Inside the walls of a pink 20th Century Maison, Oxford the family dog nuzzles up to the in search of warmth. ‘It was my non-negotiable when moving out of our Paris apartment, I longed for a traditional Aga and an English kitchen to complement it,â€� Maï, of online store , explains. And what started as reclaiming a childhood memory of cooking with her mother around the Aga, evolved to creating a kitchen that exudes English charm within the surrounding French countryside.Ìý

When Maï and her husband Henri moved into their home in 2018 they were already a family of five, and a little later Basile joined, bringing the household to an energetic four boys, plus Oxford. ‘I always wanted a kitchen where I could watch over the boys and for it to be the heart of our home, and this is it,â€� says Maï. Before moving in the couple revised the floor plan to make use of the larger dining room at the back of the house, removing a fireplace and replacing with a window out to the garden â€� where Maï could watch the boys play â€� and opening up a large kitchen-dining space, which leads to a functional boot room. Opting not to add a kitchen island and instead have one wall of fitted worksurfaces and a double-door Suffolk larder to the side, the new kitchen footprint provided plenty of room for the boys to run around, too. ‘They sometimes play football in here which drives me mad but I do love having the large open space,â€� Maï chuckles.ÌýÌý

It was decided early on that the interior would reflect a traditional English kitchen, and working with Pierre, owner and designer of the Paris store, helped Maï bring her vision to life. â€�I’d originally seen a Neptune kitchen in my cousinâ€�s home in London many years ago and I loved the charm and character. To discover that Paris had a store and I could see the collections for myself, it made the process so easy.â€� Maï was instantly drawn to the classic design of Suffolk, ‘I liked the solid oak drawers which for me are much more functional than cabinets as I can easily see everything, and the simple decorative cornicing which felt like a classic style that can cross the ages. Something I noticed is that the British really consider functionality and storage, and it was obvious to me that Neptune was doing this best in their designs.â€� And because the Pearl AgaÌýwas already decided on, Pierre suggested a customised cooker hood to match the Suffolk cabinetry details, tying the whole room together.Ìý

Looking to keep the space feeling warm and making use of the original wooden floors, Maï introduced colour to the drawers and cabinets. ‘All the walls are white but I wanted a kitchen with character, so together Pierre helped us choose the dark Navy as I found it very warm and it complemented the Aga. I then added green through striped cushions on the bench and curtains,â€� says Maï. Character was also considered through the fitted bench seating and antique table and chairs that Maï has collected as part of her passion curating unique finds for her online store, Cherished Corner, and to display lovingly throughout the home.ÌýÌý

Today the family kitchen is a hub of activity, but still Maï finds time to reclaim the space, ‘this is the place where I like to wake up, have my first cup of tea and check my emails or read a magazine.â€� One of the hero pieces in the kitchen, other than the Aga, was the Suffolk double door larder. â€�±õ³Ù’s like a pantry! ±õ³Ù’s nice to have space to put everything inside hidden away; food, toaster, microwave, everything. There are many drawers and door racks, ¾±³Ù’s just a brilliant piece of storage,â€� exclaims Maï. A tidy kitchen is what Maï covets but she admits she loves it most when ¾±³Ù’s filled with her family, cooking a meal while the boys huddle together to do their homework, or sharing dinner with friends who visit and remark on her enviable â€�British styleâ€�.ÌýÌý

â€�I often think that the house is a mirror to a person. It's a reflection of what you are, and this kitchen is it for me,â€� Maï muses. The contrast of calm and cosy, with the comforting noise and chaos of family life, ¾±³Ù’s a kitchen ³Ù³ó²¹³Ù’s truly lived in.Ìý

To begin your kitchen journey, book your free consultation today or visit your nearest store.Ìý

Home profile

Situated just outside the picturesque village of Kersey in Suffolk, Sampsons Hall, a listed Georgian red-brick house, is home to Amanda, husband Andrew, their three grown-up children, Jamie, Alexander and Emilia, Isla the dog, two farmhouse cats, chickens, runner ducks, and a small herd of Portland sheep. Thought to have once formed the middle section of a larger manor house lost to a fire, Sampsons Hall is where the family put down roots in 2008. A 1980s kitchen extension had been added on to the property in the years before, but after a burst pipe under the kitchen sink flooded the area while the family were on holiday, works ensued to knock the extension to the ground and rebuild a new multifunctional space in its place.

The project

Structural works were already underway when Amanda first met home designer Gail at Neptune Bury St Edmunds. ‘It wasn’t my intention to go in and ask for help with the new space � I was actually looking for a new bed for my daughter’s room! But we were in the design library considering fabrics when we were introduced to Gail. From our description, she drew my daughter’s bedroom on paper, completely grasping the sense of the space. I was so impressed. We started talking about the plans for the garden room and one thing led to another,� explains Amanda, with a smile.

Armed with a clear idea of what she wanted for the soon-to-be garden room � a south-east facing space with extensive views across the landscaped garden � for Amanda, the Home Design Service was less about handing over the reins, and more about collaboration and reassurance. ‘It was truly great having someone to share ideas with and confirm that what you’re wanting to do will work. Gail gave me the confidence to put my vision into practice. I’d already earmarked the Arundel table and Lottie sofas for the space, for example, but she drew them into the floorplan so I could better visualise the reality. This was at a time when we still had no walls to speak of!�

Comfort and versatility were high on the couple’s agenda for the room. A space that would be used informally by the family and for entertaining alike, the furniture needed to suit both functions. ‘Lottie is such a comfortable sofa design and had been on my radar for some time. Similarly, we opted for the Shoreditch upholstered dining chairs because I wanted a style that encouraged guests to really relax and linger. The Arundel bench, meanwhile, we chose for its ability to accommodate a few more at the table � and our Milo stools can be used as two extra perches come Christmastime.�

When it came to the colour palette, along with honeyed natural limestone flooring, Amanda had already chosen a deep blue-green called ‘Yard Arm� from Humphrey Munson for the walls (our dark grey Smoke, with its undertones of blue and green, would be similar). The intention was to balance the intensity of the light that blankets the room: ‘I was worried a lighter shade might actually be too bright,� she explains. ‘Along with all the glass in the doors, we also have a roof with an apex at one end.� The colour also created a link with the garden, a connection that Amanda says was paramount to the project: ‘In past homes, I’ve always had such a yearning to be outside, but now, I’m just as happy to be inside, as it still feels so connected to the garden beyond the doors. It was crucial that we establish the flow between indoors and out � in the design, but also in the decor.�

Though technical challenges were few and far between, the layout for the generously sized space demanded careful consideration. ‘When you’re dealing with a large area, it can be hard to know how to approach it,â€� says Amanda. ‘±õ³Ù’s also very interesting to see how much the space does “come inâ€� once you start to bring in furniture. With the help of Gail’s meticulous drawings and plans, we certainly didn’t struggle to fill it, which was a worry initially. And it still manages to feel cosy and intimate.â€�

Life in their new garden room

‘If I were to liken it to the dress code for a party, it would be “smart casualâ€�. ±õ³Ù’s a very versatile space ³Ù³ó²¹³Ù’s relaxed but beautiful at the same time.â€�

Ìý

‘The connection with the garden. In the summer you can throw open the doors and really embrace the flow between indoors and out. And on a cold winter’s day, you get to keep the views, but also benefit from the warmth of the log burner.�

Ìý

‘When we bought the property, we did an awful lot of work outside, planting some nine hundred yew trees, creating a kitchen garden with raised beds, and building a greenhouse, which I adore. But we haven’t tackled the outdoor terrace project yet â€� ³Ù³ó²¹³Ù’s imminent! Once ¾±³Ù’s complete, we’ll have a more practical outside space for entertaining, right outside the garden room. We’re also building a swimming pool. That will complete the works, much to Andrew’s relief!â€� Ìý

Ìý

Whether you want us to take the reigns of your decorating project or, like Amanda and Andrew, you already have a vision in mind you’d just like an expert’s reassurance on, our Home Design Service is here to help. Find out more and book your first free consultation here.Ìý