Based in romantic, rural Cambridgeshire, this quaint cottage hides a precious gem inside its walls… Sophia Ferrari-Wills of @thiscolourfulnest reached out to design company Sheraton Interiors to help bring her dream kitchen vision to life. The result? An enchanting pastel paradise.

Before the renovation, the kitchen was narrow and rectangular. It had three access points which left little wall space and room to play. “It was a squeeze,” Sophia tells me. “We knew that the best thing to do was to extend in order to include a dining area that could also be used for living and enjoying cherished family moments.”

The extension measures 8 m x 4 m and, to her surprise, the building works happened quickly. “We began the renovation at the end of August and by December they probably would’ve been ready for the kitchen to start going in,” she says.

Sophia found Sheraton Interiors via Instagram and, impressed by their bespoke nature and designer and managing director Shehryar Khan’s expertise, she enlisted their help. “We worked extremely close together,” Shehryar tells me. “It was important to achieve balance and symmetry, so we altered the ground floor layout to make sure we’ve got enough space in the kitchen, as well as in the utility and pantry.” From start to finish, the project took around eight months to complete.

The new kitchen design encompasses Sophia’s colourful and characterful style into a pastel paradise. “The design style is a mesh of a traditional cottagecore feel with modern twists added by the ribbed finishes and softer oval shapes, and a whimsical pastel element,” explains Sophia.

Tucked in a corner sits the compact utility room, which is reminiscent of a summertime peach sorbet with sprinkles of pistachio terrazzo. The adjacent pantry, painted in creamy butter yellow, is adorned with natural materials like wicker and wood – Sophia’s calming haven.

Keen to discover the ins and outs of this gorgeous open-plan space, I chatted to Sophia…

What was your vision for the pink kitchen?

I have a romantic vision, so when we first chose this house, I could immediately see Christmases here, with the children running downstairs. That’s exactly what I wanted to achieve with the kitchen design; to see home comforts such as pulling out a freshly baked cake out of the oven, the kids getting involved around the island, all of those family moments.

What were your top kitchen non-negotiables?

An island (and it had to be oval), ribbed glass cabinets to have pretty things on display (same with the open shelves), and a butler sink. It’s funny how those little touches can make the kitchen feel more whimsical and comforting.

How did you decide on the layout and the cabinetry style?

The layout kind of spoke for itself. When you walk through the double doors, it opens up into a U-shape, so we knew that the cabinets had to go along those walls. It works really well because you immediately feel hugged by the kitchen.

It’s nice and open with plenty of space around the island to access the rest of the kitchen. You can either sit around the island chatting while someone’s cooking, but you’ve also got other areas to relax and be a part of the room and the conversation or even do your own thing.

We went for in-frame Shaker cabinets to get that classic cottage feel and add character. Then, we tastefully worked the modern touches in while still staying true to the traditional look.

To the left, we’ve also got the utility, and to the right, a pantry, so there’s a lot of symmetry that’s pleasing to the eye.

How did you choose the colour palette and the wallpaper design?

Oh my God, it was so hard! I wanted pink, but I still had a momentary lapse of confidence and wondered if we should go for a different colour. Because the house was originally quite dark, I knew that whatever shades we chose, they had to be light.

The kitchen had to be girly and fun but also muted so it suited every occasion. So, the walls are an off-white colour that has a subtle pink tone to it while the cabinetry is a slightly cooler pink.

The wallpaper came secondary, but it tied in well with the mint green of the island and pink of the cabinets. I wasn’t 100% sure it would work on so many walls, but the splashback makes it pop and I also like the way it surrounds the doorways, too.

How did you choose the island design?

I’d seen Sheraton Interiors had designed an oval, fluted island before, which I really liked, and I thought I’d love to create something similar. We designed it originally with three stools, but then added enough space so you can sit four – otherwise, I think I’d be the one stuck at the hob while my husband and daughters are sitting down.

There’s plenty of storage – every single element of the island houses an invisible cupboard, plus it’s functional with hidden charging options and a downdraft hob. Sheraton built it in-house; they didn’t have external help which is incredible.

How did you choose the other materials?

For flooring, I wanted something minimalist in an understated colour, so the kitchen spoke for itself. The ivory sandstone added to the cottage feel. I do, however, stress at the thought of someone spilling wine on the floors as it’s porous. But underfoot with underfloor heating, it adds to that cocooning feeling. Equally, in the summer, it’s got cooling benefits.

As for the worktops, I loved the idea of the veining that you get in marble and quartz, but Dekton works for us as a family as it has so many benefits, being heat- and scratch-resistant. I loved the Helena collection because it’s cloudy and whimsical – exactly what we were going for.

What was the design process of the utility room like?

Making the most of unusual, small spaces; it was Shehryar that helped me work out the non-negotiables. Not only does the utility have the stacked dryer and washing machine, which I love, but it’s also got a sink area for washing up or cleaning boots and plenty of cupboard space. On the opposite side, you’ve got somewhere you can sit and take off your shoes, extra storage, and pegs for hanging coats.

The pièce de résistance was the addition of a little cat hole, which was my random idea when we had the stable door sorted. It was so lovely, the last thing I wanted to do was cut a hole in it. So, I thought ‘I know! We’ll cut a hole in the really expensive insulated wall’.

What about the pantry?

The pantry is narrow and rectangular. So, to try and not make it feel cramped, and since we’re also going to use that space so much, we left the door off of it. I just want to be able to go in and out.

It’s got butter yellow cupboards, wood shelves, neutral dusky pink on the walls, shiny white porcelain tiles and terracotta on the floor, glass jars, cream or white appliances, and wicker baskets – it’s my little neutral, calming haven.

Shehryar had the ingenious idea of adding LED lights, which I think are quite modern and they give a warm glow to the room, but there are also spotlights for extra light.

How did you achieve the link between the pink kitchen and the garden?

I love bringing the outdoors in. Because we’ve got such a beautiful garden space with a big oak tree in the back and the river running beside the house, we wanted the aluminium sliding doors to be pink, so they not only work within the colour scheme of the home but with the flowers in the garden, too. Then, we used the same stone on the step outside of the sliding doors, so we’ve got that continuous flow.

What is your favourite part about your new kitchen?

The island – there are so many moments shared around it, I feel like it is the heart of the kitchen.

Shehryar’s words of wisdom

• Start planning early.
• Enjoy the process – a lot of people are daunted by it.
• Go out to different showrooms, speak to a few designers, touch and feel products, get inspiration and then come up with a design together.
• Download some design software so you can create your own kitchen, and do some sketches or moodboards at home. Just have fun with it – you’ll end up getting a better outcome.
• Everybody thinks about the design, but it’s equally important to consider the ergonomics and practical side of the process. Think about how you’re going to be using your kitchen on an everyday basis.
• Good design is supposed to elevate your standard of life, not just from an aesthetic point of view but when you’re actually using it at home in your busy schedule.

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Design: Sheraton Interiors | Photography: Nick Smith | Styling: Alex Crabtree

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