BESPOKE KITCHEN
Brunel Barn| Tamar Valley | Cornwall
The Great Barn.
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Built circa 1855 by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, the building is immediately impressive with a rare sense of presence and scale. Such a unique building brings its own design challenges. Our approach was guided by restraint and proportion, creating a kitchen that feels entirely natural within the space while remaining calm, welcoming, and deeply functional.
The kitchen is defined by weight, balance, and material quality. Each element has been carefully sized and positioned to feel purposeful and effortless in daily use, while quietly holding its own within the barn’s dramatic volume.
A jungle mural welcomes you into the entrance hall. It’s the reverse side of the bespoke self-supporting partition wall which forms the rear of the main kitchen run. Its a wonderful unexpected moment of colour and fun upon arrival. Engineered to stand independently, it also allows the kitchen to be clearly defined without interrupting the openness of the room.
The island sits at the centre of the space, measuring 5 metres long by 1.5 metres wide. Its 70 mm solid oak work surface weighs over 300 kg and offers a generous, uninterrupted area for cooking, preparation, and informal gathering. Despite its scale, the island feels calm and grounded, perfectly proportioned to the room rather than designed to dominate it.
All the cabinetry is crafted in Oak, finished in two complementary tones. Wall and tall units are have a clean understated finish, while the base units and island are executed in slab-sawn oak, stained to a deeper, richer colour. The contrast brings warmth and depth, echoing the character of the historic building against its composed interior.
A concealed chef’s larder sits behind slide-and-hide doors, revealing generous storage, a dedicated pastry preparation surface, and subtle integrated lighting. A built-in mixer lift allows heavier equipment to be accessed with ease, reinforcing the kitchen’s quiet practicality.
Our cabinetry is made using an in-house construction method that incorporates extra-thick oak veneers of approximately 4–6 mm. This delivers genuine depth and authenticity, while laminating it to a stable core ensures long-term performance, precision, and durability.
Appliances by Bora and Fisher & Paykel complete the space, supporting a kitchen designed for serious cooking, relaxed entertaining, fun and everyday life.
The result is a kitchen of lasting quality, calm, confident, and considered. Crafted to age beautifully and to serve as a natural centrepiece within an exceptional home.
