In Cornwall’s countryside, Caesarstone 4044 Airy Concrete brings quiet strength and sustainability to a family home designed for generations.
At the heart of Cornwall Barn, a serene family retreat designed by Koto Living, lies a modern, minimalist family kitchen complete with expansive 4044 Airy Concrete surfaces by Caesarstone. This industrial, pale grey worktop was carefully selected for its ability to deliver both practicality and atmosphere. Its soft, neutral tone and subtle, rough-textured patina bring the character of raw concrete into the home in a refined, contemporary way, perfectly complementing the barn’s clean architectural lines and natural palette.
The choice of Caesarstone was central to delivering a design that balances performance, sustainability, and timeless elegance – qualities that mirror the ethos of the home itself. By selecting Airy Concrete, the design team were able to achieve a surface that feels at once robust and sophisticated: a grounding element in the space that reflects the rugged Cornish landscape while still offering warmth and tactility indoors.
“Cornwall Barn was conceived as a place where extended family and friends could come together, a home designed for different generations to gather and relax in the calm of the Cornish countryside,” explains Kirstie Little, Co-Founder of Koto Living. The project is rooted in the natural beauty of Cornwall’s rural landscape, and the architecture draws heavily on this sense of place.
The clients asked for a modern, minimalist Passivhaus that would serve as a tranquil retreat and remain adaptable for the family’s evolving needs. Accessibility was therefore a priority, ensuring the house could remain functional and comfortable over time. At the heart of the design is the kitchen, an open-plan, multifunctional space for cooking, entertaining, and spending time together.
As Little describes, “The clients wanted durability and sustainability embedded in every decision. They were clear that they didn’t want the design to feel rustic or overly decorative. Instead, they wanted a clean, uncluttered interior that still felt warm, welcoming, and natural.”
When it came to choosing surfaces, Caesarstone's Airy Concrete was the natural choice. Its light grey tone with gentle, natural variations allowed Koto Living to bridge the gap between the barn’s minimalist cabinetry and its earthy interiors. The surface pairs beautifully with painted timber cabinetry, while its tactile quality adds depth and quiet character to the space. 4044 Airy Concrete is available in Caesarstone’s new ICON technology, featuring up to 80% recycled materials – including high-quality, post-consumer glass – making it the ideal choice for Passivhaus projects and sustainable, carbon-neutral design.
Beyond aesthetics, it offered the performance and practicality needed for a family kitchen at the centre of daily life. The surface brings a grounding sense of permanence, uniting the minimalist cabinetry with the natural textures of the barn while letting the light-filled architecture and surrounding landscape shine.
Koto Living considered a number of alternatives but ultimately found Caesarstone unmatched in its balance of beauty, durability, and sustainability. “Caesarstone surfaces align perfectly with our design philosophy. They are functional and beautiful,” explains Little. “For a family retreat like Cornwall Barn, where the kitchen is heavily used, durability was as important as aesthetics. Caesarstone gave us the confidence that the surface would withstand daily use while maintaining its elegance for years to come.” Their experience with Caesarstone has been consistently positive, with the wide design range offering flexibility across projects and the resilience of the surfaces ensuring they perform as well in daily life as they do in the design vision.
The kitchen was further complemented by bespoke cabinetry, Fisher & Paykel appliances, and carefully chosen furniture from Bolia, selected for its sustainable and circular design principles. Together, these elements create a space that embodies simplicity, quality, and longevity. Sustainability and well-being run through every decision at Cornwall Barn, from the use of natural, low-VOC materials to biophilic principles that connect the interiors with the Cornish countryside.
“Ultimately, Cornwall Barn is about creating a retreat that feels timeless, restorative, and future-proofed,” reflects Little. “Caesarstone Airy Concrete played a vital role in making that vision a reality.” With its commitment to sustainability, surfaces designed for longevity, and the reassurance of a lifetime warranty, Caesarstone offers homeowners peace of mind alongside enduring beauty and performance.
Feeling inspired by this serene, sustainable family kitchen? Explore Caesarstone’s catalogue to discover the perfect surface for your dream scheme. And don’t forget to try out the online visualiser tool, which lets you see exactly how Caesarstone surfaces will look in your space.
Caesarstone available from £2,000 incl. VAT
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