A feast for the eyes: the story behind Castle of Trematon's kitchen renovation.
A feast for the eyes: the story behind Castle of Trematon's kitchen renovation.
The kitchen is the beating heart of any household, and never more so than for House founders, Frieda and Javvy, for it is where it all began, around a kitchen table at their house in Hackney.
When it came to renovating the kitchen of their new Cornish home, Castle of Trematon, Frieda and Javvy knew they had to come up with the perfect scheme - one that honored the castle’s rich history while welcoming in the botanical beauty of the surrounding gardens, courtesy of House of Hackney’s beloved nature-inspired motifs.
“The kitchen is often seen as a clinical space when, really, it’s a living organism – so decorating should be all about embracing and enjoying how a kitchen is truly lived in.”
- Frieda, House of Hackney Founder
A rich tapestry of life is woven in the kitchen - this is the beauty of the space. It is the most used and most loved area of a house, where we congregate for meals and welcome friends, where homework is done and kitchen discos are danced. It truly is the heart of the home, and so it should reflect the spirit of the place and the people who live in it. And for this family, it does exactly that.
The garden is the real protagonist in this story, with nature being the brand - and the couple’s - muse. After magnificent new cabinets were whipped up by British heritage kitchen makers deVOL (in the shape of castle turrets, no less), the space was coated in the majestic forest landscape of PLANTASIA.
The garden; the real protagonist
The garden; the real protagonist
The castle’s wild gardens are echoed in the verdant tones and harmonious composition of this mural wallpaper. With muted, natural hues, the two spaces coalesce in perfect balance; the outside is in.
To juxtapose the PLANTASIA print, drapes and lampshades were made up in a softly rebellious green and cream stripe and accessories introduced in blue - still serene but quietly cool with the mix of the Georgian architecture and a nod to rock ‘n’ roll.
Merging the old seamlessly with the new, deVOL worked with the couple to recreate a prep table from the historic Cornish National Trust house, Lanhydrock, resulting in a beautiful ‘Future Heirloom’ piece that looks like it has always been at home in the castle.
“Throughout each of the interior schemes in our home, there is a recurring theme of Mother Nature - and PLANTASIA tied in with that idea of the woman protecting Nature.”
- Frieda, House of Hackney Founder
Shop the Castle Kitchen
DIY ventures
DIY ventures
Champions of sustainability, Frieda and Javvy filled their home with used furniture, antique pieces and repurposed items they already owned. An old banquette, bought to grow with the family, has been lovingly restored and re-covered. Dining chairs now reupholstered in PLANTASIA fabric sit around the table; an eighteenth century mirror is painted ‘Sky’ blue, and picture frames are striped with House of Hackney’s greens - each small but transformative projects that are easy to recreate. Their next DIY venture? A giant family notice board to fill with memories made in this space.
“In our House, we never like to throw things away, so as part of the renovation we wanted to marry the old part of the kitchen with the new, making good of what was already there and refurbishing anything we could.”
- Frieda, House of Hackney Founder
Using the room as a canvas means it is always evolving, always growing. Layering accessories, changing drapes and cushions, moving around art; Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither should your home be. Live in your space and let it flourish with you, that way, you will always live surrounded by what you love.
Frieda’s Kitchen of Dreams…
A record…The Electric Prunes - I HAD TOO MUCH TO DREAM
A party guest…David Bowie, Vandana Shiva, Robin Kimmerer
A meal…Paella with friends
A cookbook…My mother’s hand-written book of recipes, especially her Irish soda bread
A drink…Coffee - a gift from the gods
A scent…My children's freshly washed hair, the smell of the earth after the rain - such a beautiful word ‘petrichor’
A memory…So many happy ones with friends and family around the kitchen table
A season…All of them - I love the waxing and waning of the year
A feeling…Swimming in the sea, submerged in nature
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