Kitchen in a Barn Conversion Gets a Scandinavian-Style Makeover
After switching places with the dining room, a dark and cluttered kitchen becomes a light and open space
Since this converted barn in the English county of Wiltshire has exposed wooden beams, the owners might have been tempted to choose a country-style kitchen that echoed the period and architecture of the building. Instead, the couple wanted to harness their love of contemporary design and all things Scandinavian. And thanks to the expertise of custom kitchen company Stephen Graver, it’s a design juxtaposition that works.
The owners upgraded the varnished pine cabinets and terra-cotta floor tile for a modern Scandinavian look.
The kitchen is completely custom and handmade using marine-grade birch plywood boxes and Formica veneer in a color called Lead for the doors. It has an almost modular concept composed of a central island, a sink and washing-up station, and a bank of floor-to-ceiling cabinets.
“The tall units include a cupboard with pocket doors to house the toaster, tea and coffee, and some crockery,” West says. “The owners wanted a space that could be used to hide certain appliances and retain that feeling of an uncluttered kitchen.”
The kitchen is completely custom and handmade using marine-grade birch plywood boxes and Formica veneer in a color called Lead for the doors. It has an almost modular concept composed of a central island, a sink and washing-up station, and a bank of floor-to-ceiling cabinets.
“The tall units include a cupboard with pocket doors to house the toaster, tea and coffee, and some crockery,” West says. “The owners wanted a space that could be used to hide certain appliances and retain that feeling of an uncluttered kitchen.”
The bank of cabinets also neatly houses the ovens, wide drawers, an integrated fridge-freezer, a wine rack and the water heater.
“When it came to the flue for the boiler, it had to extract out of the top of the cupboard due to building regulations. So we had to bear this in mind, in the design, to minimize the visual impact,” West says.
The vaulted ceiling with original trusses is an impressive feature and creates an eye-catching context for the pared-back kitchen. The flooring is tumbled Varese limestone.
Ovens: Siemens
“When it came to the flue for the boiler, it had to extract out of the top of the cupboard due to building regulations. So we had to bear this in mind, in the design, to minimize the visual impact,” West says.
The vaulted ceiling with original trusses is an impressive feature and creates an eye-catching context for the pared-back kitchen. The flooring is tumbled Varese limestone.
Ovens: Siemens
Practical and saturated in color, the Formica cabinet fronts are framed by solid wood, emphasizing the almost “freestanding, furniture-like” concept of the design, West says.
The wall between the two original rooms was removed to create an L-shaped space that’s full of light.
The island is the focal point of the kitchen. It includes an induction cooktop and a downdraft vent, storage cabinets and drawers, and a breakfast bar for casual meals on the dining-social side of the room.
Wall and ceiling paint: Wevet, Farrow & Ball
The island is the focal point of the kitchen. It includes an induction cooktop and a downdraft vent, storage cabinets and drawers, and a breakfast bar for casual meals on the dining-social side of the room.
Wall and ceiling paint: Wevet, Farrow & Ball
The downdraft vent retracts from view when not needed. It’s the ideal type of ventilation in a kitchen with these sorts of architectural challenges.
“The worktop is a Colonial White granite. The owners were keen to include a natural igneous rock in the design and fell in love with this,” West says.
Downdraft vent: Caple; induction cooktop: Siemens; granite: Bristol Marble & Granite
What to Consider When Adding a Range Hood
“The worktop is a Colonial White granite. The owners were keen to include a natural igneous rock in the design and fell in love with this,” West says.
Downdraft vent: Caple; induction cooktop: Siemens; granite: Bristol Marble & Granite
What to Consider When Adding a Range Hood
A custom walnut cutlery tray slides out from the island.
An exposed stone backdrop nods to the barn’s history and creates a pleasing juxtaposition between the original raw materials and the slick modern kitchen.
A simple granite backsplash protects the wall without detracting from the stone.
A simple granite backsplash protects the wall without detracting from the stone.
The kitchen transitions to the dining area, with the same tumbled limestone flooring underfoot and pendant lights by the same designer.
A classic midcentury modern dining table and chairs accentuate the owners’ love of modern Scandinavian design.
Dining furniture: CH327 (table) and CH23 (chairs): Carl Hansen & Son; pendant lights: Opala collection, Pandul
A classic midcentury modern dining table and chairs accentuate the owners’ love of modern Scandinavian design.
Dining furniture: CH327 (table) and CH23 (chairs): Carl Hansen & Son; pendant lights: Opala collection, Pandul
The kitchen company also designed and made the dining room’s shelves and low sideboard.
“The owners wanted somewhere to house their collectibles while keeping the linear look of the room,” West says. “These are suspended Scandinavian-style cupboards with a solid oak top, hanging below simple floating shelves.”
“The owners wanted somewhere to house their collectibles while keeping the linear look of the room,” West says. “These are suspended Scandinavian-style cupboards with a solid oak top, hanging below simple floating shelves.”
Unadorned white walls boost the light pouring into the dining space. An armchair at the far end makes a good spot to enjoy a cup of tea and the views through the glass door.
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See How People in 13 Countries Interpret Scandinavian Style
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Browse midcentury modern chairs
More
See How People in 13 Countries Interpret Scandinavian Style
Read other stories about barn homes
Find a kitchen designer on Houzz
Who lives here: A retired couple
Location: Wiltshire region of England
Size: 484 square feet (45 square meters)
Designer: Jonathan West, design and project manager at Stephen Graver
The dark and cluttered kitchen the owners had inherited needed a total overhaul. Once kitchen specialist Jonathan West took a close look at how the couple lived, it was clear that there were significant areas of the three-bedroom, three-bath house that weren’t being optimized.
“We therefore suggested relocating the kitchen and linking the cooking and dining spaces by removing an internal wall,” West says.
The kitchen now sits within the heart of the house. The designers effectively did a swap — the kitchen became the dining room, while the large unused dining space became the central cook space. “The owners wanted the kitchen to become the hub of their new layout,” West adds.