This Edwardian Arts & Crafts home has been the perfect setting for the romantic and eclectic style of its vintage connoisseur owner for more than three decades. “I really love the features of old houses, and because of that, I didn’t want to come into an old house and try and make it new,” she says. “It’s not a case of trying to make it perfect. One needs the imperfections to show the history, otherwise, it just becomes another bland, perfect house.” The perfect finishing touch? A pair of black-and-white hounds peacefully sleeping under a kitchen prep counter.

The beautiful old kitchen features white ceilings and an ornate wooden extractor hood, worn floor planks, wooden countertops and enviable original tiles that create a timeless appeal. Craft a similar look and feel by sourcing classic tiles, and scouring vintage stores and auction houses for authentic pieces to add character to your own kitchen.

Encapsulating a brand of understated refinement that also constitutes a very contemporary update on country living, this family home is all about cocooning comfort in combination with easy elegance. Finishes and fixtures throughout the house feature wood, marble and brass, adding pops of visual and tactile appeal to the overall ethos of understated luxury, as seen in the kitchen, where a pair of eye-catching pendant lights adds a very special vintage twist to an otherwise classic scheme.

Overseen by interior designer Kim Stephen, the kitchen joinery and island were designed, handmade and installed by Martin Moore. The Hicks pendant lights are by Thomas O’Brien from Circa Lighting, and Guideline Design made the upholstered bar stools. The artwork is by Nina Brooke and the green glass vase is from Cécile & Boyd.

Situated in a graceful old house with strong architectural bones and stately elegance, this kitchen’s high ceilings and classic proportions have been enhanced by combining it with an adjacent dining room to create a modern, open-plan space in which the entire family gathers every evening for supper. “Because we have a large family, we insist that we eat together every night,” explains the homeowner.

Painted in dark grey, the kitchen cabinetry has classic cup handles that add an instant old-fashioned charm. Likewise, the use of traditional décor elements such as wall-mounted ceramic plates and a clock is deployed to delightful effect because here, these kitchen classics are brought bang up to date: the plates are contemporary art pieces by renowned ceramicist Hylton Nel, while the clock is the very cool Two Timer by Sam Hecht for Established & Sons.

Simplicity, authenticity and practical magic define this traditional homestead, which dates back to 1777 and is situated on a world-renowned wine estate. Despite its storied heritage, this home is unmistakably a farmhouse where much of the action takes place in the kitchen, which is both a cooking area and a gathering space. In front of the huge open hearth, an original historic feature is a large refectory table where family and friends connect, refuel, and spend time catching up.

The kitchen is furnished with total simplicity, yet always with an eye to efficiency and comfort. Both the contemporary fridge by Smeg and a wood-burning stove with gas hob by AGA are entirely at home in this utilitarian and lived-in space. The unusual kitchen chandelier, which is made from an upcycled antique wine bottle drier, adds a rustic yet contemporary air.

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A garden cottage in a country town honours its past, but thanks to its functional design, it also looks to the future. “We wanted a style that would mix new and old, but would most importantly, remain timeless,” the homeowner says. The kitchen area of the open-plan living space is an excellent example of this aesthetic, which juxtaposes old and new to create a relaxed, laid-back space that is also very easy on the eye.

The colours and materials epitomise a country look, while the steel-framed windows feel modern: “Wooden window frames would have looked too cottagey,” says interior designer Charlotte Collins, who worked on the interiors. The kitchen table and stools were found at an architectural salvage dealer. Minimalist joinery is combined with classic cup drawer pulls, and engineered countertops by Dekton look old school but don’t stain like marble does. Likewise, a vintage butler’s sink is partnered with a contemporary black mixer tap.

The high ceilings and monochrome palette of this converted cottage give its spaces a touch of old-fashioned magic, making it a haven of understated glamour. In the kitchen, the homeowners combined a pressed-metal ceiling—very much in keeping with the original architectural finishes of the surrounding houses—with delightful cottage-pane windows and a profusion of potted orchids.

The crystal chandelier is an antique shop find, and is matched with pressed ceilings that are aesthetically beautiful; as the homeowners suggest, these symbolise the importance of taking pleasure in a space that is used every day. More modern elements balance the romantic feel, including countertops made from a cement-based composite finish by Cemcrete and bar stools from La Grange Interiors.

In a country cottage that is the epitome of gently worn sophistication, the spaces within have been finished with a careful blend of found and collected furniture, decorative details from yesteryear, and a plethora of clever renovations and additions that look as if they have been in situ forever. This discreet corner of the kitchen is its hardest working area but still combines timeless appeal and modern practicality with aplomb.

A porcelain butler sink and marble countertops are pure “cottagecore,” and the pale colour for the traditional-style joinery complements the look perfectly. There’s much use of open storage and shelving here—all the better to show off kitchen essentials sourced from vintage stores and flea markets—while the choice of a ticking stripe fabric for the blinds, plus a sleek yet classic mixer tap, complete the pleasingly rustic picture.

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Cape Town-based magazine editor, stylist and interior designer Laureen Rossouw first came across this house five years ago; the property is located in the City Bowl suburb of Oranjezicht, on the edge of one of Cape Town’s most charming parks. As soon as she saw the characterful, mid-century building, which most definitely did have Bauhaus bones, Rossouw was smitten and convinced her husband quickly to take up the historic property.

The couple removed the old kitchen ceiling to create a dramatic, double-volume space that opens onto the garden beyond and incorporates a petite dining and living area too. The floor is finished in custom-made tiles by Moroccan Warehouse, which works very well as a complement to the original wall tiles. Open shelving allows the owners to display a variety of kitchenware pieces collected over the years including wooden spoons, glassware and vintage crockery. The Tulip table and original Eames chairs are both by Vitra.

As a visual merchandiser, Sanet Coetzee has honed her talent for creating captivating spaces with a single, well-placed item that sets the perfect mood. This expertise became a personal passion when she transformed a Victorian home in Cape Town, South Africa, into a tranquil sanctuary.

The original bathroom was fortunate to have the same terracotta floors as the kitchen. This made it easy to connect the two rooms and provided an opportunity to create a multi-use space that linked the kitchen with the dining room. “The space is a confectionery, a plant haven, a place where I enjoy breakfast in the morning,” shares the homeowner. “But it’s also a practical space housing the dishwasher.” A traditional porcelain Shaw basin was also added to the space to pay homage to the home’s heritage.

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