FARM TO TABLE

Once a cold and compact room with barely space to cook and eat in, this kitchen is now a spacious and welcoming family hub

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When it comes to older homes, designing the perfect kitchen can be a challenge, as Anne and Philip Parkinson found when they embarked on their kitchen renovation. When they moved into their home over a decade ago, the existing kitchen had a minor update, but as their family grew, it became apparent the room was too small and the layout needed changing.

‘The previous kitchen was half the size it is now and while this was fine when our sons were little, they are now pushing 6ft tall,’ explains Anne. ‘The kitchen couldn't cope with four adults and we didn't all fit around the kitchen table any more. We wanted the kitchen to be a welcoming family space.’

The second motivator was the temperature of the room. While this beautiful Tudor farmhouse has many redeeming qualities — including the beautiful beamed ceiling - its lack of insulation made heating it difficult.