The Heart of the House
The Kitchen: or should I say the Living Room. The remit I constantly hear from clients is the new house must have a large living space – kitchen, dining, sitting areas that ideally open out to a large west facing terrace for summer evening suppers. A place for family to congregate, for entertaining (the Dining Room has long since been confined to a cinema room) and where memories are made. Expansive granite work tops, seamless fitted units with ingenious storage, fridges that serve ice (and the gin to go with it!), induction/ceramic hobs or maybe an Aga. The living area must have a wood burner, either real or gas fired and currently the fashion is tall cylindrical ones stately presiding over the proceedings from a corner or double sided centrally within the room.
Kitchens: They cost more than a house did not so many years ago -they are replaced as fashion changes and along with bathrooms define the style and image of houses today. But kitchens are where families grow up -teenagers have a habit of hiding in bedrooms but will emerge for regular feeding – and who knows of a party that doesn’t eventually end up in the kitchen?
Farmhouse kitchens evoke a particular romantic image and have always been the centre of farming life -those that try emulating this often miss the key component -a home that is a working, family environment twenty four hours a day. A different angle to the inside /outside living of urban lifestyles - green wellies are allowed in for one thing!
So where are the best kitchens to be bought today?
The Farmhouse, Broad Downs near Malborough in The South Hams and offered by Savills (01548 800462) is a late Victorian farmhouse that has been sympathetically renovated to embrace modern living. The new green oak Drawing Room opens to the Dining Room and kitchen, which can be separated creating open family living or, when required, more formal areas. All open with bi fold doors to the gardens creating the indoor/outdoor living perfect for the South Devon balmy climate. With Salcombe just down the road countryside and sea are literally on the doorstep. The converted piggery provides excellent holiday income of traditional accommodation.
Another but different example in Mid Devon is East Coombe Head Farm in Yeoford, offered by Jackson Stops (01392 214222). A thatched farmhouse with a wealth of character approached via a long drive and sitting in 83 acres, bisected by the River Troney. The indoor swimming pool balances the closeness of the sea at the Broad Downs Farmhouse. The kitchen is a large, traditional family space with Aga, dining and sitting area. A wonderful Christmas room!
The way we expect our houses in the 21st century reflects the lifestyle trends where social gatherings are informal and indoor/outdoor living helps us embrace what appears to be a warmer climate. Let’s hope the summer of 2019 will be as good as that of 2018! And where better to be in such lovely weather than at home: “it’s all about coming home”.