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Family favourite

Learning by one's mistakes is a common piece of advice, but it certainly applied to Jackie Charles when it came to her kitchen. Knowing full well that she wasn't moving into a house that had her dream kitchen, Jackie was quick to have the tired cabinetry ripped out and then filled the room with a sleek and modern maple little number. "It still wasn't my perfect scheme!" she admits. "Foolishly, I thought that simply replacing the kitchen units would be enough, but it didn't change the fact that the space was still very small and dark."

Four years on, with five growing children and a kitchen that seemed to be shrinking by the day, it was a friend who casually suggested moving it entirely. "The house itself is wonderfully large but, because the kitchen was poky and dark, it really didn't help us get the most out of the place," Jackie explains. "However, the size of the dining room with its high ceilings and decorative cornice just lent itself to becoming a welcoming and bright family hub of our home."

Determined not to make another mistake, Jackie canvassed the opinions of friends and family. Finally feeling more reassured, it was a recommendation that led the couple to Chris Parrish at Woodchester Kitchens to help design the new space, although Jackie did have more than a few ideas of her own. "The last scheme had been very contemporary, which really didn't suit the house, and, I have to admit, I did get bored with it quickly," she says. "I knew I had to have something that would be sympathetic to the age and style of the property, but also something timeless that I wouldn't tire of."

Hand-painted bespoke cabinetry fills the walls, bringing in classic elements with the plate rack and larder. It's all designed to exude the country feel. The ultimate in traditional living is the quintessential Aga, which comes together with the spacious island and the breathtaking Italian chandelier, to create an eye-catching look that makes the most of the lofty proportions of the room.

The kitchen is exactly as Jackie had anticipated, although she admits that it was choosing the colours that caused her the most consternation, having originally been tempted by Farrow & Ball's Light Blue. "I quickly realised that the whole of the cabinetry in blue would be too much, so I decided instead to do the base units," she recalls. "Even then, I changed my mind at the last minute and chose the safer option!" Instead, the soft cream tones of White Tie adorn the cabinetry with just the island picked out in blue to avoid the room, with its cream walls and Aga, from looking too bland, yet still creating the practical but homely look that Jackie envisaged. "I have had some not-so-good ideas in the past so Paul was particularly panicky at the suggestions I had for the kitchen," laughs Jackie. "But even he can see now how well it works and it really was the best decision we made."