OWNER Carole and Tony Barrow
WHERE Brentwood, Essex
APPROXIMATE BUDGET £7,500
DESIGNER/MAKER Simon's Carpenters

When Carole Barrow moved into her Edwardian house, she knew that the country pine kitchen she had inherited would have to go. In its place, she envisaged a kitchen that would reflect the character of the house, with contemporary accessories to cope with the demands of family life.

After shopping around for a supplier who could work within her budget, Carole approached local carpenter Simon Criddle. “I did some sketches to show what I was looking for, told him how much I had to spend and we then planned the space together,” she says. Top of Carole's wish list were a polished-granite worktop, elegant stainless-steel taps and an oak floor, which meant that compromises were inevitable, but her hands-on approach has resulted in a smart made-to-measure kitchen.

Retaining the existing Aga was a key decision made early on. “I was determined to use it for everything,” says Carole. There was no need, then, to allocate space, or funds, for a conventional oven and hob. A single bank of MDF base units makes up most of the work area. As Carole wasn't restricted to standard unit dimensions, these cupboards have been made extra deep, enlarging both the work surface on top and the storage capacity within.

At the other end of the room, a hand-built dresser provides more space to store kitchen essentials; this, too, has been made to Carole's specifications. “It's very narrow,” she explains, “because I wanted to make room for a seating area.” A modern glass table works well here as a contemporary edge to balance the traditional elements.

One of the main advantages of Carole's collaboration with Simon was that, between them, they handled all aspects of the design and installation. Simon made the units in his workshop, assembled them on site and took care of the plumbing and electrics, while Carole and Tony painted the units and sanded and varnished the floor. This real team effort, bringing together Carole's clear vision and Simon's ability to interpret her ideas, has created a kitchen that's practical, welcoming and stylish.

Simon's Carpenters, (01206) 864747.

JULY 2004