Caesarstone surfaces beautifully bridge the gap between old and new in this Georgian period kitchen extension
Caesarstone’s 4044 Airy Concrete was used to great effect in Renton Hall, a Georgian manor that had fallen into a state of disrepair. The kitchen, created by Inglis Hall as part of the extensive renovations, formed the only inside route between the original house and the new timber framed extension, making it all the more important for the kitchen to mirror both the history of the house as well as its new footing in modernity.
Renton Hall sits in the Scottish countryside, not far from the coast to the east of Edinburgh. The owners, Tibi and David Weir, envisaged the transformation of this neglected manor into a beautiful, purposeful and contemporary home. Their kitchen project began over lock-down, born from their love of Inglis Hall’s Instagram feed and a number of Zoom calls throughout this period.
One of the biggest challenges, discussed early on, was the logistics of such a project. Inglis Hall, based in Lewes, East Sussex, was over 500 miles from Renton Hall, meaning stringent project management, attention to detail and unambiguous communication were essential if the creation of the Weir’s imagined kitchen was to become a reality.
The kitchen was the only inside route from the original house to the extension and as such it needed to allow for the effortless flow of family and guests whilst bridging the gap between new and old, modern, and historic. The kitchen also needed to be a practical space for Tibi Weir, a professional jam maker, and occasionally for her chef son too. Formal dining needs were taken care of by a large dining table in the glass walkway between kitchen and living space, but the kitchen retained a social element through the small round breakfast table and an open-ended island.
In the kitchen, sawn oak cladding, black Richlite and Caesarstone’s Airy Concrete surfaces combine under the tall Georgian ceilings to create a perfect mix of tone and texture. Bringing the outside in and creating a perfect backdrop for the client’s array of incredible art and collectables. This was another key consideration for the couple and as such tall cabinetry was kept to a minimum, to let the room breathe and allow for the display of a collection of vintage posters and paintings.
When asked why Caesarstone surfaces were chosen Jay Powell, Design Project Manager for Inglis Hall, had the following to say:
“We love the collection of colours and finishes that Caesarstone have to offer. All their surfaces have a natural look and feel to them which is sometimes hard to find with manmade products. We appreciate the high quality and versatility of their products.”
Airy Concrete is a mid-tone grey that gives an airy feel to its concrete-like look and texture. Swirling with clouds of dark and light hues this textured surface adds an urban and sophisticated edge to any project. Jay Powell explained further why Airy Concrete was the perfect design for this particular space:
“At Inglis Hall, we particularly like the texture and movement of the Caesarstone concrete finishes. Paired with the practicality of quartz these offer a natural feeling work surface that doesn’t compromise on function. Rugged Concrete in this case was too dark… Topus Concrete too warm… Airy? perfect! A good contrast with the black Richlite cabinetry without being too harsh and textured enough to work with our sawn oak.”
Throughout the kitchen, Fisher and Paykel were chosen for the majority of appliances including the Oven, Hob and Fridgefreezer alongside a Quooker tap and Miele microwave. Paint used throughout was Aged Copper by Fenwick and Tilbrook.
Overall, throughout this beautiful renovation project, the combination of textures and colours used form the perfect space to seamlessly join both the old and new. An incredibly practical and gorgeous kitchen has been designed and breathes a new lease of life into this previously dilapidated, historic space.
