An Open-Plan Kitchen in a Converted Scottish Barn
Modern appliances and a rustic backdrop come together in this farmhouse kitchen for a chef and his family
Designing a kitchen for a professional chef perhaps presents a more daunting task than usual, particularly when the space is an ancient Scottish barn that needs to be gutted and rebuilt almost from scratch. “The owners were renovating the old barn and incorporating it into the farmhouse to give them a bigger and more functional kitchen,” says Paul O’Brien, who had previously worked with the chef on demonstration and professional kitchens. The finished space incorporates the features required for a modern-day chef while retaining a rustic ambiance.
Julian Hopper of Moho Building & Design worked on the conversion. He and O’Brien ensured that the kitchen blueprint worked with the barn’s original features, carefully combining the old oak beams with new rolled-steel joists and other modern structural requirements. The result is a blend of old and new, with a natural oak floor running throughout for a cohesive feel.
“The owners very much wanted to retain the character of the barn and, as there isn’t a straight line in the kitchen, they couldn’t choose a straight-lined, off-the-shelf kitchen,” O’Brien says. Instead, they opted for a custom design from Callerton.
The cabinets at the mezzanine level (a small TV area), also shown in the first photo, are accessible only from the mezzanine and provide extra storage in the kitchen-cum-living space.
Range and hood: Falcon
“The owners very much wanted to retain the character of the barn and, as there isn’t a straight line in the kitchen, they couldn’t choose a straight-lined, off-the-shelf kitchen,” O’Brien says. Instead, they opted for a custom design from Callerton.
The cabinets at the mezzanine level (a small TV area), also shown in the first photo, are accessible only from the mezzanine and provide extra storage in the kitchen-cum-living space.
Range and hood: Falcon
Central to this kitchen is a black enameled workhorse of a range with an induction cooktop — one of the many chef-oriented requests that came from the owners. “The Falcon range is very functional, and induction is the only type of [cooktop] the owner would choose!” O’Brien says.
O’Brien quickly realized that using a deep gray for all the cabinets would make the kitchen too dark, so the owners agreed to champagne-colored units on the opposite side of the room to brighten and balance the design.
A midheight wood-burning stove is an unusual design decision, but it fits perfectly in the original stone fireplace and allows the glow of the flames to be viewed from every spot in the kitchen.
A midheight wood-burning stove is an unusual design decision, but it fits perfectly in the original stone fireplace and allows the glow of the flames to be viewed from every spot in the kitchen.
As this is a chef’s cook space and a family kitchen, the owners were keen to have a butcher block cart rather than an island, since it’s much more versatile and can be moved around when cooking.
Find butcher block carts for your kitchen
Find butcher block carts for your kitchen
Beveled subway tiles in a glossy cream color straddle contemporary and rustic styles, which is just what was needed for this modern barn conversion.
The chef in the house originally requested stainless steel counters, but the material didn’t marry well with the rustic feel of the kitchen. Instead, O’Brien persuaded him to go with Dekton, a practical composite material. Stainless steel forms for the range’s backsplash.
Having two sinks (one on each side of the kitchen) was also a must for the chef. “He wanted one for food preparation and one for washing,” O’Brien says. A tall swan-neck faucet makes it easy to fill big pots, and a Quooker hot water dispenser eliminates the need for a kettle.
Andano stainless steel undermount sink: Blanco; browse similar kitchen sinks
The Case for 2 Kitchen Sinks
Andano stainless steel undermount sink: Blanco; browse similar kitchen sinks
The Case for 2 Kitchen Sinks
The old barn links to the main house through the entrance pictured here. The cabinetry’s sympathetic design and the main appliances’ location create a kitchen that looks as if it were meant to be here.
“With its old shell, there has been lots of upcycling and recycling to get the look,” O’Brien says. “The door up high came from one of the farm’s haylofts.”
“With its old shell, there has been lots of upcycling and recycling to get the look,” O’Brien says. “The door up high came from one of the farm’s haylofts.”
Another recycled door, this time from the original barn, creates a characterful storage cupboard. Cubbyholes are piled high with logs to fuel the wood-burning stove that helps heat the kitchen.
Original beams were incorporated into the renovated barn. This part of the kitchen leads to a corridor that connects to a utility room, accessed through the glass door at the far end.
The corridor off the kitchen is fitted with more custom Callerton cabinetry. “Each member of the family has a cupboard for their things, and opposite is a study area,” O’Brien says.
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Drool-Worthy Design Features to Borrow From Restaurant Kitchens
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Drool-Worthy Design Features to Borrow From Restaurant Kitchens
Read other stories about barn homes
Who lives here: A professional chef, his wife and their two children
Location: Stirlingshire, Scotland
Size: About 350 square feet (32.5 square meters)
Designer: Paul O’Brien of Kitchens International
When the owners of this four-bedroom, two-bath farmhouse decided that they needed a bigger kitchen, the obvious solution was to convert the adjoining byre, or cow barn. The kitchen needed to meet the demands of a professional chef and be a comfortable space for the whole family to congregate. “The owners wanted to be able to cook while the children do homework,” O’Brien says, “and they also wanted to be able to socialize around the farmhouse table.”
First, they had to tackle the barn conversion. Skylights plus floor-to-ceiling doors on both sides of the new kitchen were installed to maximize views and allow natural light to pour in.