HAWKHURST – EDWARDIAN COUNTRY HOUSE
Our London based clients invited us to totally transform their newly acquired, substantial country house, which had remained untouched for over 3 decades. Our vision was to thoughtfully and carefully renovate the entire building repairing and reinstating original features whilst thoroughly modernising from top to bottom to create a versatile family home.
Behind the backdrop of the elegant transformation are thoroughly considered sustainable energy solutions and the hardest working flow to suit the rhythm of the family. Our meticulous spatial planning ensured the house suited both daily life and high days + holidays. From wonderfully discreet working from home spaces and nooks for blissful uninterrupted relaxation to flexible areas for hosting weekend guests and gatherings.
This ambitious project included transforming the former dairy into a kitchen. It had previously been brimming over with all manner of furniture to meet many needs, but had one jaw dropping feature - stunning, original Delft Tiles - which came with a promise to the former owners that they would be kept. Our incredibly talented team transformed the space, renovated the tiles and designed a kitchen which now provides an enormous, beautiful prep space for many hands. It’s aesthetically so pleasing and socially a joy to cook and entertain in.
We carefully orchestrated an ambitious lighting scheme with layers of illumination for ambiance and practicality whatever the mood. The 4.5m high vaulted ceiling was a gift when it came to choosing a impactful pendant light and we deployed LED strips behind the small cornice at the foot of the vaulted space, throwing light upwards to involve that huge ceiling height in the activity below.
The rhythm is set across the house with tonal and harmonious colours, textures and materials - exact shades have been chosen depending on light levels and the orientation of the room.
Here in the bathroom porcelain floor tiles marry with micro-cement walls - it’s a beautiful waterproof material that leads from one area to the next without interruption.
Thoughtful, functional design unlocks every space for modern family life
bathroom with a neat foot print deftly includes a big bath, over size shower and double basins, the feel is generous and spacious
the utility room houses a laundry shoot direct from an upstairs bedroom into a basket below, making laundry for a family of five that bit easier
the boot room has plenty of storage spaces at different heights, helping to manage the wonderful chaos that generally accompanies small children and busy lives
The drawing room, previously a little dark, and a bit of a corridor linking two parts of an L-shaped property, has been re-zoned to create a comfortable family space with room for everyone on match day or film night! We brought a lot of extra light into this room with the addition of a glazed extension. On sunny days this can be fully opened for access into the garden. On rainy days, it’s a lovely place to sit and contemplate the view.
In the bedrooms the wallpapers were deliberately chosen for their link to the stunning gardens that surround the property. We added a fabulous glass balcony onto the main bedroom to capitalise on the view – you can see it from the garden in the exterior view.
Throughout these rooms, into the hallway and landings and onwards through the main drawing room we have stuck to a carefully considered colour palette which makes the house flow, bringing with it a sense of calm in an otherwise busy household.
Deji and Sian say
“Kate Malone has been a central and essential part of our entire project. With her help we have achieved a truly stunning property that, quite simply, wouldn’t have been possible without her. From a refined and stylish eye for design to elite level efficiency and organisation in planning and project management, everything was first class. The number of occasions Kate saved us time, unecessary stress and cost through her thoughtful and proactive approach were countless. Above all else, she is a wonderful person and a pleasure to work with, the whole process has been a lot of fun, we will miss speaking to Kate regularly!”