The designer: Jane Stewart, Design Director at Mowlem & Co (555 Kings Road, London SW6 2EB 020 7610 6626, www.mowlemandco.com (Also in Newcastle and Knutsford)).

The story: This stylish period home was an extensive renovation project. The kitchen needed updating with beautiful cabinetry and high-specification appliances to suit a contemporary family lifestyle.

Designer Q&A:

Q: What was your brief from the client?

This kitchen was created for a period family home in a former rectory in Sussex. The beautiful old rectory building itself was a key inspiration for the design, which needed to have full contemporary functionality while honouring the architecture and personality of the property. We wanted to pay homage to influences such as the Arts & Crafts movement and Lutyens whilst making this a unique scheme tailored carefully to the needs and tastes of a busy modern family.

Q: How did you set about answering that brief?

The space needed a central focus, so I designed a large, distinctive free-standing island unit in an unframed style, painted in Farrow & Ball’s ‘Railings’ shade and fitted with Belgian Fossil marble worktops. At one end of the island a reclaimed butchers block has been fitted with exposed bolts as an accent feature, to serve as both a chopping block, preparation area and an impromptu breakfast bar when needed. Distressed wicker bar stools add to the charming ambience of this warm and welcoming scheme.

The framed fitted cabinetry, full height along one wall, is painted in Farrow & Ball ‘Purbeck Stone’ and features solid oak drawer boxes with dovetail joints to their beautifully finished interiors, which house ample, carefully customised storage.

Q: Which products did you use and why?

To give a distinctive character, from the elegant proportions to the finest details, the scheme includes industrial latch style handles, pendant lamps with copper interiors for a warm, golden glow, plus a touch of glamour in the form of a silver leaf glass splash back.

Appliances for a family that loves to cook were a vital consideration, and include a powerful Wolf range cooker, a generous built-in Gaggenau fridge freezer and dishwasher, a bespoke Westin extractor, a Quooker boiling water tap and a KWC Inox spray tap over a Sterling stainless steel sink…and of course Blum interior fittings.

Q: Was there any building/renovation work involved?

This was a significant renovation project that required removing an old staircase and adding new ceilings, flooring, and plumbing throughout.

Q: What elements do you think make the scheme so successful?

It all just seems to come together beautifully – and I was absolutely thrilled to win the 2014 Designer K&B Award for British Design & Manufacture for Mowlem & Co with this kitchen

Q: Any advice for someone who may be planning a new kitchen?

Do lots of research for inspiration, and get word of mouth recommendations. Then once you have chosen the right designer with the right ‘chemistry’, work closely to achieve the best outcome. Listen carefully to both the practical and creative suggestions, while making sure your dream kitchen will work for you.

* Cabinetry and worktops: Heritage hand-painted oak kitchen by Mowlem & Co in Farrow & Ball Railings and Purbeck Stone, with Belgian Fossil marble work surfaces. www.mowlemandco.co.uk

* Drawers are on blum motion, www.blum.com

* Painted finish, Farrow & Ball, www.farrow-ball.com

* Range cooker by Wolf, www.subzero-wolf.co.uk

* Fridge & Freezer by Gaggenau, www.gaggenau.com

* Boiling water tap by Quooker, www.quooker.co.uk

* Inox taps by KWC, www.kwctaps.co.uk

* Sinks by Sterling, www.sterlingdistribution.co.uk

* Extractor by Westin, www.westin.co.uk

Linda loves: The dramatic dark and moody shade of blue for the central island and the stunning silver leaf splashback – a classic colour combination that adds a sophisticated flourish to this classic kitchen design.