Home Tour : Arts and Crafts Cheshire Kitchen

The concept for this entirely bespoke space needed to bring an equilibrium to the impressive
new-build architecture and homely family life. For all our projects, we reference the
contextual setting and how the client will enjoy the space, ensuring that a room is original,
has a deep sense of belonging to the building’s fabric and of course functional – tailored
exactly to our clients’ needs.

Inspired by Charles Rennie Mackintosh, the large-scale castle-like home is complete with a
corner turret, steep eaves and parapet gables – so we wanted to bridge the gap between the
building’s grand, stylised presence and the clients’ warm, grounded lifestyle. To do that, we
drew on the charm of the Arts & Crafts era infusing it with more refined, streamlined Art
Deco principles to match the home’s remarkable stature.

The brief invited comfort and practicality with the space flowing directly to the extensive
grounds and kitchen garden beyond with fresh produce coming straight in for prepping and
cooking. That sense of connection to nature and down-to-earth family living shaped the brief
in a profound way.

As well as the overall concept, design and make, our in-house interior designers were also
fully engaged on the project. Every element of the scheme was specified for both rooms –
colours, furniture, fabric, carpets. We made choices which would lend a lived-in feel and
chose a colour and material palette both tactile and warm using natural and handmade
materials with a hand-crafted appeal. So, although distinct spaces, the design approach
unites them allowing flow from one room to the other.

We sought a finish that felt warm, lived-in, yet purposeful. The cabinetry is hand-painted by
our master finishers in a three-tone palette – a technique that requires expert care and
experience. Portland Stone Deep and Portland Stone Pale lend the warmth for the neutral
base with a bold Pompeian Ash green accent for definition and contrast – all by Little Greene
Paint Company.

Our specialist finishers layer character into the solid timber cabinetry, creating depth and
personality. By doing this, the cabinets have an understated, nuanced patina as a reflection
of time, craftsmanship and intentional design.

We chose a high-grade Tuscan sandstone called Santa Fiora for its earthiness, natural
properties and durability. The fossilised natural stone has beautiful tonal variations and
subtle veining offering a timeless and elegant look that combines warmth, tactility and
material richness – it’s a surface that will age gracefully with the room and patinate over
time.

The collection of spaces work in harmony with a breakfast room as part of the kitchen and a
newly designed adjoining sitting room. The sitting room or “snug” is discretely partitioned off
by a glazed timber screen so that the spaces feel connected for the family. Together the
spaces create an elegant solution with defined zones for cooking, dining and living without
fragmenting the space for a cohesive feel.

If I were to pick a favourite, it would be the kitchen at the “heart”. It’s packed full of materiality
and bespoke, considered details – from the Belgian blue limestone floor precisely cut for a
deliberately crisp, rather than rustic feel, the substantial handmade patinated zinc cooker
hood under the Wolf range, hand thrown “wibbly” tiles to catch the light, a dramatic coffered
ceiling that cleverly hides the extraction route and our classic Cook’s Table handcrafted in
our workshops from the finest solid oak with a prep sink and marble slab at one end for
pastry work and food prep. The scale of the individual elements complement the house yet
work in perfect balance to feel inviting.

For all projects we start by setting out the room so that is it beautifully proportioned. At the
very highest end of the market, our work is defined by what we call creating a “room within a
room” – essentially building the furniture into the space so it feels like it is integral and has
always been there.

In terms of symmetry and order, the original layout of doors and windows was asymmetrical
and lacked a sense of balance. Our designers addressed this by removing a floating plaster
ceiling to introduce a coffered design that aligned more naturally with the cabinetry and
created better proportion.

Whilst retaining the exaggerated scale and drama of the exterior, there was a need to bring a
handcrafted, warm and live-in feel. Bridging that scale without losing either the grandeur or
the intimacy was no small feat.

Lastly, integrating the variety of natural materials such as solid timber, painted cabinetry,
brass, zinc, copper and leather, in a way that feels rich but not overly ornate required
mastery. Over many careful hours, our master finishers gave the painted and natural timbers
a beautifully aged patina – they really are true alchemists.

Artichoke’s aesthetic is deeply rooted in the finest, heritage craftsmanship being timeless,
bespoke and deeply personal to the client. We look to the past for our inspiration such as the
great English country houses for joinery that is precise and classical, yet never rigid – there’s
always a warmth, intentional design and a compelling narrative to what we do.
Due to its completely bespoke nature, each commission is different to the last, in response
to the client’s personal philosophies and the architectural context – we are constantly striving
for originality and new ways of doing things.

Our design philosophy marries architectural integrity, material mastery and intelligent
functionality. We work with just a handful of exclusive clients at a time, creating for some of
the world’s most remarkable homes – often for high-profile individuals – with many repeat and
word of mouth commissions. Our discerning clients value authenticity and longevity, seeking
heirloom quality that will stand as a testament to time for future generations.

Our in-house interior designers consider every aspect, from the finishes down to the FF&E
(furniture, fixtures and equipment) with full creative oversight of the space as a whole. Here
are a few of our tips:
Choose natural materials: They will age well, stand the test of time, be beautifully
tactile and always sit better in a scheme
Use architectural details to define zones: Rather than dividing a room with walls, use
clever architectural elements like a coffered ceiling, glazed partitions or carefully
aligned cabinetry to define spaces
Consider the finished details: If budget allows, invest in specialist finishes for timber,
stonework or metal – hand-applied patinas or nuanced finishes make a huge
difference in creating character
Add personality: Small design moments – like the bold orange pocket door in our
Cheshire kitchen – inject playfulness and surprise

Through our careful handling of technically complex, high-end commissions our work is
becoming increasingly global with recent and current multi-million pound projects spanning
the US, Switzerland, Denmark, Sweden, France, Italy, Germany and across the UK with a
waiting list until 2028. We design and make everything from our workshops and design
studio here in Somerset – we even cure our own solid timbers on site, ensuring it’s
absolutely perfect to be worked with.

We offer an enriched client experience made possible by the knowledge, skill and expertise
of our leading designers and master craftspeople. With whole house projects as well as
collections of rooms including kitchens, pantries, libraries, boot rooms, staircases, dressing
rooms and bedrooms, our holistic practice includes design and make of fine joinery, interior
design, interior architecture and project management.

With over three decades of refinement behind us, our artistry and technical skill have been
honed over a lifetime of dedication. Guided by uncompromising standards and a
commitment to Britain’s design heritage, we continue to preserve the finest traditional
techniques as one of the world’s leading luxury makers.