the formal lounge, making one larger house. because the barn options ancient etchings, the couple couldn't have units situated on thereforeme walls unless they were protected so a stud wall had to be erected, then it had been time for the room work to start. ‘Tamsin and therefore the team were simply fantastic,’ says Julia. ‘It’s not the most important room and making an attempt to urge appliances in bound positions wasn’t straightforward, however nothing was an excessive amount of bother for them.’

The family will currently fancy 2 living areas and having the area opposite the room makes it straightforward to speak to guests whereas preparation and clearing away. ‘The central island unit is fantastic as I will be preparation whereas the kids paint or do their schoolwork there and Mark often works there too. It simply works therefore well,’ smiles Julia. Would the couple have done something otherwise on the way? ‘We weren’t designing on additional kids, therefore once our baby girl Asian nation joined us we have a tendency to were a bar stool short and perhaps we'd have accessorial another foot to the island to permit the six people to eat,’ laughs Julia. ‘It gave Maine the right excuse to shop for a pretty table instead, therefore I even have no regrets.