The job
Church Cottage is a Grade II listed thatched cottage in St Mary Bourne, Hampshire, dating back to around the 1600s. With exposed beams, lime walls and plenty of original character, the house called for a kitchen that felt properly rooted in its surroundings.
Rather than replacing the existing kitchen, Roost helped transform a former living room into a new kitchen, taking responsibility for the design, supply and installation and coordinating with the other trades involved.
Why they wanted change
The existing kitchen sat in a smaller, awkwardly shaped room that worked practically but felt disconnected from the cottage's character. Shauna and Mike wanted a space that felt more worthy of the house while supporting the realities of modern life.
They also wanted the kitchen to become somewhere they could spend time together. With busy working lives, the room needed to work for morning coffee, breakfast, evening meals and everyday routines.
Storage needed to reflect what they actually used, while leaving space for their two dogs to move naturally through the room.
The design
Shauna already had a clear idea of the main layout: an island, a large range cooker, a long run of cabinetry with the sink beneath the window, and a way to make use of the existing nook beside the fireplace. Roost's role was to refine those ideas and make the layout work naturally within the old room.
The freestanding prep-table style island was designed on legs rather than as a solid fitted block, keeping the room feeling open and allowing the dogs to move through it easily.
Integrated appliances keep modern functionality discreet, while the pantry and coffee area make use of the existing nook without losing its curved lime walls and exposed beam. The result feels more like a collection of considered furniture pieces than a conventional fitted kitchen.
Challenges
The challenge was introducing modern function into a very old room without losing what made the cottage special. Sloping walls, large scribes, an uneven floor and walls that moved away from the cabinetry all required careful judgement, particularly around the nook and worktops.
Rather than trying to make the room behave like a new-build space, the design worked with its imperfections. Bespoke-sized doors, carefully scribed worktops and cabinetry that followed the existing shape allowed the new kitchen to sit comfortably within the character of the cottage.
The difference
The new layout gives Shauna and Mike clear working zones, with the sink, dishwasher, bins, crockery and cutlery positioned around the same part of the kitchen to make everyday clearing, washing and putting away easier.
The island has become the natural centre of the room, working for food preparation, coffee, breakfast, laptop use and conversation. The dedicated coffee area gives one of their daily rituals its own place, while the open layout allows the dogs to move through the room naturally.
Favourite detail
Jamie particularly likes the existing nook beside the fireplace. Rather than treating it as an awkward corner, the design retained the curved lime walls and exposed beam while introducing bespoke cabinetry and warm oak shelving inside.
The result
The finished kitchen has become the new centre point of the home. Shauna and Mike now have somewhere to sit together in the mornings, have coffee and catch up before their busy days begin.
