Bespoke Country Kitchens
What Defines the Country Kitchen?
For us at Papilio, country kitchens celebrate the beauty of the British countryside, taking inspiration from history, architectural features, premium materials, and refined detailing. Embracing nature’s vistas and the charm of villages, farms, and hamlets across the UK—including Hampshire, Oxfordshire, and Wiltshire—these kitchens capture an understated yet sophisticated style.
Our designer country kitchens are handcrafted in Somerset, a place that inspires us every day. We work closely with our clients to create their dream kitchen, and the beauty of country kitchens is that we can use elements of stone, timber and metal so intrinsic to the style in our bespoke kitchens.
The country kitchen style evokes warmth, long-lasting quality in its materials, comfort, and a haven for long family breakfasts, freshly baked bread, and slow Sundays, gazing out from a stone mullion window.
Bespoke country kitchens are also highly functional, aiming to make life in the country easier and more efficient. As much as we love nostalgia, we also know the importance of practicality to make everyday life more pleasant.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will a country kitchen style work in a small space?
Absolutely! With clever planning, you can achieve a country-style aesthetic even in limited space.
I love the idea of country kitchens, but I want the latest appliances and tech. Can you have both?
Yes. We can cleverly disguise the latest tech and appliances to achieve a warm, non-technical look.
Will a country-style kitchen work in a newly built home?
The beauty of a new build is that it’s a blank canvas, and we have decades of experience in creating bespoke kitchens where almost anything is possible.
Recent Country Kitchen Projects
Materials and Cabinet Construction
Materials and cabinet construction for bespoke country kitchens tend to lean towards the high end and traditional; timber, with its natural markings, is used for cabinets and kitchen islands. While stone makes a beautiful countertop, ceramics are favoured for backsplashes, and, whenever possible, existing flagstone floors are fully embraced. Metals become feature accents—in many designer kitchens, we have used brass and copper to add interest and style. Neutral palettes are common, ensuring natural materials and expert cabinetry skills remain central, though pops of colour are sometimes used for contrast and fun.
Worktops, Hardware and Detailing
Papilio’s handmade country kitchens feature premium materials and refined detailing, setting us apart in quality and craftsmanship. We can source rare stone or timber by leveraging our excellent relationships with leading suppliers and producers in the UK and beyond. This dedication ensures every client receives a kitchen that is truly one-of-a-kind.
We pay close attention to details, and The Copper Kitchen in Somerset is a fine example of a country kitchen with a modern twist. The Grade II listed property dates back to the 18th Century and has enormous character, including stone mullion windows and exposed wooden beams. The bespoke, handmade designer kitchen showcases an exciting selection of materials, blending traditional cabinet-making with solid timbers, including walnut and oak, alongside feature copper and innovative, modern Neolith for functional worktops. We introduced copper sheeting as an accent to add interest. It was used to clad the drawers and sections of the bespoke kitchen island, creating focal points. To speed up the ageing of the copper, we applied heat, resulting in an iridescent, almost oily appearance.
Storage and Practical Planning
Country kitchens can vary greatly in size, so storage and practical planning take precedence. Small kitchens often need more contemplation to ensure flow and practicality. Luckily, storage in country kitchens is flexible. From open shelving to display crockery, to floating cabinets, pot racks or concealed pantries, the beauty of commissioning a bespoke kitchen designer is that the possibilities are almost endless.
Our Bruton Kitchen in Somerset is a delightful country kitchen, housed in a restored 1600s family home. It features original stone mullion windows, low oak-beamed ceilings, flagstone floors, elm doors, and irregular lath-and-plaster walls. The new kitchen needed to retain character and warmth while remaining practical; we answered with a large, free-standing island, centrally placed and hand-painted in sunny yellow. Legs give the island lightness and reveal the original stone floor. We combined cabinet doors with open shelving and used ancient elm timber for the hand-finished worktop, offering generous prep, storage, and perch space—the ideal layout for a small country kitchen.
Kitchen Islands and Layout Options
Bespoke country kitchens celebrate the great British countryside and are inspired by the natural settings beyond the walls. With the right planning and design experience, they can also bring nature in.
For our Rectory Kitchen near Bath project, we created a traditional, handmade, bespoke kitchen with contemporary elements, resulting in a modern country kitchen that fully embraced the breathtaking views across the valley. Designed in collaboration with Simon Moray Jones architects, a large glazed wall and ceiling lantern provide a fresh, airy shell for the open-plan kitchen and dining space – the perfect space for this sociable family. The outstanding architectural design made the stunning countryside views the focal point of the room. The Papilio team strategically positioned workstations and appliances to continually bring the outdoors in while still providing a practical space for the family to cook and entertain. The L-shaped bespoke kitchen island configuration maximises storage and workflow while optimising the view throughout the space. A Belfast sink was installed facing the floor-to-ceiling glass, allowing our client to see across the garden and further enhancing their experience.
Book a Consultation
If you’re dreaming of a country kitchen, our team would love to help. Contact us to discuss your vision and book a consultation with our designers.
