Carlton Towers is a magnificent building with hundreds of years of history. The Yorkshire manor can be traced all the way back to the 14th century. Steeped in history the stately home is much loved for its imposing exterior and exquisite interiors.
The disused servants’ kitchen turned cookery school was featured in this year’s BBC MasterChef ‘The Finals’ and provided a fantastic project for us to get our teeth into.
The stately home kitchen was previously a servant’s kitchen, and we were given the brief to create a space suitable for a cookery school but sympathetic to the historic surroundings. It was a pleasure to undertake this large project, restoring magnificent old features, whilst also adding modern state-of-the-art facilities. The cookery school is now home to modern AEG steam ovens and induction hobs, whilst plate racks are set against contemporary concealed sockets to create a kitchen jam packed with modern quirks that complement the traditional surroundings.
Whilst modern quirks were added, we also preserved and restored a number of original features, such as the original chequerboard floor and shelving. To ensure the kitchen remained sympathetic to the existing features we also used retro-inspired brass pipes and installed traditional butler sinks with stunning gold taps.
The large open plan space was designed to house a central island as well as 10 workstations, and so durability and functionality were key in its design. The kitchen had to look good, fit within the surroundings but also be able to withstand the wear and tear that would come with a busy cookery school. The classic style cabinetry was handcrafted from Tulipwood, reclaimed teak, and redwood, and finished with French Grey and Felt paint by Little Greene Paint Company. This worked beautifully alongside the original flooring and exposed redwood, creating a wonderful contrast. Thanks to the storage within the central Island, surrounding cabinetry, and shelving, there is also ample storage for cookery books, pots and pans too. So, not only does the kitchen look great, but it also fitted the brief of being practical too!
We hope you agree that the finished result looks outstanding, the perfect combination of old meets new. Please do let us know if you ever find yourself at The Carlton Towers taking part in a cookery class – we would love to see the kitchen in action!
