The Heart of the House

This Summer Special edition of Devon Life is all about food -  the kitchen is  the heart of the house where families gather and every party congregates! Almost without exception my clients give me a remit that starts: we want a large, bright kitchen/living space -a space where family life is centred- kitchen, dining  and sitting areas -sofas with views of the sea or countryside through bi-folding doors that extend the space into a large terrace – oh!  and a woodburner for those cold winter nights! Whilst many favour an Aga, high end designer kitchens are the current trend with large island spaces and acres of granite. The function is creating a manageable living space compatible with 21st century busy lives.  Life goes full circle -pre 16th century houses often only had the one multi functional room and even the grand houses had a massive servants hall that doubled as their living space extending from the kitchens.  Today, life focusses on simplicity, ease of maintenance giving time for social pleasures beyond the home. 

High House in Salcombe ticks all the boxes -the kitchen/living space is 46 feet long with full width bi-folding doors on to a terrace looking across the town and river -the perfect view!  Knight Frank (01392 423111). Edgerley House at Lapford is the country version-a stone farmhouse with 12 acres and bespoke family kitchen with log burner and hand built units -contemporary embracing traditional. Strutt and Parker  (01392 215631)

Town houses and apartments have equivalent spaces on a smaller scale, so whether accommodating a large family, a single person or couple the remit is the same.  It’s all about open spaces.  Wilkinson Grant (01392 427500) are offering a stunning new build in Victoria Park Road, the sought after St. Leonard’s area of the city.  This contemporary house has a Baulthrap kitchen, and reception space leading out to a south facing terrace and garden.

 All this talk of kitchens let’s not forget their principle purpose -cooking --food is the mainstay of life – so here is a favourite recipe from our own kitchen:

The ultimate versatile chocolate cake, can be made in a designer kitchen or a yacht galley by a professional or uninitiated cook – will convert to tray bake, roulade, exotic or plain- you choose- a simple recipe that’s always a winner!

Ingredients: 7oz pain flour. 1 teaspoon baking powder. I teaspoon bicarbonate of soda. 2 tablespoons cocoa 5 oz soft brown sugar. 2 eggs 2 tablespoons Golden Syrup. ¼ pint milk, ¼ pint sunflower oil.

Method:1. Sieve Flour, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda and cocoa together. 2. Rub/thoroughly mix sugar into ingredients.. 3 lightly beat eggs and add to mix. 4. Add syrup. 5 start mixing and slowly add milk and oil. 6 transfer to 7inch lined cake tin. 7. Bake at 160-170 c for approx. 50 minutes.  Do not open oven door before 45 minutes to avoid the mix dipping.

Whilst an Englishman’s home may be his castle the heart of the house is the kitchen-“ It’s all about coming home”.

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