Caesarstone 5131 Calacatta Nuvo has been chosen for this Grade I listed Tudor house renovation.
In 2018, Joanne and Philip took on the challenge of breathing new life into a magnificent Grade I listed Tudor house nestled in the picturesque South Shropshire countryside. Embarking on this extensive family home restoration project, they turned their attention to the kitchen at the property’s heart.
They worked with bespoke kitchen maker, Tom Howley, and the brief was clear: to craft a classic English kitchen that harmoniously blends traditional craftsmanship with modernity. For the large centre island and the surfaces which line the kitchen and adjacent utility room, they selected Caesarstone 5131 Calacatta Nuvo worktops, having fallen in love with the marble-like cascading grey veins that adorn its creamy-white base.
When discussing the design process, Tom Howley Designer, Marianne Batham, explained, “the previous kitchen had not been renovated for a number of years. Joanne and Philip wanted to create a larger, more open family space, so they knocked some internal walls down. This allowed for a much larger kitchen footprint, enabling the clients to tailor the whole room to their requirements.”
The design team added a vaulted ceiling with beautiful, exposed timber trusses and beams to complement the original stone walls, evoking a sense of history and heritage. Then, the couple carefully selected a warm grey paint colour from Tom Howley’s range, Tansy, for the traditional shaker cabinetry. Caesarstone’s Calacatta Nuvo surface plays a key role in the design palette. Its timeless warm, white background harmonises with the kitchen’s oak details whilst the soft, grey streaks throughout the worktop blend flawlessly with the Tansy cabinets.
A large island with ample worktop space and a chopping block were high on Joanne and Philip’s dream kitchen must-haves list. Offering the grace of classic marble, Calacatta Nuvo was thoughtfully integrated throughout, providing optimal functionality without compromising the home’s traditional aesthetic.
With every new worktop, Caesarstone’s design and development process begins with the same consideration: an exploration of the world outside our window. Whether it is in the motion and beauty of a sandy coastline, the stillness and calm of a desert landscape, or the urban textures and patinas seen in metropolitan cities, Caesarstone is constantly looking to nature to inspire its surfaces which are each years in the making. This revere for the natural world is illustrated in the design of Calacatta Nuvo, the delicate organic veins capture the march of time and a
millennia of geological processes, whilst the warm white base tones offer a sophisticated opulence.
Having used Caesarstone in multiple projects previously, Marianne was aware of the benefits of choosing a Caesarstone surface. When asked why she selected Caesarstone for Plaish Hall, she shared: “A kitchen worktop needs to be both tough and stylish, and the key to this lies in choosing the right materials for the job. Not only do Caesarstone worktops come in a captivating colour palette, but each slab is made from super high-quality materials for extreme durability, helping to keep our clients’ dream kitchen looking its best for years to come."
Kitchens are a highly busy place for families and the worktop, more than any other part, really takes the brunt of this. Scratch and stain resistant, Caesarstone surfaces are all sustainably made with longevity in mind and as such come with a lifetime residential warranty.
Additional stand-out areas within this historic house’s kitchen include the charming nook and breakfast station. Nestled against the rustic stone wall, this seating area exudes warmth and offers a welcoming spot for family and guests to wind down and relax. The bench seat seamlessly integrates with a breakfast station, featuring bi-fold doors that reveal a warm, natural oak interior with versatile storage options and hidden LED lighting. The space also features an impressive AGA range cooker, a Shaws of Darwen sink, and a Quooker all-in-one tap. The end result is a kitchen that honours the past while embracing contemporary functionality, creating a family space that exudes timeless elegance for generations to come.
Are you feeling inspired by this classic English kitchen? Explore the Caesarstone catalogue to discover the perfect surface for your dream scheme. And don’t forget to try out the Caesarstone online visualiser tool, which will help you bring your design to life, allowing you to see exactly what it will look like in your space.
