Georgina

Tour this classy farmhouse kitchen with a contemporary twist

Posted on 20th November 2025

Do you like an eclectic look? Then you will love this bespoke kitchen that has a mix of farmhouse, traditional, and contemporary features…

When Alex and Tammy moved into their Edwardian home in Ealing three years ago, the property needed a full renovation. Especially the kitchen: a tiny, boxy space that hadn’t been updated in over 40 years.

“It had a dreary, outdated feel with slab-style, stainless-steel units and a strong 1960s-70s vibe,” explains Richard Woodhouse, managing director of Corby Croft Interiors. “The layout was cramped, there was very little natural light, and, overall, it just wasn’t a pleasant or practical space to cook or spend time in.”

A large open-plan kitchen with an eclectic feel, a central wood island, checkerboard flooring, and contemporary features. — As part of the overall renovation, the kitchen has been completely transformed. It’s now part of a bright, open-plan area that combines cooking, dining, and living, all in one cohesive space. The cabinetry is Corby Croft’s Signature range and Merchant range. Photography: Daniel Wright.

The renovation

To combat this, work began on a major, eight-metre rear extension which has transformed the property into a modern, functional home. They extended by eight metres to create a large, open-plan space combining the kitchen, dining, and living areas – complete with a bar and lounge section.

A sink zone with a fluted double butler bowl, green cabinetry, veiny marble, brass accents and a wall-mounter wood dresser with fluted glass. — A beautiful combination of textures and materials is seen in this farmhouse kitchen; from the Arabescato marble splashback and worktop to the Shaws Ribchester sink and the Quooker Nordic and Perrin & Rowe taps.

When it came to the kitchen design itself, Alex and Tammy discovered Corby Croft Interiors through a social media post featuring one of their recent projects that they particularly resonated with.

“The brief for the new space was to create something truly special,” explains Richard. “A light-filled, open-plan area that would feel welcoming, sociable, and ideal for family life. They were looking for a space that could bring people together, with a strong emphasis on flow and connection between the kitchen, dining, and living zones.”

A farmhouse kitchen with olive green cabinets, built-in appliances, marble surfaces, checkerboard flooring and a central wood island with fluted glass cabinets. — Alex and Tammy wanted a light-filled, open-plan design, ideal for family life.

A breakfast dresser with fluted glass, marble, and brass hardware. — The breakfast larder, painted in Benjamin Moore’s Night Owl CC-662, is a great example of how storage can be beautiful.

The kitchen design process

They began with a ‘design-first’ process, taking the time to deeply understand their vision and aspirations. “The whole journey took around two years, partly because of issues with planning permissions. There were a few challenges along the way, but we were able to provide clear direction and visual clarity early on.”

Originally, the plan featured a large La Cornue-style cooker as the centrepiece. However, this evolved into a more modern and flexible approach, replacing the traditional range with downdraft hobs integrated into the island, including a combination of teppanyaki, induction, and gas.

Closeup at the kitchen island with a downdraft extractor hob and personalised drawers. — A bespoke cutlery drawer sits beneath the induction and downdraft hob.

Closeup at the kitchen island with a downdraft extractor hob and deep pan drawers. — Deep pan drawers sit close to the gas hob for easy access.

“This made the cooking area part of the social space, encouraging connection and conversation while creating meals.” Wall-mounted single Miele ovens were then added to complete a sleek, high-spec finish, balancing performance with a minimalist design.

Reflecting on the project now it’s finished, Richard finalises, “We love that this kitchen is full of thoughtful contrasts. We wanted it to feel as though it was always there; it combines the traditional cabinetry with sleek modern appliances, pattern, texture, and warmth. It just feels like somewhere you want to be, somewhere you want to stay.”