Wednesday, March 4, 2009

British Bespoke Kitchens

(photo Maia C.) (and thank you Henry Ford)

A bit of fantasy here.  The homes and the kitchens featured below don't belong to one another.  

One of our fabulous bloggers from across-the-pond has been so kind to inspire me with thoughts of an English kitchen.  In honor of Europafox, I give you English "handmade" kitchens:

Any of you out there have a blue front door?  
Slatters Cottage - Luxury self catering cottage in the Cotswolds

This garden is for Pearls and Grace.  It's got her name on it.

I really like the table in the center of the room.  It makes the people the focus-not the appliances.   Adore the wooden counter tops.

This exterior is for you Tartanscot!  Although, I think you may need something a bit more Scottish! 
Cotswold cottage
Handmade kitchen in oakOak Kitchen - Build By Craftsmen
(All kitchen by Violet Designs, West Sussex, UK)

Wasn't it refreshing to see a few kitchens that you haven't seen in blog land a million times?  Let's hear it.  What are your likes here?  Any one ohhing and ahhing--or are they just o.k.?  

21 comments:

  1. pictures 5 & 7 didn't load for me but there is a lot of ohhing ahhing going on here! Love them all...these are the kind of pictures I could study for hours! Thank you for sharing!

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  2. I think those kitchens are gorgeous, there is nothing just ok about them for me! The last one is my favorite.

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  3. Those are definitely not the average, silver-strewn kitchen deals we've seen so much of in the US recently!

    I really like your point about making the people, and not the appliances, the focal point. I think all of the above achieve that so well. And I adore both of those exteriors.

    What I don't like as much is the busy-ness of some of the cabinets & decor. I admittedly come at this from a transitional, more spartan vs. strictly traditional bias, but I'd prefer a smidge less detail and stuff.

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  4. Gorgeous. Well, what I love is the natural pine wood. Don't see that very often here in the states.

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  5. Wow. Those are simply spectacular. *ah* It is so delightful to see interior spaces that so clearly reflect the owner's taste . . . and not the 'we'll need to use "x" or "y" to maintain the re-sale value' design that seems to be running rampant in kitchen design. Of course, I'd give almost any amount of money to come down to that first kitchen and make my morning breakfast each day. lol.

    thanks for the exterior image. it's breathtaking.

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  6. My good friend has a blue front door and I LOVE it!

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  7. Love the first kitchen it's so beautiful.

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  8. I always love European Kitchens - they truly are the soul of a home.
    I love an "eat in kitchen" which I had growing up and we have now - I love wooden counters and all those cabinets.
    Just lovely, makes me feel like "cookin" up some bloody good fish and chips and serving it with a cold glass of guiness. :)

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  9. Beautiful kitchens. Now I want a cup of tea and a hot scone with jam! This was a great post!

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  10. Thanks for posting this!! It makes for visual eye candy! - I love custom kitchens, especially in oak. People now are really veering away from laminate, granite, steel etc and going for authenticity and soul in the kitchen again. Even for free standing and mismatched kitchens. Did you know that on the continent most people takes thier kitchens with them when they move (particularly in Spain and Italy)? The barn style blue door is adorable. there is a c.17 cottage a few doors down from me that has one just like that, and a blud picket fence - I love it!

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  11. I lovvvve the last kitchen--it looks very similar to the kitchen in my dad and step moms old house.

    And, my mom up and painted our front door blue once. For no reason. Other than that she wanted a blue door.

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  12. These are fabulous! I saw a Welsh Dresser, at the antique, the other day, when we picked up the double bonnet secretary. I'm really dreaming of that piece of furniture. I love these English kitchens!

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  13. They're all just gorgeous and so cozy! Thanks for the inspiration!

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  14. Your posts always make me ohhh and ahh GSG! I LOVE all things British and this post just reaffirmed that. Lovely picks you have made and ohhh look at all the blue and white in the last kitchen- DIVINE!

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  15. I agree - love the new images! I want an aga!!!

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  16. I am in love with all of those kitchens.  Love the warm expressive woods with all the glorious detail.  What a delightful post, even thou the dreaded red X's came up on a couple of the pictures.

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  17. What I wouldn't give for that third photo down... Oh, to walk out that blue back door every morning on my way to the gardens. Divine~
    Thanks for finding me so that I could in turn find you!
    xx

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  18. An excellent kitchen design is critical for two reasons: first, the kitchen is a gathering place for the family; and second, the a great kitchen design will increase the value of your home.

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  19. HI, I love it all the images of beautiful kitchens. They look dream kitchens. Thanks for the post really inspire by all of them.

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